An ESP32-CAM is a small WiFi camera board with no USB port of its own, so it needs a programmer base to load code and show its serial output. The ESP32-CAM-MB is that base: press the ESP32-CAM onto its two 8-pin sockets, plug in a USB-C cable and upload from the Arduino IDE. Its CH340 USB-to-serial chip and automatic download circuit put the module into flash mode and reset it for you, so there is no separate USB-serial adapter, jumper wiring or IO0-to-GND link to set up.
Use it to upload sketches such as the camera web server, read the camera's IP address in the Serial Monitor, or erase and re-flash an ESP32-CAM that has stopped responding. It fits the AI-Thinker style ESP32-CAM with two rows of 8 pins and powers it from USB 5V, so it also runs the camera on the bench while you test. The ESP32-CAM and the USB-C cable are not included, and the cable needs to be one that carries data.
Specifications
Datasheets
Wiring & getting started
- Seat the ESP32-CAM
Line up the pins and press it fully into the two sockets, camera facing up. The 5V and GND pins match the labels on the underside.
- Connect and find the port
Use a USB-C data cable, not a charge-only one. A new COM port should appear on your computer. If it does not, install the CH340 driver (CH341SER) and plug in again.
- Select the board
Install the esp32 package by Espressif in Boards Manager, then choose AI Thinker ESP32-CAM and the CH340 port.
- Upload and check it runs
Click Upload. If it does not start, hold IO0, tap RST, release IO0 and upload again. Open the Serial Monitor at 115200 baud and you should see your sketch's output, such as the camera web server's IP address. If it keeps resetting or prints "Brownout detector" when WiFi or the camera starts, the USB supply is sagging, so use a short data cable and a computer port or powered hub that supplies a full 500mA.