Set the MT3608 output to 5.0 V with a multimeter before anything is connected to it. They often ship set much higher and will kill the ESP32-CAM.
Power chain
LiPo 3.7 V ──> TP4056 (B+/B-) ──OUT+──> slide switch ──> MT3608 VIN+
OUT- ──────────────────────> MT3608 VIN-
MT3608 VOUT+ ──> ESP32-CAM 5V
MT3608 VOUT- ──> ESP32-CAM GND
470-1000 uF capacitor across 5V and GND, at the board pins
(stripe side to GND)
- LiPo + and - to TP4056 B+ and B-
- TP4056 OUT+ through the slide switch to MT3608 VIN+; TP4056 OUT- to MT3608 VIN-
- MT3608 VOUT+ to ESP32-CAM 5V; VOUT- to GND
- Capacitor across 5V and GND, right at the ESP32-CAM pins
Inputs and light
| Part | Connect to | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Button | GPIO 13 and GND | Internal pull-up in firmware, no resistor |
| Flash LED | Built-in on GPIO 4 | On only during capture; tape paper over it if it glares |
| GPIO 0, GPIO 12 | Leave unconnected | They affect boot |
| microSD slot | Don't use | Shares pins with the flash LED |
Battery life
The board draws roughly 160-310 mA on Wi-Fi with the LED. Expect about 2-3 hours from 1000 mAh and 1-1.5 hours from 500 mAh after boost losses. Measure it on Wednesday and write the result here:
- Measured runtime: ____
Charging and reprogramming
- TP4056 Type-C port at the end of an arm, so it charges without opening the frame.
- Keep the ESP32-CAM header pins reachable so the MB programmer board can plug on for reflashing.