ESP32 - supported types of microsd cards

[sazanof]

Hello. In my project, I use storing the web interface on a memory card. I couldn't get ESP 32 to recognize the card for a very long time. I've tried a lot of options.

regular microsd 1gb - error (type not supported)
16GB microsdhc memory card - CRC verification error
4gb MICROSDHC U-1 memory card - everything is fine
64gb Samsung evo microsd U-1 - everything is fine

(pullup-s enabled)

See file below

I don't need to use memory cards > 4gb

Q: What types of cards are supported in ESP32? I have not found clear information in order to definitely know what to buy. I would not like to play the lottery. Tell me, please .

[ESP_rrtandler]

Hi sazanof,

There is no list of supported types of micro SD cards available.

To help you with the reliability of the SD card use could you share the particular type of ESP32 device (module) you are using and code fragment showing, how is the SD/MMC driver initialised, respective where does the error codes you have mentioned come from ?

Could you also clarify whether you have software enabled pull-ups on the respective GPIOs in ESP32, or physically attached (soldered) pull-up resistors ?

[sazanof]

ESP_rrtandler! I'm sorry, I missed your answer!
SO, I tested many variants. Module I use are:

photo_2025-02-04_11-49-17.jpg (273.26 KiB) Viewed 2722 times

All modules based on ESP-WROOM-32 ESP32-WROOM-32UE

Code: [Select all] [Expand/Collapse]

1. Chip is ESP32-D0WD-V3 (revision v3.1)
2. Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None
3. .........
4. I (31) boot: ESP-IDF v5.4 2nd stage bootloader
5. I (31) boot: compile time Feb  4 2025 10:24:37
6. I (31) boot: Multicore bootloader
7. I (32) boot: chip revision: v3.1
8. I (35) boot.esp32: SPI Speed      : 40MHz
9. I (39) boot.esp32: SPI Mode       : DIO
10. I (42) boot.esp32: SPI Flash Size : 4MB

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Adapter I using has 10K pullup resistors, also on my custom board pullup resistors exists too.
PIN MAP:

Code: [Select all] [Expand/Collapse]

1. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_FORMAT_IF_MOUNT_FAILED=y
2. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_FORMAT_SD_CARD=y
3. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_PIN_MOSI=23
4. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_PIN_MISO=19
5. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_PIN_CLK=18
6. CONFIG_EXAMPLE_PIN_CS=27

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Cards I using:

photo_2025-02-04_12-00-54.jpg (116.74 KiB) Viewed 2722 times

Of course, I would like to save money and use 4-32GB memory cards.

Code example, I using - https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/bl ... /README.md

Debug logs (LOG LEVEL DEBUG)

Full log since boot - https://gist.github.com/sazanof/8d0a382 ... a746232306

Code: [Select all] [Expand/Collapse]

1. D (725) spi_flash: trying chip: issi
2. D (729) spi_flash: trying chip: gd
3. D (732) spi_flash: trying chip: mxic
4. D (736) spi_flash: trying chip: winbond
5. D (740) spi_flash: trying chip: generic
6. I (744) spi_flash: detected chip: generic
7. I (748) spi_flash: flash io: dio
8. .....
9. I (815) main_task: Calling app_main()
10. I (825) example: Initializing SD card
11. I (825) example: Using SPI peripheral
12. D (835) spi: SPI2 use gpio matrix.
13. I (835) example: Mounting filesystem
14. D (835) sdspi_host: sdspi_host_init_device: SPI2 cs=27 cd=-1 wp=-1 wp_polarity:0
15. D (845) intr_alloc: Connected src 30 to int 5 (cpu 0)
16. D (855) spi_hal: eff: 400, limit: 26666k(/2), 0 dummy, -1 delay
17. D (855) spi_master: SPI2: New device added to CS5, effective clock: 400000 Hz
18. I (865) gpio: GPIO[27]| InputEn: 0| OutputEn: 1| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 0| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
19. D (875) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
20. D (875) spi_master: device5 release bus
21. D (885) sdspi_host: sdspi_host_start_command: cmd=52 error=0x107
22. D (885) sdmmc_cmd: cmd=52, sdmmc_req_run returned 0x107
23. D (895) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
24. D (895) spi_master: device5 release bus
25. D (925) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
26. D (925) spi_master: device5 release bus
27. D (945) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
28. D (945) spi_master: device5 release bus
29. D (945) sdmmc_sd: SDHC/SDXC card
30. D (945) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
31. D (945) spi_master: device5 release bus
32. D (945) sdspi_host: sdspi_host_start_command: cmd=5 error=0x107
33. D (955) sdmmc_cmd: cmd=5, sdmmc_req_run returned 0x107
34. D (955) sdmmc_io: sdmmc_init_io: io_send_op_cond (1) returned 0x107; not IO card
35. D (965) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
36. D (975) spi_master: device5 release bus
37. D (975) sdspi_host: data CRC set=1
38. D (975) sdspi_transaction: cmd=59, R1 response: command not supported
39. D (985) sdmmc_cmd: cmd=59, sdmmc_req_run returned 0x106
40. E (995) sdmmc_sd: sdmmc_init_spi_crc: sdmmc_send_cmd_crc_on_off returned 0x106
41. D (995) sdmmc_init: sdmmc_card_init: sdmmc_init_spi_crc returned 0x106
42. E (1005) vfs_fat_sdmmc: sdmmc_card_init failed (0x106).
43. I (1015) gpio: GPIO[27]| InputEn: 1| OutputEn: 0| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 0| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
44. E (1025) example: Failed to initialize the card (ESP_ERR_NOT_SUPPORTED). Make sure SD card lines have pull-up resistors in place.
45. I (1035) main_task: Returned from app_main()

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Schematics I using on custom board:

photo_2025-02-04_12-17-06.jpg (171.14 KiB) Viewed 2722 times

Success connection of 64Gb card (log output): https://gist.github.com/sazanof/c7a9075 ... 7d137f2f43

Code: [Select all] [Expand/Collapse]

1. I (825) example: Initializing SD card
2. I (825) example: Using SPI peripheral
3. D (835) spi: SPI2 use gpio matrix.
4. I (835) example: Mounting filesystem
5. D (835) sdspi_host: sdspi_host_init_device: SPI2 cs=27 cd=-1 wp=-1 wp_polarity:0
6. D (845) intr_alloc: Connected src 30 to int 5 (cpu 0)
7. D (855) spi_hal: eff: 400, limit: 26666k(/2), 0 dummy, -1 delay
8. D (855) spi_master: SPI2: New device added to CS5, effective clock: 400000 Hz
9. I (865) gpio: GPIO[27]| InputEn: 0| OutputEn: 1| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 0| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
10. D (875) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
11. D (875) spi_master: device5 release bus
12. I (885) sdspi_transaction: cmd=52, R1 response: command not supported
13. D (895) sdmmc_cmd: cmd=52, sdmmc_req_run returned 0x106
14. D (895) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
15. ......
16. D (945) sdmmc_sd: SDHC/SDXC card
17. D (945) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
18. D (945) spi_master: device5 release bus
19. I (945) sdspi_transaction: cmd=5, R1 response: command not supported
20. D (955) sdmmc_cmd: cmd=5, sdmmc_req_run returned 0x106
21. D (965) sdmmc_io: sdmmc_init_io: io_send_op_cond (1) returned 0x106; not IO card
22. D (965) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
23. D (975) spi_master: device5 release bus
24. D (975) sdspi_host: data CRC set=1
25. D (975) spi_master: device5 locked the bus
26. ...
27. D (1025) sdmmc_common: host_ocr=0xff8000 card_ocr=0xc0ff8000
28. D (1025) sdmmc_common: sdmmc_card_init: host_ocr=00ff8000, card_ocr=c0ff8000
29. D (1035) sdmmc_init: sdmmc_card_init: card type is SD
30. ...
31. D (1085) sdspi_host: Setting card clock to 10000 kHz
32. D (1095) spi_hal: eff: 10000, limit: 26666k(/2), 0 dummy, -1 delay
33. D (1095) spi_master: SPI2: New device added to CS5, effective clock: 10000000 Hz
34. ...
35. D (1125) vfs_fat_sdmmc: using pdrv=0
36. ...
37. I (1185) example: Filesystem mounted
38. Name: EC1S5
39. Type: SDHC
40. Speed: 10.00 MHz (limit: 10.00 MHz)
41. Size: 61120MB
42. CSD: ver=2, sector_size=512, capacity=125173760 read_bl_len=9
43. SSR: bus_width=1
44. I (1205) example: Opening file /sdcard/hello.txt
45. ...
46. I (1755) example: File written
47. I (1765) example: Reading file /sdcard/nihao.txt
48. ...
49. I (1805) example: Read from file: 'Nihao EC1S5!'
50. I (1805) gpio: GPIO[27]| InputEn: 1| OutputEn: 0| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 0| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
51. I (1815) example: Card unmounted
52. I (1815) gpio: GPIO[23]| InputEn: 0| OutputEn: 0| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 1| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
53. I (1825) gpio: GPIO[19]| InputEn: 0| OutputEn: 0| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 1| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0
54. I (1835) gpio: GPIO[18]| InputEn: 0| OutputEn: 0| OpenDrain: 0| Pullup: 1| Pulldown: 0| Intr:0

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But other SD cards - ERROR. Can you help me to solve problem?

[nopnop2002]

This may be related to the power consumption of the micro SD card.

Even Linux machines that use an SD card as a boot device, such as RaspberryPi, cannot be booted from an SD card that consumes a lot of power.

[sazanof]

This may be related to the power consumption of the micro SD card.

Even Linux machines that use an SD card as a boot device, such as RaspberryPi, cannot be booted from an SD card that consumes a lot of power.

I've never had any problems with RPI + Sd. I don't think Microsd cards are made so that they can't be used in 90% of cases. In addition, judging by the lack of sane information and solutions to problems with memory cards, we can conclude that either 90% of the cards are not supported by SPI, or 90% of ESP32 users do not use memory cards in their projects.

[ESP_rrtandler]

Hi sazanof,

I wouldn't completely exclude the influence of the power supply. See the issue reported here
https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/12986
I do not see where does your board get the power. I assume the power supply in your case is provided by the ESP programmer. You may try to power the board using external 3.3V power supply and retry the failing cards as this approach helped the linked issue.

[sazanof]

Hi sazanof,

I wouldn't completely exclude the influence of the power supply. See the issue reported here
https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/12986
I do not see where does your board get the power. I assume the power supply in your case is provided by the ESP programmer. You may try to power the board using external 3.3V power supply and retry the failing cards as this approach helped the linked issue.

Hi! I am usin also LD33V (3,3V 1A) voltage regulator.

photo_2025-02-10_18-17-19.jpg (160.1 KiB) Viewed 1851 times

How much energy consumption of microsd?

[ESP_rrtandler]

In the logs of the working / failing card, the main difference I see, is the error code returned by the library when it tries to get the characteristics of the card. While the working card responses with 0x106 which means not supported, the failing card case shows 0x107 which means timeout. Situation very similar to this was discussed here:
https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/8582
and here:
https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/8683

You may check the signal idle voltage levels at your SD card and if you have oscilloscope, then also the voltage range of the signal to exclude the cases described in the links above.

[sazanof]

You may check the signal idle voltage levels at your SD card and if you have oscilloscope, then also the voltage range of the signal to exclude the cases described in the links above.

I'm not good at working with an oscilloscope. Here's what happened to do. If I did something wrong, please tell me how to connect what and where to measure the signal.
1 channel - MISO
2 channel - MOSI

Tests with working card. the screenshots show the moment when the sd card is turned on and the moment when it is read.

microsd-ocs.png (336.96 KiB) Viewed 1603 times

[sazanof]

Friends, do you have any idea what's wrong with sd cards or their software support? Check out the pictures above that I sent. So far, the problem has remained the same.