bitski!
an esp32-s3 based devboard with an led matrix!
Created by
alexren ⚡🚀
Tier 3
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2 followers
alexren ⚡🚀
added to the journal ago
Added more parts to the schematic + lots of learning!
Ok wow it's been a few days!
I copied some stuff over from the orpheus pico's power circuitry, but obviously I wanted to make sure I properly understood it first.
Main thing was figuring out impedance matching and what resistors to use on the USB circuitry. Espressif's design guide recommended 22/33 ohms, but the datasheet had 0 as a placeholder. I decided to be safe and go with the design guide as I'm presuming the datasheet is a bare minimum implementation.
Interestingly it's recommended to add some unpopulated capacitors just in case you need to add some later to filter out noise. Did so accordingly
Claude was surprisingly good at teaching me this. I think I have a decent grip on impedance now and how that whole thing works?
Also read a bit on different types of diodes and why I might want to use a schottky instead of a regular diode. That one was relatively straightforward, but still pretty fun!
I also started to read a bit into charlieplexing the LEDs, but my brain's a little tired right now. Honestly seems really cool though.
Signing off!
Souptik Samanta 🚀
gave kudos to bitski! ago
Esp32s3 in ts economy
1Mon ⚡
gave kudos to bitski! ago
alexren hardware project? in the big 26?
alexren ⚡🚀
added to the journal ago
Planned most of the project + started making pcb!
introducing bitski!!
concept above ^
anyhow. I'm really rusty at making projects so I figured this would be a kick in the ass to actually design something real. Started designing the project today
Here's what I have so far:
Highlights:
- Made my own footprint for the BQ25185 b/c kicad doesn't have it
- I settled on this thing in the first place because Adafruit has a charger module for it already. I trust their judgement that it's a good IC to use.
- Settled on the esp32-s3-mini-1-n8 because it has bluetooth + native USB support
- decided on 0402 LEDs because apparently this guy already tried the whole 0201 LED setup and it did NOT work well.
Trying to figure out what the best power setup for this thing is - I think I might want to fix the CC pins to draw more than 500mA but we'll see
anyways, signing off!
alexren ⚡🚀
started bitski! ago
3/6/2026 - Planned most of the project + started making pcb!
introducing bitski!!
concept above ^
anyhow. I'm really rusty at making projects so I figured this would be a kick in the ass to actually design something real. Started designing the project today
Here's what I have so far:
Highlights:
- Made my own footprint for the BQ25185 b/c kicad doesn't have it
- I settled on this thing in the first place because Adafruit has a charger module for it already. I trust their judgement that it's a good IC to use.
- Settled on the esp32-s3-mini-1-n8 because it has bluetooth + native USB support
- decided on 0402 LEDs because apparently this guy already tried the whole 0201 LED setup and it did NOT work well.
Trying to figure out what the best power setup for this thing is - I think I might want to fix the CC pins to draw more than 500mA but we'll see
anyways, signing off!
3/16/2026 - Added more parts to the schematic + lots of learning!
Ok wow it's been a few days!
I copied some stuff over from the orpheus pico's power circuitry, but obviously I wanted to make sure I properly understood it first.
Main thing was figuring out impedance matching and what resistors to use on the USB circuitry. Espressif's design guide recommended 22/33 ohms, but the datasheet had 0 as a placeholder. I decided to be safe and go with the design guide as I'm presuming the datasheet is a bare minimum implementation.
Interestingly it's recommended to add some unpopulated capacitors just in case you need to add some later to filter out noise. Did so accordingly
Claude was surprisingly good at teaching me this. I think I have a decent grip on impedance now and how that whole thing works?
Also read a bit on different types of diodes and why I might want to use a schottky instead of a regular diode. That one was relatively straightforward, but still pretty fun!
I also started to read a bit into charlieplexing the LEDs, but my brain's a little tired right now. Honestly seems really cool though.
Signing off!