Simple USB->3.3V Serial For Prototyping - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 11:28:15 pm
content: I just bought a couple of these USB -> Serial TTL cables for a project I am prototyping. It just doesn't get any easier than this!https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12977The IO lines are 3.3V so they will work with just about everything we're currently using and the VCC pin will supply some amount of 5V but I don't generally have a need for that.I suppose everybody on the planet already knows about these but, just in case, I thought I would pass it along. Absolutely zero installation under Win 10 but that may be because I use a bunch of USB attachments and the driver might have been known.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 12:04:18 am
content: Just your everyday off-the-shelf FT232R in a plug. FTDI even make them themselves.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 03:04:23 am
content: That's exactly what it is. Nothing super duper but I hadn't seen that form factor before. I have a number of alternatives but this one seems perfect for breadboarding.As I said, I'm always the last to get the word...

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 03:09:40 am
content: I've got a couple of these; switchable 3v3 / 5v

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 01:17:49 pm
content: Quote from: boffin on August 17, 2016, 03:09:40 amDid you measure the outputs ?I had some of those CH430's , where the switch was changing the VC pin, but not the V(io)Meaning i always had 5v on the output lines/Bingo

author: martinayotte
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2016, 01:31:00 pm
content: All the USB-CH34x I own provide that jumper, allowing to switch the VCC pin of the CH34x itself, therefore the I/O are switched too.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 09:19:59 am
content: I use those:http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/RPi.htmSuper simple and works with every mcu running on 3.3V.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 11:41:50 am
content: a good source for such cables would be nokia data cables. Cut it open and you have all the wires you need.

author: newbrain
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 01:01:12 pm
content: I'm a cheapskate. I mostly use ST-Links V2.1 snatched from ST Nucleo boards.Also, the bottom board of a Witty Cloud.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 03:08:25 pm
content: If you are going to bite the bullet and buy a genuine FTDI cable, consider their TTL-232RG-VIP-WE cable. It doesn't output power, but has a target Vdd connection that sets the logic levels anywhere between 1.8V and 5V. Truly a universal cable, just add whatever connector you need.If you need a power output and variable I/O levels you need to either start from a 3rd party FT232R breakout board or hack a FTDI PCB only module to isolate VccIO and feed it whatever I/O voltage level you need. I believe the TTL-232R-5V-PCB and TTL-232R-3V3-PCB boards only difference is whether R3 or R4 on the revers ois populated with a zero ohm jumper. If you remove it, the common point should be VccIO.Ftdi cables here:http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBTTLSerial.htmSparkfun do a FTDI FT232R breakout board.https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12731Disable or remove S1, and VccIO is easily accessable.

author: UncleSam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 11:12:38 pm
content: Does anybody know if this interface will work for the PIC under debian linux?BTW, here's another vendorhttps://www.adafruit.com/product/954

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 11:32:31 pm
content: One of my customers went through FT232 based boards like a kid goes through a bag with candy so I needed a way more rugged solution than just a chip with bare wires and needed so many that I turned it into a product. It is based on a CP2103 and besides RX, TX, CTS and RTS UART signals it also has RS485 (for short range), a 3.3V 90mA output (or external 1.8V to 3.3V input) and it can be used as an NXP LPC1000/LPC2000 programmer. At 80 euro (ex. VAT but including EEVblog discount) it isn't cheap but so far none has failed even though some are hot-plugged all day long in a production line (which the FT323 based boards didn't survive even with 1k series resistors on rx/tx).

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 04:06:39 am
content: Not cheap, but great cables:https://www.gearmo.com/shop/usb-to-3-3v-ttl-pin-header-cable-gm-ttl3vt/?pk_campaign=googleshop&gclid=CNWak9nQ0c4CFUmRfgodxJoEjg

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 04:27:32 am
content: Quote from: LabSpokane on August 21, 2016, 04:06:39 amTotally not the FTDI one with a 25% markup.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2016, 07:01:41 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on August 21, 2016, 04:27:32 amThey're not. And you need to learn to convert pounds to dollars. What I posted is $20 delivered from Amazon. The FTDI Is also $20 USD.The Gearmo cables also have handy ex/tx lights in the USB plug.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2016, 01:48:27 pm
content: Quote from: LabSpokane on August 22, 2016, 07:01:41 amNo, I don't need to learn how to deal with my own currency, which was at no point involved in the comparison.You linked to a product at $24.95, and FTDI cables have LEDs, too!