Programming a standalone ESP 8266-12 using Arduino IDE and a FT232RL FTDI USB to TTL Serial Adapter

The ESP 8266-12 won't last long on a batteries; it uses 80 mA per hour. So to use it for last-lasting battery-powered sensors, it's necessary to put it in sleep mode and, furthermore, use a stand-alone version without all the development board components. So, this post will be about how to program a stand-alone ESP 8266-12.<> Pre-requisites! I'll be using these components:

• @ A standard ESP8266-12 on a breakout-board such as the one shown
• @ A FT232RL USB to TTL serial adapter, for programming
• @ A 3v battery (I use a CR123a) for powering the ESP826612
• @ The Arduino IDE - I'm using version 1.6.12 for this tutorial

The following requirements should be met:

• @ The FT232RL is recognized by the PC and shows as a virtual COM port.
• @ All connections, including those on the The ESP 8266-12 on the breakout-board, are solid and conduct power as they should.
• @ The battery holds at least 2.8v of power.
• @ The ESP core-libraries have been imported into the Arduino IDE.

Connect the components as per the following pictures:

It's important that the GPIO 0 pin is connected to ground - that's the signal to the ESP8266-12 that it's about to be programmed.

Having connected the above, we can move to the Arduino IDE. From the ESP-examples - File=>Examples=>ESP - load a basic sketch. Now head to the 'Tools' menu and ensure the below settings:

Again, remember to do a power-cycle of the ESP 8266-12 before programming it.

Given the above, it should be a simple matter of hitting 'Upload' and the Arduino IDE should program - 'flash' - the ESP8266-12.

Please note that the above it what works for me. Your USB-to-TTL module may be different, your PC may need a different upload speed, so on and so forth. You'll need to experiment a bit - as did I - if the above doesn't work straight away.

In a further blog-post I'll then document how to run the ESP - including bringing it in and out of deep sleep - after having programmed it.