Some people have had questions about ArduPilot's FTDI port. Basically, it's a standard FTDI port but we don't use the power pin. That means that you can't power the board from the FTDI cable, and every time you're using the FTDI cable it must be powered by another source, such as your ESC, battery or whatever else you'd normally use. The reason we don't use the FTDI's power is to avoid power conflict with the board when you're using the FTDI cable as a serial monitor during regular ArduPilot operations. [FTDI is 3.3v and the board is 5v]
The pinouts on the Sparkfun FTDI board are as follows:
GND
CTS
3.3v
TXO
RXI
DTR
ArduPilot's FTDI pins are:
GND
[not used]
[not used]
RXI [matches FTDI's TXO]
TXO [matches FTDI RXI]
DTR
So guys meaning to say. Now i want to power up my Ardupilot which i just recieved and i have a FTDI cable. Can i connect it to a power source(in my lab) and then connect the FTDI cable to my pc?
Ok, am I missing something. When running the diagnostics, the FTDI cable is left hooked up so we can see the serial window. But the ArduIMU needs access to the AP RX port which is also used by the FTDI cable. Are you folks just splicing into the AP Rx pin?
Magnus, you might be able to wire up a connector, but because that one doesn't automatically reset the board with Arduino, I think you'd find it almost impossible to program ArduPilot with it (you'd have to time your push of the reset button perfectly). The best FTDI cable for ArduPilot is the AdaFruit one.
Thanks Chris for the precisions.
I still wonder then why the red power led lits when I connect ArduPilot to my FTDI Basic Breakout (without any additional wire) if the VCC pin is not connected to the board by design. But this is just by curiosity.
I'm afraid many people are confused by Michal comments. Here are the facts:
1) You cannot power the board by simply plugging in the FTDI cable into the ports. This is by design.
2) If you solder a special wire like Michal did, you can power it. But this is not recommended when the board is used as intended, connected to a Rx/ESC, because of power conflict issues.
3) It doesn't matter which FTDI cable you use--all the above holds.
I am not sure following this: is the FTDI cable you use, Michal, the same as the Sparkfun Basic FTDI Breackout meant by Chris? The latter delivers 3.39V on my workbench right now. When plugged to ArduPilot without external BEC power, the only led is a slightly dimmed red power and 3.3V, but nothing else is running.
Comments
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=718
is it possible to program ardupilot with this card? all pins are there but not in a line
thanks
I still wonder then why the red power led lits when I connect ArduPilot to my FTDI Basic Breakout (without any additional wire) if the VCC pin is not connected to the board by design. But this is just by curiosity.
1) You cannot power the board by simply plugging in the FTDI cable into the ports. This is by design.
2) If you solder a special wire like Michal did, you can power it. But this is not recommended when the board is used as intended, connected to a Rx/ESC, because of power conflict issues.
3) It doesn't matter which FTDI cable you use--all the above holds.
I get also only dim power LED if cable's VCC is not connected to board's VCC.
I was also able to power my Spektrum RC receiver from FTDI cable for on-table testing :)
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