Adafruit
Adafruit PiUART - USB Console and Power Add-on for Raspberry Pi
The Adafruit PiUART is a compact add-on that provides USB serial console access and switchable power for your Raspberry Pi. It plugs directly onto the GPIO h...
The Adafruit PiUART is a compact add-on that provides USB serial console access and switchable power for your Raspberry Pi. It plugs directly onto the GPIO header and connects to your computer via a Micro-USB cable, giving you instant terminal access to the Pi's console — perfect for headless setups where you don't have a monitor or keyboard attached.
The board also includes an on/off switch with a 4A transistor, letting you power and control your Pi through a single USB cable. Low-power models like the Pi Zero and A+ can be powered directly from a computer USB port; higher-draw models like the Pi 2 or 3 may require a high-current USB port.
Key Features
- USB-to-Serial Console – Micro-USB connection provides serial terminal access to the Pi's UART console
- On/Off Power Switch – 4A transistor switch lets you cut power without unplugging the cable
- RX/TX LEDs – Visual indicators blink when data is being sent or received
- Plug-and-Play – Fully assembled; plugs directly onto the Pi GPIO header
- Single-Cable Operation – Power and console access through one Micro-USB cable (on supported Pi models)
Compatibility
- Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Raspberry Pi Zero / Zero 2 W
- Any Raspberry Pi with a GPIO header
Ideal For
- Headless Raspberry Pi setup and configuration
- Debugging boot issues and kernel messages via serial console
- Portable Pi Zero projects needing power and console in one cable
- Remote Pi management without SSH or network access
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit PiUART (fully assembled)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
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Brands
Raspberry Pi
