SparkFun Serial Basic CH340C Hookup Guide
Introduction
The latest iteration of the SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout takes advantage of USB-C and is an easy-to-use USB-to-Serial adapter based on the CH340C IC from WCH. With USB-C you can get up to three times the power delivery over the previous USB generation and has the convenient feature of being reversible. The product 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 CH340C IC to quickly and easily convert serial signals to USB. It’s a great lower-cost alternative to the extremely popular FTDI Basic.
Required Materials
At a minimum, you will need the following materials to follow along with the tutorial. You may not need everything though depending on what you have and your setup. Add it to your cart, read through the guide, and adjust the cart as necessary.
Suggested Reading
Before you begin it may be worth looking at the basics of Serial Communication. Do you have a favorite terminal program yet? No? Take a look at the Serial Terminal Basics tutorial which will give you a brief introduction to popular Terminal programs.