ESP32 cameras catching on fire!



  • Hi, I bought a quantity of M5Stack ESP32 camera module this years and I have had 2 of the cameras literally smoking and catching on fire.
    Internal examination of the camera showed that there seemed to be a 3v3 regulator failure which resulted in 5V from the USB going directly to the ESP32 causing it to overheat, crack and burn.
    I have a third camera on the bench now and it is plugged into a 5v laboratory power supply. It initially took just under 300mA sitting there but it has just jumped to > 2000mA and so I have switched it off.
    Is this a known issue with these cameras?
    As it stands I can't really use any of the 30 cameras I bought due to the fire risk they pose.
    Regards,
    Ingmar
    Australia