Build an ESP Everywhere! Kickstarter Special

The "ESP Everywhere" is an ESP8266 connected to an FTDI mounted on a special "Kickstarter Edition" PCB. Its small form factor allows you to keep it on a keychain and so you can bring your ESP8266 everywhere; hence the name. It has a small connector that allows you to access 5 GPIOS, and one ADC pin. The FTDI means you can plug it right into your computer, find the Serial Port, and start playing around right away!

This project is Open Source and available on HackADay.IO here:

https://hackaday.io/project/19580-esp-everywhere-kickstarter-make100-project

Yes, this is a Kickstarter Video right now, but it explains why I'm making the ESP Everywhere, and what it does. There will be more videos about it after I assemble the Make/100 for my 100 Lucky Backers! and some how-to on it.

I am currently running a Kickstarter Here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/idlehandsdev/esp-everywhere-kickstarter-special-make-100

and they will be up on Tindie Afterwords, If you want to buy a circuit board, ESP8266 module and/or protective back, check out the Kickstarter before it ends!

Parts:

• ESP Everywhere Kickstarter Special Circuit Board - Kickstarter - Tindie(Coming soon) - GitHub(Order your own)
• ESP8266 - Kickstarter - Adafruit
• Components - List on HackaDay.io - or BOM on Digikey
• Protective Case(BETA and OPTIONAL) - Kickstarter - Shapeways
• GPIO Cable - 8 Pin JST-SH 6" - Digikey

Tools:

• Soldering Iron
• Toaster Over(for reflow)
• Solder Paste
• Solder

Now that it is soldered you can test it out. The FTDI should be recognized by your computer when you plug it in which on windows it will create a COM port.

You can use the Arduino IDE to program the board and see if it is working! There are plenty of online tutorials to show you how. This one gives you lots of info: http://www.whatimade.today/esp8266-easiest-way-to-program-so-far/

The board itself has an LED attached to GPIO13, you can program the ESP Everywhere with the simple "Blink" program and see if its working!

I built a breakout board that is available in the project as well. You can order it with the main circuit board, or order it yourself with the GitHub stuff. It breaks out the 8-pin JST SH connector on the ESP Everywhere. This allows you to use the GPIOs on board the ESP8266!

You can attach this right to your keychain and take it with you Everywhere! There is also a protective back that will be available on Shapeways(currently BETA) and the Kickstarter backers who purchase one.

The goal of this project was not just to create another ESP8266 board, we know there are a lot of them out there. It was to create something you could take around with you and create discussions about makers, open source, and DIY. The Kickstarter Make/100 campaign was aimed at creating more makers, giving them a reason to make something. This was my support towards this campaign and Kickstarter.

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HackADay.io - IdleHandsDev

Twitter - @IdleHandsDev

Instagram - @idlehandsdev

Facebook - /Idlehandsdevelopment

Share the project. Lets get more people talking about Makers! Tweet about it, share the video, put it on facebook!
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Patreon - Sean Hodgins