SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout - CH340C and USB-C

The SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout - USB-C is the latest evolution of our easy-to-use USB-to-Serial adapters. Built around the CH340C IC, this board upgrades you to the modern USB-C connector, effectively future-proofing your toolkit. It works with both 5V and 3.3V systems and, thanks to the CH340C architecture, installs automatically on most operating systems without requiring additional drivers.

The USB-C Advantage

We’ve finally solved the universally frustrating dilemma of plugging in a USB cable correctly: the connector is fully reversible. But beyond convenience, this upgrade packs a punch for your projects. Leveraging the USB-C standard, this board can deliver up to 1.5A of power at 5V (that's up to three times more than previous USB generations) making it ideal for power-hungry applications without requiring a separate power supply.

Standard Pinout & Alignment

We designed the pinout to mimic the common DTR/RXI/TXO/VCC/CTS/GND configuration found on hundreds of FTDI derivatives.

• Easy Alignment: We've labelled the pins BLK (Black) and GRN (Green) to match the standard coloured wires on FTDI cables and compatible targets, ensuring you never plug it in backwards.
• Auto-Reset: The board breaks out the DTR pin, allowing it to automatically reset compatible boards (such as the Arduino Pro Mini) when a new sketch is uploaded.

Voltage Flexibility

The board is capable of working with both 5V and 3.3V systems via a jumper located on the rear of the board:

• 3.3V Default: Out of the box, the board is configured to output 3.3V on the VCC pin and use 3.3V logic signals.
• 5V Selectable: By cutting the default trace and bridging the 5V pad, you can switch the board to output 5V on VCC and use 5V logic signals.

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Hookup Guide
• Fritzing Part
• Datasheet (CH340C)
• Drivers
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mac
• GitHub Hardware Repo