This Mini ESP32 TV project is remix of Moononournation's Mini-Retro-TV Instructable. I wanted to try something with a PCB, and the slightly cheaper D1 mini ESP32. It has a front facing on/off button, and a single multi function button that can change movie clips forwards and backward and mute the TV if needed.
Licensing: My PCB Gerber files and STLs are released under The Unlicense. Everything else retains the licenses assigned by their creators. I take no responsibility for anything.
Notes-- #1: Some adjustment of the front panel STL might be needed to completely centre the LCD display module with the screen bezel. #2: The bin file's source code source is unavailable. However, alternate code that functions in same way is available here on GitHub by DynaMight1124.
A full parts list, plus the STL files, Bin File and Movie Conversion Tool can be found on the GitHub page for this project
The PCB. This can be ordered from a PCB fabrication manufacturer Like JLBPCB : Gerber File Zip (Use default PCB board settings. 1.6mm thickness etc. Just upload the gerber zip and order)
Notes : When ordering parts, make sure they correspond with the ones in my pictures.For example there are two (or more) different 1.69 LCD displays out there, and many different D1 mini's
The charging (and voltage boost) board needs a resistor changed on it. This is the worst part of the whole project. My advice is to start with this. That way if you fail, you can just throw everything into the trash right from the get go.
By default the charging board outputs 1 Amp to the battery. This is too high for a 600mAh battery, and needs to be dropped down to 250mA by changing the resistor in the picture to a 5.1k 0603 resistor.
Use lots of light and a fine tip on your soldering iron. I also use a bit of flux paste. After you change the resistor, check your work with a loupe glass or some other magnifier.
Next, check the charging board is outputting 5v. Plug a 5v charger into the board and check the output. Adjust as needed using the output voltage potentiometer (the screw thing).
There are two solder pads marked "T" on back of the charger board. If your battery has a protection circuit (most likely it does), you are supposed to solder the points marked T together.
While you can program the D1 Mini ESP32 after it is attached to the PCB, it might mean shaving down a USB data cable. Save yourself the bother and program it now.
Download this Bin File Zip and unzip the bin file. Download the Espressif Flash Download Tool from https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/other-tools. Unzip it. Plug the D1 Mini ESP32 into the computer's USB port and run the flash_download_tool_3.9.5.exe.
Set ChipType to ESP32 and OK it.
Change the setting in the Flash Tool so that it reflects the settings in the above image. (you have to type in the 0x00)
Select your active COM port and click start. Once the upload has finished, unplug the ESP32... job done.
Now for the rest of the soldering. I switch to a medium solder tip, and use extra flux when needed.
Start with the 4 X 10 resistors, and then the Micro SD card holder.
Next is the Max98357 Audio Amp. Use flush cutters to get the pins cut down as low as possible. The biggest capacitor on the Amp should be higher than your solder joints. See above pictures.
Before attaching the D1 Mini, it's a good idea to put some double sided tape on the PCB to hold things in place, and create a somewhat level surface. Solder all the pins, and remove the excess using flush cutters.
Next is the screen. We want this flat and parallel to the PCB. To aid in this, super glue the spacer provided in the STL's to the PCB as seen in the picture 4. The highest capacitor on the Max98357 Audio Amp is now the same height as the spacer. So you have an unstable, but kinda flat surface. Use some Kapton tape to cover the components on the back of the screen and then solder it into place.
After soldering, use flush cutter to remove any excess from the screen pins. This is important since that is where the speaker is going to sit.
Next the buttons. Make sure they are pushed down and flush with the PCB before soldering. The latching on/off button should be attached as shown in picture 6. If you put it in the wrong way, it may not work.
Next is the power and speaker.Solder the silicone wires as shown in the pictures. I like to use a little shrink wrap on the micro usb male connector.
Remove a little excess from the speaker cable and attach that to the PCB at the SP- and SP+ points.
Added the battery. Plug the male usb connector into the D1 mini ESP32, and if you have some movie files already on a micro SD card, you can test sound and vision. Without the micro SD card, it will just give: Error File System Mount Failed.
Download and 3d print the STL files for the Mini ESP32 TV project. These work for me, but people have different 3d printers and setups. I can only currently test these on an ancient Ender 3. Brown, Black and Grey PLA+ (The brown is actually "Copper" silk). I use Eryone, but the brand doesn't matter.
I used a small brim on some STL's where there is not much surface area attaching them to the build plate.
I like to add some hot glue to the inside of the case at the small hole which acts as the charging light pass-through.Then remove the excess. This gives the charging light indication a sweet diffused look... bueno.
Next is the test fit. As you see in the picture 4, the screen bezel is a little off. It's actually just 0.2mm too far to the right and 0.1mm too far down. Every single screen is fractionally different. I've made 8 mini TV' s and they all need slight adjustment in a CAD program like TinkerCad. Or just leave it as it is... up to you. In this case I made the adjustment in Tinkercad and reprinted the faceplate
Once you are happy with the screen, superglue it to the TV body. There is a ridge going all the way around, so it's pretty easy. Superglue the fake speaker grill part to the screen.
After the glue is dry, put the PCB into the case carefully. Make sure the micro SD card is not attached! Add the screw receiver part as shown in the pictures. Make sure it's not sitting on top of any wires. Pop in the speaker, and sit the battery on the excess wires (this will keep it off the ESP32). Put the charging board through it's USB C hole, and hold it in place with a charging cable.
Add the back and screw in the two hex screws. No need to over tighten them people. Remove the charge cable.
The final part is the ON / OFF button. This needs to have 4 sides sanded down so that it can move smoothly through the front panel. After sanding, use a very small amount of superglue on the flattest side, and attach it carefully to the power button on the PCB. DO NOT PRESS IT!!! Let it dry before pressing it otherwise the glue will wick down into the power button and ruin everything.... trust me on this.
Great Success! You can add some feet (or not). I used 6mm x 2.5mm clear 3M self adhesive rubber feet.
This project is 100% compatible with Moononournation's Mini-Retro-TV code. You can use his code instead of the Bin File zip I supplied. The only thing that wont work is the channel change button (which is attached to GPIO pin 21). This additional code was done by somebody else, based on this project : MiniLegoTV
Update : Alternate code is now available here on GitHub by DynaMight1124 which does include the channel change button functions, and long press mute/unmute. It has been tested on this project
If you use the my bin file supplied in this guide the channel change button functions are the following :
1 press = move forward a movie. 2 presses = move back a movie. 3 presses = what number movie is playing. 1 long press = mute ON and OFF.
The directory structure of the micro SD card, and how to convert and add movie to it is explained in my YouTube video
It's just a folder called Videos that contains sub folders numbered 1, 2, 3, 4... etc (see picture 2 to get the idea). Easy.
MiniRetroTV Converter Software : Some software I wrote for downloading videos and putting them on the Mini TV.
Windows only software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
https://github.com/Megazoids-Hut/Mini-ESP32-TV/tree/main/converter
Links to the PCB designs in EASYEDA:
https://easyeda.com/editor#id=d595c0524d494f1782ba7f6e70c5948f
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