Simple USB->3.3V Serial For Prototyping

[rstofer]

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/12977

The 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.

[Monkeh]

Just your everyday off-the-shelf FT232R in a plug. FTDI even make them themselves.

[rstofer]

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...

[boffin]

I've got a couple of these; switchable 3v3 / 5v

[bingo600]

I've got a couple of these; switchable 3v3 / 5v

Did 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

[martinayotte]

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.

[Karel]

I use those: http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/RPi.htm

Super simple and works with every mcu running on 3.3V.

[dannyf]

a good source for such cables would be nokia data cables. Cut it open and you have all the wires you need.

[newbrain]

I'm a cheapskate. I mostly use ST-Links V2.1 snatched from ST Nucleo boards.
Also, the bottom board of a Witty Cloud.

[Ian.M]

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.htm

Sparkfun do a FTDI FT232R breakout board.  https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12731  Disable or remove S1, and VccIO is easily accessable.

[UncleSam]

Does anybody know if this interface will work for the PIC under debian linux?
BTW,  here's another vendor
https://www.adafruit.com/product/954

[nctnico]

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).

[LabSpokane]

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

[Monkeh]

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

Totally not the FTDI one with a 25% markup.

[LabSpokane]

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

Totally not the FTDI one with a 25% markup.

They'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.

[Monkeh]

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

Totally not the FTDI one with a 25% markup.

They'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.

No, 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!