EC Buying 2Pcs ESP32-CAM Development Board Test Board WiFi OV2640 Camera Modu...

I purchased the EC Buying 2Pcs ESP32-CAM Development Board Test Board with high expectations, but it turned out to be a major disappointment. Upon connecting the ESP32-CAM module, the onboard LED illuminated, yet the board failed to function—no recognition by the computer, no serial output, nothing. More concerning was the extreme heat generated by the board. Within moments, the ESP32-CAM module became so hot it was untouchable, indicating a serious overheating issue. This is not an isolated incident; other users have reported similar problems with this product . The product description notes that this test board is only applicable to ESP32-CAM development boards without reset pins and not applicable to those with GND/R markings, as this can cause the device to remain in a reset state . However, even with compatible boards, the overheating issue persists, suggesting a fundamental design flaw. In summary, this product poses a risk of damaging your ESP32-CAM modules due to overheating and fails to perform its intended function. I strongly advise against purchasing this item.

So,,, I bought the 2 pack without reading the reviews. My fault. Was frustrated that I couldn't get my ESP32-Cam to connect when using the boards. However, after reading the reviews and the seller's information on the page, I determined that my ESP32-Cam is the kind with the GND/R. Did some probing with my multimeter and figured, if I remove the pin from the ESP32-Cam board and plug it back in the Test Board, it should work just fine. That is what I did, and that is what it did. :) If I ever need to use the GND/R pin in the future, I'll just solder in another pin.

The device connects to the USB port, the power LED lights up, and the computer recognizes the corresponding port, but it does NOT download the corresponding program. If a pre-programmed module is connected, the serial connection also does not work; it does not transmit serially. It neither transmits nor receives serially

I purchased these preemptively, not realizing that the ESP32-CAM that I purchased was an all-in-one deal. So, I haven't tried plugging anything into these boards. That said, the production quality seems ok - the solder joints are a little matte, indicating sub-par reflow. The headers were all straight & solid, without any wiggle, and the pins were straight. These use a CH340, which I've used on a number of other modules. If I had a stand-alone cam board, I'd feel comfortable giving these a try.

Unlike the standard ESP32CAM boards, these have USB C ports and only a reset button. The exposed header pins are also very good so you can leverage additional sensors or attach additional I2C assemblies for one unit. Solid upgrade for all ESP32CAM projects.

The whole point of this product is to make it easy to connect to an esp32-cam. After spending hours troubleshooting this board, I pulled out my ancient FTDI TTL serial port and connected to the camera. The board wouldn't show up as a USB device when connected to my computer. It wouldn't even power on. Then I find out that it isn't even designed to connect to the kind of board I have.

This board works really well for the ESP32-CAM, having a few of those cameras this makes it far easier to handle the connection and programming. You can keep it attached and use it as a dedicated board or simply use it for programming and offload the camera at a later time. The board itself is super simple to utilize and can get it up and running with arduino by simply booting up one of the samples.

Product does not support serial interface. I had to return it is useless for my application.

I haven't been able to get either of these to work. I have several ESP32 CAM modules that work perfectly with other interface boards.