FTDI Basic Breakout 3.3/5V (Arduino Compatible)

This FTDI Basic Breakout Board is designed for the FTDI FT232RL USB to serial IC. Its pinout matches the FTDI cable, making it compatible with official Arduino and cloned 3.3V Arduino boards. It's also great for general serial applications. The key feature is that it brings out the DTR pin instead of the RTS pin on the FTDI cable. The DTR pin enables an Arduino target to auto - reset when a new Sketch is downloaded, so you don't have to hit the reset button. The pins labeled BLK and GRN correspond to the black (GND) and green (DTR) wires on the FTDI cable, which helps you align the board with your Arduino. There are differences between the FTDI Cable and this FTDI Basic Board. This board has TX and RX LEDs to let you see serial traffic and verify its operation, but it requires a miniB cable. The FTDI Cable is well - protected but large and hard to embed in projects. The FTDI Basic uses DTR for hardware reset while the FTDI cable uses the RTS signal. This board is designed to cut down the cost of Arduino development and enhance usability with its awesome auto - reset feature. We made minor silk - screen changes, and in programming, you need to connect 'TX' to 'TX' and 'RX' to 'RX'. Our Arduino Pro and LilyPad boards use this type of connector. Specifications include a 3.3/5V output that's switchable via jumpers. Documents available are schematics. The shipping list includes one FTDI Basic Breakout 3.3/5V board.

Using the FTDI Basic Breakout Board is quite straightforward. First, connect it to your Arduino board. Use the BLK and GRN pins to align it with the corresponding colored wires on the FTDI cable. The black wire on the cable is for GND and the green one is for DTR. When programming, connect 'TX' to 'TX' and 'RX' to 'RX'. The great thing is that when you download a new Sketch, the board will auto - reset the Arduino, so you don't have to manually press the reset button. As for power, you can switch between 3.3V and 5V output using the jumpers. There are TX and RX LEDs on the board. If you see them lighting up, it means the board is working and you can see the serial traffic. Remember, this board needs a miniB cable. When it comes to maintenance, keep it in a dry and clean place. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture. If you have any issues, check the schematics provided to troubleshoot.