Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting OpenCoopControl

This guide helps you identify and resolve common issues you might encounter with your OpenCoopControl system.

Issue	Possible Causes	Solutions
Cannot connect to setup WiFi	Device not powered properly	Check power supply and connections
	Too far from device	Move closer to the device during setup
	Setup mode timed out	Press and hold the door button for 10 seconds to restart setup mode
Device won’t connect to home WiFi	Incorrect WiFi credentials	Verify WiFi password and try setup again
	WiFi signal too weak	Move device closer to router or add a WiFi extender
	Incompatible WiFi (5GHz vs 2.4GHz)	Ensure you’re connecting to a 2.4GHz network (ESP32 doesn’t support 5GHz)
Cannot access web interface	Wrong IP address	Check your router’s connected devices list for the correct IP
	Device offline	Restart the device and check network connections
	Browser cache issue	Clear browser cache or try a different browser

Issue	Possible Causes	Solutions
Door won’t open/close	Servo not powered	Check power connections to the servo
	Mechanical obstruction	Inspect door track for obstructions
	Servo not properly connected	Verify wiring on GPIO 13
	Servo stall due to excessive load	Ensure door is properly balanced and not too heavy for the servo
Door opens/closes at wrong time	Incorrect time setting	Check and adjust time zone and door open/close times
	System clock drifted	Restart device to sync time
	Light sensor mode active but covered	Clean light sensor or adjust positioning
Door stuck half-open	Voltage drop during operation	Ensure power supply can handle peak current demands
	Mechanical binding	Check if door moves freely when disconnected from servo
	Servo damaged	Replace servo if it makes unusual noises or doesn’t hold position

Issue	Possible Causes	Solutions
Feeder doesn’t activate	Motor not powered	Check connections to GPIO 12 and motor driver
	Motor driver fault	Verify driver LED indicators and wiring
	Feed hopper empty or jammed	Check feed levels and clear any blockages
Feeder runs too long/short	Incorrect duration setting	Adjust feed duration in settings
	Feed mechanism binding	Check for mechanical issues in the feed delivery system
Feeder activates randomly	Triggered by noise on input pin	Add a capacitor across the control pin to reduce noise
	Software issue	Update to latest firmware version

Issue	Possible Causes	Solutions
Inaccurate temperature	Sensor placed in direct sun	Relocate sensor to shaded area
	Poor sensor connection	Check wiring to GPIO 32
	Need calibration	Apply offset correction in settings
Light sensor not working	Covered or dirty sensor	Clean and ensure proper placement
	Incorrect wiring	Verify connections to GPIO 33
	Component failure	Test with multimeter and replace if needed
Water level sensor issues	Sensor fouled	Clean probe contacts
	Incorrect calibration	Recalibrate using known water levels

The built-in LED on the ESP32 provides status information:

Issue	Solutions
Update fails to start	Check internet connectivity
	Ensure device has at least 30% free storage
Update starts but fails	Try manual update using the firmware.bin file
	Perform full flash with latest release
Device unresponsive after update	Wait 5 minutes for first boot to complete
	If still unresponsive, perform full flash with recovery image

Insufficient power supply: Ensure your power supply can provide at least 2A at 5V
Voltage drops during operation: Add a large capacitor (1000μF) near the ESP32 power pins
Intermittent resets: Check for loose connections and adequate power supply

Testing servos: Use the manual test function in Settings > System > Hardware Test
Motor doesn’t run: Check for 5V at the motor driver VCC pin
Servo jitters: Ensure separate power supply for servos or add large capacitor

If your device becomes completely unresponsive, you can restore it using the full flashing procedure:

To enter recovery mode:

If you’re still experiencing issues after trying these troubleshooting steps:

To avoid issues, perform these maintenance tasks regularly: