Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I get started / where do students go to get started with the Photon?

A. See the getting started guide.

Q. What’s with the blinking? / How do I clear it?

There are a few different types of visual indicators: - Breathing: This is a gentle fade from off to on and back to off. - Blinks: There are shorter, on/off.

Combinations of color and breathing/blinking are used to indicate a variety of things:

Breathing Cyan: Connected / Healthy
Blinking Green: Looking for Internet
Blinking Blue: Listening (i.e., acting as Access Point / awaiting config)
Breathing blue: Wi-Fi Not connected
Breathing Green: Cloud not connected
Red Blinks: These are often an “SOS” pattern followed by a description of the nature of a Fault (hard crash). See Troubleshooting Modes.

Q. How do I clear all Wi-Fi credentials?

A. Hold SETUP for 10s

Q. How do to do a factory reset (clear firmware, reset credentials, etc.)?

A. Hold both buttons, release RESET and continue holding SETUP, wait for the light to go to Yellow, continue waiting for the light to go Solid white, continue to wait until the light blinks white and then release SETUP.

Q. Where can I get a list of circuits and projects for the Photon?

A1. See the SparkFun Experiment Guide for their version of the Photon.

A2. Particle provides Maker Kit Tutorials that include using the servo, WebHooks, and OLED Screens.

A3. See the Particle channel on Hackster.io

Q. Where can I get help with the Photon?

A1. Try the Particle Community Forum.

A2. Michael recommend’s Getting Started with the Photon: Making Things with the Affordable, Compact, Hackable WiFi Module by Simon Monk.

Q. How do I add a new Wi-Fi Access Point??

A. The Photon can store credentials for up to 5 access points. To add a new one: 1. Hold the SETUP button for approximately 3 seconds. The center RGB light should start flashing blue. 2. Use the Photon app on your mobile device. Repeat the process to add a new device (open the app and press the “+” in the upper left).

Q. What about services from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc.

A. Particle.io provides tutorials on Google Cloud Platform Integration and Microsoft Azure.

Q. Are there educational discounts for the Photon or different kits?

A. Educators are eligible for the Wholesale Store

Q. How can I create the circuit diagrams?

A. Use Fritzing, an open-source tool for prototyping. You can easily go between a breadboard view, an schematic view, and even layout and have a printed circuit board manufactured. It can also be used in class or a video to show how to construct a circuit rather than using a document camera.

Q. I want to do simple mobile app integration. What should I consider?

A1. Try IFTTT

A2. Consider Cayenne

A3. Look into Evothings

A4. Test Blynk

Q. Where do I get the “local” IDE.

A. Follow this link. Note that it still uses the cloud service to compile and deploy your code. (Advantages: Better syntax highlighting and command completion, simple multi-file management and your files are on your machine, and a built-in serial monitor to display the Serial debugging messages.)