Arduino Pro 328 - 3.3V/8MHz

Sparkfun's Arduino Pro 328 - 3.3V/8MHz is a sleek, blue, minimal design Arduino board. Operating at a lower system voltage than most Arduino boards, this 3.3V Arduino runs an 8MHz bootloader. Although it may not be compatible with many Arduino shields designed for 5V, it still works perfectly with Sparkfun's prototyping shield, allowing users to create their own 3.3V shields. This lower system voltage offers ease of use with many common 3.3V sensors.

One of the unique features of the Arduino Pro is its flexibility. It doesn't come with pre-populated connectors, allowing users to solder in any connector or wire in any orientation they need. This makes it ideal for users who understand the limitations of system voltage (3.3V), lack of connectors, and USB off board. For beginners, Sparkfun recommends starting with the Uno R3, a more user-friendly board.

Keeping affordability and low profile in mind, Sparkfun has made the DC power jack footprint available but not populated. This makes it ideal for running the board with a LiPo battery for enhanced portability. To further keep costs low, all SMD components are used and a two-layer PCB is utilized.

The Arduino Pro connects directly to the FTDI Basic Breakout board and supports auto-reset. It also works with the FTDI cable, but without the auto-reset feature as the DTR pin is not included in the FTDI cable. In the latest version, Sparkfun has moved the FTDI headers back slightly to ensure the pins do not hang over the edge of the board. A sturdier power selection switch has also been added for increased durability.

The Arduino Pro 328 - 3.3V/8MHz boasts a range of features, including an ATmega328 running at an 8MHz external resonator, a 3.3V regulator, a maximum 150mA output, over current protection, reverse polarity protection, and a DC input of 3.3V up to 12V. It also includes a resettable fuse to prevent damage to the board in case of a short. The power select switch doubles as an on/off switch. The board measures 53.34x52.08mm.

Part of the proceeds from each sale of the Arduino Pro 328 - 3.3V/8MHz goes back to Arduino LLC to help fund the continued development of new tools and IDE features.