Vue 2 flashes & connects to WiFi on USB power, but won't connect to the network when powered via the panel?

[Aston77]

I am having this odd situation where the Vue 2 works just as expected when it is powered via the USB programmer. I am able to flash the device and have it boot and connect to ESPHome via the USB port power, but as soon as the Vue 2 is plugged into the harness in the panel it refuses to connect to the network.

I thought it might have been interference in the panel so I tried just connecting the black/wire wires on the panel harness and changing breaker locations.

In the exact same location as soon as I switch the wiring over to USB power ...no issues.

Is there anything I could be missing that someone else sees that might be causing this issue?

Panel Harness Wiring
Black -> Breaker (phase A) (tested ~120v)
Red-> Breaker (phase B) (tested ~120v)
White-> Neutral Bar
Blue -> Neutral Bar

Note the Power (top) & WiFi (bottom) leds on USB Power

Powered off of the panel harness the WiFi led lights up by the Power does not 🤷‍♂️

And this is the error that shows up in the ESPHome device log

Code I am using (boot delay was added to see if it helped the issue...it did not)

 esphome:
  name: emporiavue1
  friendly_name: vue1

  on_boot:
    priority: 500
    then:
    - delay: 5s

external_components:
  - source: github://emporia-vue-local/esphome@dev
    components:
      - emporia_vue

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    version: recommended

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    # Encryption key is generated by the new device wizard.
    key: !secret emporiavue1_api_key

  services:
    - service: play_rtttl
      variables:
        song_str: string
      then:
        - rtttl.play:
            rtttl: !lambda 'return song_str;'

ota:
  # Create a secure password for pushing OTA updates.
  password: !secret emporiavue1_ota_password

# Enable logging
logger:
  logs:
    # by default, every reading will be printed to the UART, which is very slow
    # This will disable printing the readings but keep other helpful messages
    sensor: INFO

wifi:
  # Wifi credentials are stored securely by new device wizard.
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enables a local hotspot in the event the WiFi connection to the device fails
  ap:
    ssid: !secret emporiavue1_ap_ssid
    password: !secret emporiavue1_ap_password

  # Optional manual IP
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.1.123
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0

preferences:
  # please also make sure `restore: false` is set on all `platform: total_daily_energy`
  # sensors below.
  flash_write_interval: "48h"

output:
  - platform: ledc
    pin: GPIO12
    id: buzzer
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO27
    id: buzzer_gnd

rtttl:
  output: buzzer
  on_finished_playback:
    - logger.log: 'Song ended!'

button:
  - platform: template
    name: "Two Beeps"
    on_press:
      - rtttl.play: "two short:d=4,o=5,b=100:16e6,16e6"

light:
  - platform: status_led
    name: "D3_LED"
    pin: 23
    restore_mode: ALWAYS_ON
    entity_category: config    

i2c:
  sda: 21
  scl: 22
  scan: false
  frequency: 200kHz  # recommended range is 50-200kHz
  id: i2c_a

time:
  - platform: sntp
    id: my_time

# these are called references in YAML. They allow you to reuse
# this configuration in each sensor, while only defining it once
.defaultfilters:
  - &throttle_avg
    # average all raw readings together over a 5 second span before publishing
    throttle_average: 5s
  - &throttle_time
    # only send the most recent measurement every 60 seconds
    throttle: 60s
  - &invert
    # invert and filter out any values below 0.
    lambda: 'return max(-x, 0.0f);'
  - &pos
    # filter out any values below 0.
    lambda: 'return max(x, 0.0f);'
  - &abs
    # take the absolute value of the value
    lambda: 'return abs(x);'

sensor:
  - platform: emporia_vue
    i2c_id: i2c_a
    phases:
      - id: phase_a  # Verify that this specific phase/leg is connected to correct input wire color on device listed below
        input: BLACK  # Vue device wire color
        calibration: 0.023111138 # 0.022 is used as the default as starting point but may need adjusted to ensure accuracy
        # To calculate new calibration value use the formula <in-use calibration value> * <accurate voltage> / <reporting voltage>
        voltage:
          name: "Phase A Voltage"
          filters: [*throttle_avg, *pos]
        frequency:
          name: "Phase A Frequency"
          filters: [*throttle_avg, *pos]
      - id: phase_b  # Verify that this specific phase/leg is connected to correct input wire color on device listed below
        input: RED  # Vue device wire color
        calibration: 0.021701306 # 0.022 is used as the default as starting point but may need adjusted to ensure accuracy
        # To calculate new calibration value use the formula <in-use calibration value> * <accurate voltage> / <reporting voltage>
        voltage:
          name: "Phase B Voltage"
          filters: [*throttle_avg, *pos]
        phase_angle:
          name: "Phase B Phase Angle"
          filters: [*throttle_avg, *pos]
    ct_clamps:
      # Do not specify a name for any of the power sensors here, only an id. This leaves the power sensors internal to ESPHome.
      # Copy sensors will filter and then send power measurements to HA
      # These non-throttled power sensors are used for accurately calculating energy
      - phase_id: phase_a
        input: "A"  # Verify the CT going to this device input also matches the phase/leg
        power:
          id: phase_a_power
          filters: [*pos]
      - phase_id: phase_b
        input: "B"  # Verify the CT going to this device input also matches the phase/leg
        power:
          id: phase_b_power
          filters: [*pos]
      # Pay close attention to set the phase_id for each breaker by matching it to the phase/leg it connects to in the panel
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input:  "1", power: { id:  cir1, filters: [ *pos, multiply: 2 ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input:  "2", power: { id:  cir2, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input:  "3", power: { id:  cir3, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input:  "4", power: { id:  cir4, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input:  "5", power: { id:  cir5, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input:  "6", power: { id:  cir6, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input:  "7", power: { id:  cir7, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input:  "8", power: { id:  cir8, filters: [ *pos, multiply: 2 ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input:  "9", power: { id:  cir9, filters: [ *pos, multiply: 2 ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input: "10", power: { id: cir10, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input: "11", power: { id: cir11, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input: "12", power: { id: cir12, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_b, input: "13", power: { id: cir13, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input: "14", power: { id: cir14, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input: "15", power: { id: cir15, filters: [ *pos ] } }
      - { phase_id: phase_a, input: "16", power: { id: cir16, filters: [ *pos, multiply: 2 ] } }
    on_update:
      then:
        - component.update: total_power
        - component.update: balance_power
  # The copy sensors filter and send the power state to HA
  - { platform: copy, name: "Phase A Power", source_id: phase_a_power, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Phase B Power", source_id: phase_b_power, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Total Power", source_id: total_power, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Balance Power", source_id: balance_power, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 2 Power", source_id:  cir1, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 6 Power", source_id:  cir2, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 8 Power", source_id:  cir3, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 10 Power", source_id:  cir4, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 12 Power", source_id:  cir5, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 14 Power", source_id:  cir6, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 16 Power", source_id:  cir7, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 20 Power", source_id:  cir8, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name:  "Circuit 19 Power", source_id:  cir9, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 17 Power", source_id: cir10, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 15 Power", source_id: cir11, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 13 Power", source_id: cir12, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 11 Power", source_id: cir13, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 9 Power", source_id: cir14, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 5 Power", source_id: cir15, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - { platform: copy, name: "Circuit 1 Power", source_id: cir16, filters: *throttle_avg }
  - platform: template
    lambda: return id(phase_a_power).state + id(phase_b_power).state;
    update_interval: never   # will be updated after all power sensors update via on_update trigger
    id: total_power
    device_class: power
    state_class: measurement
    unit_of_measurement: "W"
  - platform: total_daily_energy
    name: "Total Daily Energy"
    power_id: total_power
    accuracy_decimals: 0
    restore: false
    filters: *throttle_time
  - platform: template
    lambda: !lambda |-
      return max(0.0f, id(total_power).state -
        id( cir1).state -
        id( cir2).state -
        id( cir3).state -
        id( cir4).state -
        id( cir5).state -
        id( cir6).state -
        id( cir7).state -
        id( cir8).state -
        id( cir9).state -
        id(cir10).state -
        id(cir11).state -
        id(cir12).state -
        id(cir13).state -
        id(cir14).state -
        id(cir15).state);
#       id(cir16).state);
    update_interval: never   # will be updated after all power sensors update via on_update trigger
    id: balance_power
    device_class: power
    state_class: measurement
    unit_of_measurement: "W"
  - platform: total_daily_energy
    name: "Balance Daily Energy"
    power_id: balance_power
    accuracy_decimals: 0
    restore: false
    filters: *throttle_time
  - { power_id:  cir1, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 2 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir2, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 6 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir3, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 8 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir4, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 10 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir5, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 12 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir6, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 14 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir7, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 16 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir8, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 20 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id:  cir9, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name:  "Circuit 19 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir10, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 17 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir11, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 15 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir12, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 13 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir13, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 11 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir14, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 9 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir15, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 5 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }
  - { power_id: cir16, platform: total_daily_energy, accuracy_decimals: 0, restore: false, name: "Circuit 1 Daily Energy", filters: *throttle_time }

[flaviut]

Are you testing this with the antenna plugged in? Also be careful when screwing on the antenna so that it bottoms out on the antenna connector, not on the nut that's supposed to hold it in the case.

[Aston77]

I've tested it both ways.

When it is only powered via the USB it will connect to the WiFi with or without the external antenna connected.

That is what is soo odd

[flaviut]

I agree! If you've completely eliminated poor antenna connection as an issue, I think the main thing that's left is interference from the power lines getting into your system. The Vue has the standard filtering components in this regard, but maybe your home's power is especially nasty for some reason? Is there anything unusual about it?

I hate to suggest this because this dangerous, would personally exceed my risk tolerance if it was 240V, and will likely reduce accuracy slightly, but there are components designed to filter out noise from the power lines. The wisdom of using them in this way is questionable, since they are not intended for this application, but it is possible.

[Darkyputz]

Did you ever get this resolved?
I am looking at the same exact problem and don't know further. Almost going to run this thing via usb in the breaker box.
I also have the on top issue that i have to have my en and gio0 connected to the usb flasher to work as yours does.
Of course antenna and all checked.
HELP

[Aston77]

Did you ever get this resolved? I am looking at the same exact problem and don't know further. Almost going to run this thing via usb in the breaker box. I also have the on top issue that i have to have my en and gio0 connected to the usb flasher to work as yours does. Of course antenna and all checked. HELP

I found I was getting 5v on the 3.3v pin and for the life of me could figure out what the cause was. After desoldering the 5v pin I was able to determine that I had a TINY hair of solder that was jumpering the pins below the plastic base.