SparkFun Beefy 3 - FTDI Basic Breakout

SparkFun Beefy 3 - FTDI Basic Breakout is an innovative product designed for the FTDI FT231X USB to serial IC. It has a pinout that matches the FTDI cable, making it compatible with both official Arduino and cloned 3.3V Arduino boards. This board is also suitable for a wide range of general serial applications.

The Beefy 3 is an enhanced version of the 3.3V SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout. It features an AP2112K voltage regulator, allowing it to handle a current load of up to 600 mA. This means you can power a 3.3V project directly from the FTDI, making it a practical and efficient solution for your Arduino projects.

In addition, the board brings out the DTR pin as opposed to the RTS pin of the FTDI cable. The DTR pin enables an Arduino target to auto-reset when a new Sketch is downloaded, eliminating the need to hit the reset button manually. This feature makes the Beefy 3 an excellent choice for those seeking ease of use and efficiency in their Arduino projects.

Moreover, the Beefy 3 has TX and RX LEDs, allowing you to see serial traffic on the LEDs and verify if the board is working. However, it requires a Micro-B USB cable. While the FTDI Cable is well protected against the elements, it is large and not as easily embedded into a project as the Beefy 3.

The Beefy 3 was designed with the aim to reduce the cost of Arduino development and increase ease of use. It is compatible with our Arduino Pro and LilyPad boards which use this type of connector, making it a versatile addition to your Arduino toolkit.

Documents:

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• SparkFun USB to serial UART Boards Hookup Guide
• How to Install FTDI Drivers
• FTDI Drivers
• GitHub (Design Files)