Right after I posed the question, I got it going.
Had to reset the RTC. Removed and re-installed the RTC battery and restarted. Now it comes up in AP mode.
Note to visitors to this thread:
Removing the RTC battery likely had no effect on the problem. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE RTC BATTERY UNLESS:
-
You get a message in your message log that the battery is low and needs to be replaced.
-
You report a problem and get a response that instructs you to do so.
Otherwise, resetting the RTC can create compound issues masking the original problem and making resolution more difficult.
Sorry to bump an really old thread..
I had a corrupt SD-issue. So I got a new SD (this time a Samsumg PRO Endurance 32gb). Transfered all my old files and tried to start my IoTaWatt again. It didn’t boot, stopped at dull read imediately. Tried a few different tricks and by the end I hooked my IoTaWatt to a serial console, got it to boot (without SD) and then plugged the SD card when my IoTaWatt was blinking G-R-R.
[16:21:12]** Restart **
[16:21:12]
[16:21:12]SD initiatization failed. Retrying.
[16:21:43]SD initialized.
[16:21:43]1/19/26 15:21:43z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1768836103
[16:21:43]1/19/26 15:21:43z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
[16:21:43]1/19/26 15:21:43z ESP8266 ID: 1847056, RTC PCF8523 (68)
[16:21:43]1/19/26 15:21:43z IoTaWatt 4.x, Firmware version 02_08_03
[16:21:43]1/19/26 15:21:43z SPIFFS mounted.
[16:21:43]1/19/26 16:21:43 Script: invalid Script in output CTC.
[16:21:43]1/19/26 16:21:43 Local time zone: +1:00, using DST/BST when in effect.
[16:21:43]1/19/26 16:21:43 device name: iotawatt
[16:21:46]1/19/26 16:21:46 Connecting with WiFiManager.
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 HTTP server started
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 influxDB_v1: Starting, interval:5, url:http://192.168.1.5:8428
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 WiFi connected. SSID=Erlandssons IOT, IP=192.168.1.22, channel=1, RSSI -56db
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 timeSync: service started.
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 statService: started.
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 Updater: service started. Auto-update class is MINOR
[16:21:49]1/19/26 16:21:49 dataLog: service started.
[16:21:52]1/19/26 16:21:51 dataLog: Last log entry 01/19/26 16:20:45
[16:21:53]1/19/26 16:21:53 Updater: Auto-update is current for class MINOR.
[16:21:54]1/19/26 16:21:53 influxDB_v1: Start posting at 01/19/26 16:21:55
[16:21:54]1/19/26 16:21:54 historyLog: service started.
[16:21:55]1/19/26 16:21:54 historyLog: Last log entry 01/19/26 16:20:00
My board is rev 4.4 Lot 86594. Should I try to also solder a resistor to D8 and GND or what is going on? It did boot fine with the old SD but that is broken..
It appears to be working normally in the above log. Moreover, the datalog was current to one minute before this last boot. Is there an ongoing problem?
It does not start with the new sd card connected..
I have to hot plug it for iotawatt to start.
There may be a problem with how the SDcard is formatted. You have a pretty old unit. That the SDcard from that vintage might have failed in not a big surprise, but replacing it with a huge super-delux isn’t going to make any difference. I typically recommend Sandisk Ultra 16GB.
I’d recommend that you reformat this 32GB card using the SD Association Reformatter. Be sure the format is SDHC.
This is actually my second sd.
Tried to reformat the Samsung SD-card but it didn’t help (using the full format). The nodemcu can’t boot with the card connected. Found an old Sandisk 8GB that I formatted and that works. The question is how long, but we’ll see.
Had a quick look at amazon.se (Sweden) but couldn’t find a Sandis Ultra micro SD in 16GB, the 32GB is almost the same as i paid for the Samsung PRO-Endurance 
. Had a Sandisk Ultra II 8GB fullsize but that won’t fit..
Thanks alot for your help!
When you say it can’t boot, do you mean you get GRR LED or does the led just go dull red? If it does not show GRR, you could have a problematic NODEmcu. It’s very rare, and I’ve never seen it in an old unit that has worked fine for years.
It just goes dull red directly. Works fine without SD (or with old SD).
I’ve went trough all my stash and don’t have any “good quality” old microSD. I might have another nodeMCU, but am a bit hesitated on re-soldering a new NodeMCU.
In reality I actually don’t need local storage, it is enough to keep in ram and try to upload to influx on a regular basis. Have a solid HomeAssisant installation and it would great if iotawatt had the option of supporting the esphome protocol. And skip SD card.
The link had just brought me to your post and I did not see the thread from three+ years ago. Now I understand your question about the D8 resistor. You were way ahead of me. Your lot matches that early batch of units so I do think its appropriate to try adding that pull-down resistor as described and pictured.
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