SparkFun
SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout - CH340G
The SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout is an easy-to-use USB-to-Serial adapter based on the CH340G IC from WCH. It works with 5V and 3.3V systems and should a...
The SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout is an easy-to-use USB-to-Serial adapter based on the CH340G IC from WCH. It works with 5V and 3.3V systems and should auto install on most operating systems without the need for additional drivers. The Serial Basic uses the CH340G IC to quickly and easily convert serial signals to USB. It’s a great lower-cost alternative to the extremely popular FTDI Basic.
The pinout of the Serial Basic mimics the common DTR/RX/TX/VCC/CTS/GND pinout found on hundreds of FTDI-to-USB derivatives. It can also be used as a general serial device for debugging (such as with a GPS module). There is a jumper on the rear of the board that controls the output voltage on the VCC pin. By default, the board outputs 3.3V and has 3.3V signals. Changing this jumper to 5V will cause the board to output 5V on the VCC pin with 5V signals.
Get Started with the Serial Basic Breakout
Documents:
- Schematic
- Eagle Files
- Hookup Guide
- Datasheet (CH340G)
- Drivers
- GitHub
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine 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.
- GPS
- The US satellite navigation system used by GNSS receivers to calculate position and time. Support for GPS is important because it is widely available and often used together with other constellations for more reliable positioning.
Find this product in
Brands
Prototyping & Wiring
SparkFun Serial Basic CH340 Schematic
Schematic · 66.7 KB · Click any page to view full size
CH340G Datasheet
Datasheet · 144.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 1.2 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
SparkFun Serial Basic CH340 Eagle Files
Schematic · ZIP · 129.7 KB
Eagle PCB design files for the SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout - CH340G
Windows CH340 Driver
Driver · ZIP · 144.5 KB
USB serial driver package for Windows for the CH340G-based board
Linux CH340 Driver
Driver · ZIP · 8.5 KB
USB serial driver package for Linux for the CH340G-based board
Mac CH340 Driver
Driver · ZIP · 148.5 KB
USB serial driver package for macOS for the CH340G-based board
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
