Iotawatt uncontactable, Green and random Red flashing LED

I had an issue where my Iotawatt stopped responding.
I previously had an issue where the SD Card died, and I figured it was just a repeat of the same.

I didn’t see what LED code it originally failed with, but after restarting it, it was getting Green-Red-Red-Green. After plugging the SD Card into my computer, the config.txt file looked fine so I made a copy. When trying to format the SD Card, it failed to format.

I purchased another SD Card, formatted it as FAT32, copied the SD directory from Github onto it (with the default config.txt). I’ve done this a few times now…

It goes Red-Green-Green for a short time, then eventually goes full Green, but with random fast Red flashing at the same time.

Looking at the SD Card on the computer, it has created the Iotawatt folder with histlog.log, iotalog.log and iotamsgs.txt. The iotamsgs.txt shows:

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:28:20z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744198100 
4/09/25 11:28:20z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 11:28:20z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:28:20z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:28:20z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:28:20z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:28:20z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:28:23z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 11:30:34z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:30:36z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744198236 
4/09/25 11:30:36z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 11:30:36z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 11:30:36z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:30:36z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:30:36z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:30:36z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:30:36z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:30:36z HTTP server started
4/09/25 11:30:36z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z statService: started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z dataLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:27:15
4/09/25 11:30:36z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z historyLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:27:00

…and then it just sits there and doesn’t log anything else, even after waiting an hour. The device is not pingable, doesn’t appear to have connected to wifi and the router doesn’t show it connecting.

Any ideas what to try next?

I get the RGG after power up. That should last for three minutes, but I don’t understand how it can be “full Green, but with random fast Red flashing at the same time”.

My suspicion is that it is simply not connecting to your WiFi, for whatever reason. When it goes RGG after power up, have you tried to see if it is AP mode and waiting for you to connect to it as in the docs for configuring WiFi? If so, can you try configuring WiFi again?

If not, the message log that you posted has very little information. A sequence of restarts can usually reveal more about what’s going on. Can you post the message log after you have tried the restart so I can see what might have changed since what you posted above?

The Green, but with random fast Red flashing at the same time looks like this:

When it is RGG after power up, yes it seems to be in AP mode and I can connect to it. I tried reconfiguring the wifi, but it just does the same - reboots, goes RGG, then eventually green with red flashing as above.

The entirety of the log is here. Shouldn’t it at least say it is trying to connect to Wifi?


** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:04:22z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744196662 
4/09/25 11:04:22z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 11:04:22z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:04:22z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:04:22z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:04:22z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:04:22z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:04:25z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 11:06:36z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:06:37z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744196797 
4/09/25 11:06:37z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 11:06:37z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 11:06:37z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:06:37z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:06:37z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:06:37z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:06:37z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:06:37z HTTP server started
4/09/25 11:06:37z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 11:06:37z statService: started.
4/09/25 11:06:37z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:06:37z dataLog: New current log created.
4/09/25 11:07:42z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:07:42z historyLog: first entry 04/09/25 11:07:00

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:27:38z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744198058 
4/09/25 11:27:38z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 11:27:38z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:27:38z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:27:38z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:27:38z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:27:38z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:27:41z Connecting with WiFiManager.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:28:20z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744198100 
4/09/25 11:28:20z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 11:28:20z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:28:20z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:28:20z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:28:20z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:28:20z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:28:23z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 11:30:34z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 11:30:36z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744198236 
4/09/25 11:30:36z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 11:30:36z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 11:30:36z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 11:30:36z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 11:30:36z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 11:30:36z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 11:30:36z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 11:30:36z HTTP server started
4/09/25 11:30:36z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z statService: started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z dataLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:27:15
4/09/25 11:30:36z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 11:30:36z historyLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:27:00

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 12:31:33z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744201893 
4/09/25 12:31:33z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 12:31:33z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 12:31:33z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 12:31:33z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 12:31:33z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 12:31:33z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 12:31:36z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 12:33:47z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 12:33:49z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744202029 
4/09/25 12:33:49z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 12:33:49z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 12:33:49z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 12:33:49z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 12:33:49z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 12:33:49z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 12:33:49z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 12:33:49z HTTP server started
4/09/25 12:33:49z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 12:33:49z statService: started.
4/09/25 12:33:49z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 12:33:49z dataLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:58:45
4/09/25 12:33:49z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 12:33:49z historyLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 11:58:00

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 23:13:33z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744240413 
4/09/25 23:13:33z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 23:13:33z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 23:13:33z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 23:13:33z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 23:13:33z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 23:13:33z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 23:13:36z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 23:15:47z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 23:15:49z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744240549 
4/09/25 23:15:49z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 23:15:49z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 23:15:49z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 23:15:49z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 23:15:49z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 23:15:49z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 23:15:49z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 23:15:49z HTTP server started
4/09/25 23:15:49z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 23:15:49z statService: started.
4/09/25 23:15:49z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 23:15:49z dataLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 12:41:00
4/09/25 23:15:49z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 23:15:49z historyLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 12:41:00

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 23:28:12z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744241292 
4/09/25 23:28:12z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/09/25 23:28:12z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 23:28:12z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 23:28:12z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 23:28:12z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 23:28:12z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 23:28:15z Connecting with WiFiManager.
4/09/25 23:39:21z Did not connect after power-fail. Restarting to reset WiFi.

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/09/25 23:39:22z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744241962 
4/09/25 23:39:22z Reset reason: Software/System restart
4/09/25 23:39:22z Trace:  11:4, 11:5, 11:5, 11:10, 11:15, 11:20, 11:20[1], 11:20[2], 11:20[3], 11:21, 11:22, 11:20[4], 11:20[5], 11:20[6], 11:20[7], 11:25, 11:30, 11:30[1], 11:30[2], 11:31, 11:31[1], 11:31[2], 11:31[3], 11:30[3], 11:35, 11:36, 11:35, 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, 11:55, 11:70
4/09/25 23:39:22z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/09/25 23:39:22z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/09/25 23:39:22z SPIFFS mounted.
4/09/25 23:39:22z Local time zone: +0:00
4/09/25 23:39:22z device name: IotaWatt
4/09/25 23:39:22z HTTP server started
4/09/25 23:39:22z timeSync: service started.
4/09/25 23:39:22z statService: started.
4/09/25 23:39:22z dataLog: service started.
4/09/25 23:39:22z dataLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 23:27:10
4/09/25 23:39:22z historyLog: service started.
4/09/25 23:39:22z historyLog: Last log entry 04/09/25 23:27:00

** Restart **

SD initialized.
4/10/25 00:27:38z Real Time Clock is running. Unix time 1744244858 
4/10/25 00:27:38z Reset Reason: Power-fail restart.
4/10/25 00:27:38z ESP8266 ID: 14637927, RTC PCF8523 (68)
4/10/25 00:27:38z IoTaWatt 5.0, Firmware version 02_08_03
4/10/25 00:27:38z SPIFFS mounted.
4/10/25 00:27:38z Local time zone: +0:00
4/10/25 00:27:38z device name: IotaWatt

You were right, I had a wifi issue. I managed to try it with a different access point, and it connected immediately. So I’ve got some troubleshooting to do with my original access point.

Thanks a lot for the assistance, much appreciated.

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