I’ve recently acquired the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-7B and I must say, it’s been an exciting experience! The device boasts a 1024x600 resolution, which is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, and the touch functionality adds a whole new layer of interactivity. The built-in ESP32-S3 dual-core processor also promises smooth performance, which is perfect for my home automation projects.
One of the standout features is the ability to control the backlight brightness. This was a sore point with the older model, but Waveshare has addressed it by integrating a proprietary chip for backlight management. However, I’ve encountered a bit of a hurdle in accessing this functionality. The documentation mentions using I2C communication to interact with the chip, but I’m not entirely sure how to implement this within the esphome framework. I’ve reached out to the community on GitHub, and it seems others are also looking for a solution. If anyone has experience with custom drivers or has managed to integrate this feature, I’d love to hear about your approach!
Another aspect I’m experimenting with is the battery voltage monitoring. The chip handles this function, which is great, but I’m curious about how precise and reliable this is in real-world scenarios. I’m planning to set up a small project to log battery levels over time and see how consistent the readings are.
On a more positive note, the SD card functionality works seamlessly, and the GPIO pins are plenty for connecting additional sensors or peripherals. The LVGL UI demo provided by Waveshare is also a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to dive into custom interfaces.
If you’re considering this device for your projects, I highly recommend checking out the schematic and demo files provided by Waveshare. They offer a wealth of information and are a great resource for troubleshooting and customization. I’m looking forward to seeing how this device can enhance my home automation setup and can’t wait to share more updates as I progress!