ESP8266 (NodeMCU 1.0 - ESP-12E Module) Development Guide

Board Specifications

Chipset	ESP8266EX (Tensilica L106, 32-bit, 80/160MHz)
Flash Memory	4MB
SRAM	160KB
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
USB-to-Serial	CH340G
Operating Voltage	3.3V (logic level)
Input Voltage (Vin)	5V via USB Type-C
GPIO Pins	17 (including ADC0)
PWM, I2C, SPI, UART	Supported
Programming Interface	Type-C USB

Environment Setup

1. Install Arduino IDE

Download the latest version from the Arduino official website.

2. Add ESP8266 Board Support

Go to File → Preferences
Add this URL to Additional Boards Manager URLs:

https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

Then go to Tools → Board → Boards Manager and search for "ESP8266".
Click Install on esp8266 by ESP8266 Community.

3. Select Board & Port

Board: NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module)
Flash Size: 4M (3M SPIFFS)
Upload Speed: 115200
CPU Frequency: 80 MHz (default)
Port: The COM port detected when the board is connected.

IMPORTANT: If your computer cannot detect the ESP8266 board, first ensure you are using a proper USB data cable, not a charge-only cable. Many Type-C and Micro-USB cables only provide power but no data connection.

4. Install CH340 Driver (required)

Download from WCH official site (Windows).
macOS users can use the signed version available from sparkfun.com under "Documents → Driver".

5. Connect the Board

Use a Type-C cable (depending on your board version).
Confirm that the COM port appears in Tools → Port.

Upload Example Sketch

Open File → Examples → ESP8266 → WiFi → WiFiScan
Click Upload (right-arrow icon)
Monitor upload logs in the Output Console:

                        Connecting........_____....._____.....

                        Writing at 0x00000000... (100%)

                        Hash of data verified.

                        Upload done.

4. Once done, open Serial Monitor (Ctrl+Shift+M) → set baud rate to 115200 to see scanned WiFi networks.

Memory and Flash Information

Section	Size	Description
Flash	4MB	External SPI Flash
SRAM	160KB	Runtime variables
Heap	~50KB	Dynamic memory
SPIFFS	3MB	File storage

Use the following command (in Arduino Serial Monitor) to print memory info:

ESP.getFreeHeap();

Example: WiFi Connection

                        #include <ESP8266WiFi.h>

                        const char* ssid = "YourWiFiName";

                        const char* password = "YourWiFiPassword";

                        void setup() {

                          Serial.begin(115200);

                          delay(1000);

                          Serial.println();

                          Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");

                          WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

                          while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

                            delay(500);

                            Serial.print(".");

                          }

                          Serial.println();

                          Serial.println("WiFi connected!");

                          Serial.print("IP address: ");

                          Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());

                        }

                        void loop() {

                          // Add your main code here

                        }

Troubleshooting (Device Not Detected)

Check Cable: Use a verified data cable.
Try Different Port: Change to another USB port.
Driver: Reinstall CH340 driver.
Board Power: Ensure the board's blue LED turns on.
Reset Board: Press and hold RST briefly.

If issues persist, try another computer or USB adapter.