The USB to Serial project is a break-out board for the CP2103 from Silicon Labs .
I was looking for an inexpensive Serial Port solution for my Mac, that I could build into my projects without external adapters. I have the KeySpan USA-19HS , which works very well, but it is too expensive to build into projects and you must use a level shifter to safely use TTL or 3.3 volt signals.
For projects where adapters are not convenient you can use the CP2103. With this break-out board, you have pins for all of the RS-232 signals, four GPIO pins and 5 volts, 3.3 volts and ground. I made it with the intention of testing designs on a bread-board, but it may also be incorporated into another design by simply plugging it in like a DIP.
If you would like to make your own, you can download the PCB EPS from the link below.
I would suggest taking a look at the How To page called PCB Notes.
To solder the CP2103 in this project I used a Hot Air Re-work station from SparkFun, and for the rest of the parts I used my regular soldering station.
Pin-Out (Top)
Parts:
U1
R1
R2
R3
C1
C2
C3
D1
J1
J2,J3,J4
Description
CP2103
4.7K ohm 0603 Resistor
10K ohm 0603 Resistor
1k ohm 0603 Resistor
1uF 0603 Capacitor
0.1 uF 0603 Capacitor
4.7 - 10 uF Capacitor
LED 0603
Mini-USB
.1” spaced SIPs
Digikey PN:
336-1164-ND
311-4.7KGRCT-ND
311-10KGRCT-ND
*RR12P1.0KDCT-ND
-
490-1519-1-ND
511-1473-1-ND
160-1436-1-ND
H2961CT-ND
-
* I used a 2.2k ohm resistor here because otherwise the LED was too bright for me.
Copyright SpikenzieLabs 2019