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Setpoint DIY Kit — Build Guide (Module Carrier)

For the module-based carrier board: an ESP32-C3 SuperMini, a TP4056 charging module (with protection), a slide switch, and a DS18B20 probe, soldered onto the carrier. All through-hole / module soldering — no fine-pitch SMD. Budget ~30 min.


What's in your kit

Part Notes
Carrier PCB The through-hole board
ESP32-C3 SuperMini The brain; has its own USB-C (for flashing)
TP4056 module (with protection) Charges the cell over its own USB-C; DW01+FS8205 protection on-board
SPDT slide switch Power on/off (stops shelf drain)
DS18B20 waterproof probe Temperature sensor
4.7 kΩ resistor DS18B20 pull-up (+ any others per silk)
Header pins To mount the SuperMini + TP4056 module
18650 holder (optional) For the cell

You supply: an 18650 cell. Protected or unprotected is fine here — the TP4056 module provides protection. (This is the one product where your unprotected cells are OK.)

Tools

Soldering iron + solder · flush cutters · USB-C data cable (not charge-only) · Chrome / Edge / Opera on desktop · multimeter (for the battery polarity check).


Step 1 — Solder the modules & parts

Solder header rows first, then seat each module onto them. Point both USB-C ports toward the board edge.

  1. ESP32-C3 SuperMini — solder its header rows to the carrier; USB-C facing out.
  2. TP4056 module — solder in place; its USB-C facing out.
  3. 4.7 kΩ resistor — in the DS18B20 pull-up position (marked on silk).
  4. SPDT slide switch — seat flat, solder the 3 pins.

Trim leads flush. Check for solder bridges on the header rows.

Two USB-C ports: the SuperMini's port is for flashing & data; the TP4056's is for charging only. Don't mix them up in Step 5.

Step 2 — Wire the probe

Connect the DS18B20's three wires at the DS18B20 pads: VCC / DATA / GND (follow the silk). The 4.7 kΩ pull-up you just soldered handles the DATA line.

Step 3 — Wire the battery ⚠️

  1. Connect the 18650 holder to the carrier's battery pads (to the TP4056 module's B+ / B−).
  2. Confirm polarity with a multimeter — holder red (+) → B+, black (−) → B−. Reversed polarity can damage the module/board.
  3. Protected or unprotected cell both work (module has protection). Insert the cell with the switch OFF.

Step 4 — Power check

Switch OFF → plug the SuperMini USB-C → switch ON. The SuperMini's onboard LED should light. If anything gets warm, unplug and re-check Step 1 for bridges.

Step 5 — Flash the firmware (browser)

  1. Open the Setpoint web flasher in Chrome/Edge/Opera.
  2. Plug the SuperMini's USB-C into your computer (switch ON).
  3. Click Install/Connect, choose the port, flash. The C3 flashes natively over USB — no adapter.

Firmware just works: the stock v2.4.0 image already targets this board — DS18B20 on GPIO5, status LED on the SuperMini's GPIO8 (auto-selected for the ESP32-C3 target). One image fits both the kit and the finished product; no special build needed.

Step 6 — Join Wi-Fi

On first boot the board opens its setup portal. Connect to it, pick your 2.4 GHz network, save. It reconnects on its own afterward.

Step 7 — Verify

Open your Setpoint dashboard — the probe should appear and report temperature. Pinch the tip; the reading should rise. Set a threshold and confirm the alert fires.

✅ Done.


Safety

Troubleshooting

Symptom Fix
No LED on USB Switch off · bridge · charge-only cable — use a data cable · wrong USB-C port (use the SuperMini's)
Warm/hot Short — unplug, re-inspect header rows and battery polarity
Flasher can't see port Chrome/Edge/Opera, over HTTPS, data cable · hold BOOT while connecting
No temperature Probe VCC/DATA/GND order wrong · cold joint at the DS18B20 pads (DATA = GPIO5)
Won't join Wi-Fi Must be 2.4 GHz · re-enter password
No charge Use the TP4056 USB-C port for charging (not the SuperMini's)