Adafruit
Adafruit WCH CH9102F Friend - USB to Serial Converter
The Adafruit CH9102F Friend is a USB-to-Serial converter breakout featuring the affordable WCH CH9102F chip and a modern USB Type-C connector. It uploads cod...
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The Adafruit CH9102F Friend is a USB-to-Serial converter breakout featuring the affordable WCH CH9102F chip and a modern USB Type-C connector. It uploads code at up to 3 Mbit/s and includes auto-reset for Arduino/ATmega328 boards — no manual pin manipulation needed.
The pinout matches standard FTDI cables by default: RTS on pin 6, +5V power, and 3.3V signal levels (5V compliant). It works with any Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, or other microcontroller that uses an FTDI-style serial port for communication and code upload. All modem control pins (DTR, RI, DSR, etc.) are broken out on the side for advanced use.
Key Features
- CH9102F USB-Serial Chip – Affordable, widely available, with good driver support
- USB Type-C Connector – Works with any modern computer
- Up to 3 Mbit/s – Fast upload speeds for quick development
- Auto-Reset – Automatic reset for Arduino/ATmega328 boards via RTS/DTR
- FTDI-Compatible Pinout – Drop-in replacement for FTDI cables
- 3.3V Signal Levels – 5V compliant for compatibility with most 3.3V and 5V systems
- Full Modem Control Pins – DTR, RTS, RI, DSR, DCD, and CTS broken out
- RX/TX LEDs – Visual indication of data activity
Ideal For
- Programming Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, and other FTDI-port microcontrollers
- USB-to-serial debugging and communication
- Replacing FTDI, FT231x, or CP210x adapters
- Serial console access to embedded systems
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit CH9102F Friend (fully assembled and tested)
- 1× Right-angle socket header (for FTDI-style edge connection)
- 1× Male header strip (for breadboard use)
Resources
- WCH USB-Serial Driver Installation Guide – Windows and macOS driver setup
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- CTS
- CTS stands for Clear To Send, a serial flow-control signal that tells the other device it may transmit. It matters for reliable high-speed serial communication where buffers could otherwise overflow.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- RTS
- RTS stands for Request To Send, a serial flow-control signal used to manage when a device is ready to receive data. It matters when moving fast serial streams because flow control can help prevent lost data.
- RX
- RX means receive, usually showing data being received by the board. An RX indicator LED can help with troubleshooting USB or serial communication.
- TX
- TX means transmit, usually showing data being sent from the board. A TX indicator LED can help you see when the board is communicating or uploading code.
- Type-C
- USB Type-C (USB-C) is a small, reversible USB connector used for charging, power, and data transfer on many modern devices. A Type-C port or plug indicates the cable and charger connection needed to power, charge, or communicate with a device.
- USB Type-C
- USB Type-C is a small, reversible USB connector used for power, data and sometimes video on many modern devices. The connector itself does not guarantee a particular speed or voltage, so check the supported USB version, data rate and whether it carries more than 5V via USB Power Delivery.
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how to install drivers for wch usb to serial chips ch9102f ch9102
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