SSD1683 eInk Display with GxEPD and ESP32 (and CrowPanel 4.2″ HMI): basics and configuration

by Renzo Mischianti · Published 27 June 2025 · Updated 27 June 2025

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ePaper (or eInk) displays are a fascinating technology that allows ultra-low power consumption and excellent readability in direct sunlight. In this article, we’ll explore how to use ePaper displays based on the SSD1683 controller, widely adopted in 4.2″ monochrome screens, and we’ll dive into the CrowPanel ESP32-S3 4.2” E-paper HMI Display, a powerful all-in-one solution.

Introduction to SSD1683 ePaper displays

The SSD1683 is a controller designed for ePaper panels. It supports a resolution up to 400×300 pixels and is ideal for 4.2″ monochrome displays. This kind of display is often used in low-power applications such as weather stations, smart tags, and shelf labels.

Display’s Basic parameters

Product size: 4.2 inch
Resolution: 400×300
PPI: 119.05
Color: Black and White
Driver IC: SSD1683
Interface: SPI
Operating voltage: 3.3V
Operating temperature: 0-50 ℃

Display’s Main features

Display feature: Bistable display (retains the current content after a power outage)
Display mode: Pure reflection
Viewing angle: Wide viewing angle exceeding 170 degrees
Surface Treatment: Hard-coated for anti-glare effects
Energy conservation: No power consumption when not refreshing the screen
Eye Protection: No blue light emission, zero radiation

Wiring the SSD1683 to an ESP32/ESP8266

To interface a generic SSD1683 eInk display with your ESP32 or ESP8266, you’ll need to wire the following:

SSD1683 Pin	Description	ESP32 Example
VCC	Power	3.3V
GND	Ground	GND
SDA	MOSI	GPIO 23
SDL	SCK	GPIO 18
CS	Chip Select	GPIO 5
DC	Data/Command	GPIO 17
RST	Reset	GPIO 16
BUSY	Busy	GPIO 4

Note: always double check voltage requirements and pinout of your specific display module.

Here to buy e-ink display (my choice) CrowPanel ESP32 4.2” E-paper HMI Display - CrowPanel ESP32 4.2” E-paper HMI Display from ALiexpress - WeAct 4.2" Epaper Module SSD1683

Installing and using GxEPD library

We’ll use the popular GxEPD library, which supports many ePaper controllers, including SSD1683.

Install GxEPD:

Open Arduino IDE
Go to Library Manager (Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries…)
Search and install GxEPD

Basic example for SSD1683:

/*
  Generic 4.2" SSD1683 ePaper Display Demo
  Author: Renzo Mischianti
  Website: https://mischianti.org

  Description:
  This sketch demonstrates how to initialize and display
  text on a generic 4.2" ePaper display with SSD1683 controller
  using the GxEPD2 library and an ESP32.
*/

#include <GxEPD2_BW.h>
#include <Arduino.h>

// ==============================
// Pin definitions (adjust as needed)
// ==============================
#define EPD_CS    5   // Chip Select
#define EPD_DC    17  // Data/Command
#define EPD_RST   16  // Reset
#define EPD_BUSY  4   // Busy

// =================================
// E-paper power & control pin defs
// =================================
//#define EPD_PWR        7   // Power‐enable pin: HIGH = display powered on, LOW = off
//#define EPD_BUSY       48  // BUSY pin from panel: HIGH = busy drawing, LOW = ready
//#define EPD_RST        47  // RST (Reset) pin: pulse LOW to reset the panel
//#define EPD_DC         46  // D/C (Data/Command) pin: LOW = command, HIGH = data
//#define EPD_CS         45  // CS (Chip Select) pin for SPI transactions


// ==============================
// Instantiate the e-paper object
// ==============================
// Using SSD1683 4.2" display, 400x300px resolution
GxEPD2_BW<GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87, GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87::HEIGHT> display(GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87(EPD_CS, EPD_DC, EPD_RST, EPD_BUSY));

// ==============================
// Power control function (optional) Only for CrowPanel
// ==============================
#ifdef EPD_PWR
	void epdPower(int state) {
	  pinMode(EPD_PWR, OUTPUT);
	  digitalWrite(EPD_PWR, state);
	}
}
#endif

// ==============================
// Display initialization
// ==============================
void epdInit() {
  display.init(115200, true, 50, false);  // SPI speed, reset, pulse ms, skip init
  display.setRotation(0);                 // 0 = portrait; adjust if needed
  display.setTextColor(GxEPD_BLACK);      // Draw in black
  display.setTextSize(2);                 // Font scaling
  display.setFullWindow();                // Full buffer mode
}

void setup() {
  // Enable power rail if used
#ifdef EPD_PWR
  epdPower(HIGH);
#endif

  epdInit();

  display.fillScreen(GxEPD_WHITE);              // Clear display
  display.drawRect(0, 0, 400, 300, GxEPD_BLACK); // Draw border
  display.setCursor(40, 130);                   // Set cursor
  display.print("Hello from mischianti.org!");  // Print message
  display.display();                            // Refresh screen
  display.hibernate();                          // Sleep mode
#ifdef EPD_PWR
  epdPower(LOW);                                // Cut power (optional)
#endif
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing here — everything runs once in setup()
}

Here the result

Understanding refresh behavior

eInk screens don’t work like TFTs. You must call display.display() to actually update the screen. Additionally, partial updates are tricky and slower than TFT redraws, but they consume far less power and do not require a backlight.

Advanced: partial refresh

GxEPD allows partial update on some displays. To avoid ghosting and flashing, call display.refresh(true); for full clean update occasionally.

Spotlight: CrowPanel ESP32-S3 4.2” E-paper HMI Display

The CrowPanel ESP32-S3 4.2″ is a powerful integrated solution combining:

4.2″ eInk 400×300 SSD1683 display
ESP32-S3 MCU (with USB and PSRAM)
USB-C for programming and power
Touch buttons (capacitive)
IO breakout (headers and JST)
MicroSD slot
RTC, buzzer, and more

Pinout reference:

Refer to my full article: CrowPanel ESP32-S3 4.2” HMI – Pinout and Specs

You can use the same GxEPD library with the following default pins:

Function	Pin
CS	45
DC	46
RST	47
BUSY	48
PWR	7

// =================================
// E-paper power & control pin defs
// =================================
#define PWR        7   // Power‐enable pin: HIGH = display powered on, LOW = off
#define BUSY       48  // BUSY pin from panel: HIGH = busy drawing, LOW = ready
#define RST        47  // RST (Reset) pin: pulse LOW to reset the panel
#define DC         46  // D/C (Data/Command) pin: LOW = command, HIGH = data
#define CS         45  // CS (Chip Select) pin for SPI transactions

// ==============================
// Instantiate the e-paper object
// ==============================
// Using SSD1683 4.2" display, 400x300px resolution
GxEPD2_BW<GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87, GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87::HEIGHT> display(GxEPD2_420_GYE042A87(EPD_CS, EPD_DC, EPD_RST, EPD_BUSY));

Tip: The CrowPanel is ideal for building sophisticated low-power GUIs with custom touch menus or IoT dashboards.

Power considerations

The CrowPanel can be powered via USB-C or battery. Thanks to the ePaper display, you can keep it in deep sleep most of the time and wake it periodically to refresh the content — ideal for battery-powered weather stations, clocks, and status panels.

Thanks

With the fundamentals of wiring, SPI configuration, and screen updates now in place, you’re ready to take your eInk projects further. In upcoming articles, we’ll dive into advanced graphics: you’ll learn how to load and render custom fonts, draw vector shapes, and display images on your SSD1683 panel. Finally, in our last installment, we’ll combine everything you’ve learned to build a simple weather station—complete with live temperature, humidity, and forecast data—right on your 4.2″ CrowPanel HMI. Stay tuned!