Elecrow CrowPanel Round TFT Display with ESP32

This project will introduce you to the new 1.28" Round Display from Elecrow featuring an integrated ESP32C3 chip and more! This project will demonstrate the steps to update the device firmware to MicroPython and display a custom message.

This device is a beautiful integration of many features including a TFT capacitive touch screen with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 2-Pin JST connector for LiPo battery - BUY it here for just under $17 at the time of this post.

MicroPython in Thonny

MicroPython is a simple way to customize the display, and this MicroPython tutorial using Thonny is an excellent guide for flashing new firmware. There is also documentation for Arduino and Platform IO. Please follow the link and complete the firmware update. Here is my GitHub repo with the MicroPython code and firmware update.

The sample code displayed in the video uses the LCD_1inch28 class from the gc9a01 library to display a message on startup and then shows text and colors in a while loop. The video shows the device running the LCD.py program from the repo.

I will update this post to explain the code used for the display loop. These photos show features like the RTC unit, buzzer, ceramic antenna, and rotary encoder:

Elecrow 1.28" Round Display - Rear

Rotary Encoder

Project Extension

I will update this project with additional pictures of the device running more of the code from the GH repo. I am working on a housing for the device and will post the STL file when it is ready for release. Thank you to Elecrow for the sample device and thank you for reading through my project!