esp8266voltage-regulator
Below is the link for the famous smt module ESP8266-12E. In the link appears the module and another component which package is 8 SOIC. I am thinking that it should be the voltage regulator for the esp module. What are you thinking? It's written "SergMicro 25Q32ASSC6 1403" when searching with Google about any of those items I can not find any result. Does someone know what is this component?
Link : https://www.adafruit.com/products/2491
Modules like the ESP8266 which have no on-board regulator but do need a regulated power supply. Indeed, a power supply voltage that is too low will cause the module to reset.
What I would do in your case is get a boost module like this one to convert the voltage from the batteries to 3.3 V. On the module there's a trimmer to set the output to 3.3 V, set this BEFORE connecting the ESP8266 because such an upconverter module can easily generate 12 V which would fry the ESP module !
According to the schematics of the board, there is a diode (D1) between the VDD5V and the VDDUSB net to prevent any current flowing back, towards the laptop's USB port.
Just make sure that you connect your external power supply's GND to your board's GND, and the 3.3 V to the board's 3.3 V pin.
Best Answer
That's the SPI Flash needed for the ESP8266. It is a standard SPI 32 M-Bit (4 MegaByte) flash eeprom 25Q32, so any similar data sheet for similar brands will work. It is not a regulator. The module you are looking at is the bare ESP8266 module.
It does not include the typical breakout board, which brings the pins out to standard 0.1" headers, has reverse voltage protection, a linear regulator, or extra features. Adafruit sells the completed module + breakout as the Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 breakout.