Hey folks! I just picked up a Waveshare ESP32-S3-LCD-1.47 board and I'm trying to set up a project for a small offline media server. The plan is to read media files like movies, music, and books from an SD card and serve them over Wi-Fi, using the built-in 1.47" LCD as a UI. However, I'm hitting a few roadblocks, especially since I'm new to embedded programming and this board feels more complex than Arduino.
Here are the main issues I'm facing:
1. **SD Card Initialization Problems**: The SD card doesn't initialize most of the time, and I can't tell if I'm using the right libraries or settings. I've tried SD.h, SD_MMC.h, and the SD_Card.h that comes with the board, but I've had mixed results, including formatting the card after one scan.
2. **LCD Display Issues with LVGL**: The LCD display is inconsistent—it sometimes doesn't turn on or freezes while showing graphics. I'm struggling to configure the ST7789 display driver properly.
3. **General Development Challenges**: Wireless connection issues are causing my board to reset unexpectedly. The error messages during debugging are often unclear, making it hard to figure out what's going wrong.
I'm looking for any tips on best practices for working with ESP32-S3 boards, recommended libraries for SD access, display control, debugging advice, and beginner-friendly resources on ESP32 development and LVGL. I'm eager to learn and get this project off the ground!
2 Answers
First off, what development platform are you using? I've had good experiences with ESP IDF, which might give you better control. Also, make sure you're powering the board from a solid source—USB ports on computers can sometimes fall short, especially when Wi-Fi is involved.
Just a heads up, if you're planning on doing heavy file transfers, the ESP32 could struggle. Consider using something more robust like a Raspberry Pi if you find performance lacking. In the meantime, check out various example projects tailored for your board to build from—they're super helpful for learning!
You might want to check out this community link: [Home Assistant Community](https://community.home-assistant.io/t/waveshare-esp32-s3-lcd-1-85/833702). I've been working with the same board, and I've managed to set up a solid ESPHome config that solved many similar problems. Give it a look to see if it can help you as well!