# Avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 on custom board **URL:** \ **Category:** 3rd Party Boards\ **Created:** [April 17, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378 "2025-04-17T18:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/1 "2025-04-17T18:52:37Z")
I am trying to make my own board, ive already made one with the atmega328p-pu and now one with the atemga328p-mu. I get like the error: avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature. Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override this check. when using a other arduino as the isp programmer and im using the following pinout as the programmer setup: master slave 10 RST 11 11 12 12 13 13 5V 5V GND GND and heres the scematic: ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/3/7/7/3776b28986fbdd2a5361831312325a0d282c857d.png) thanks for all help! ---
**Author:** ![PaulRB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paulrb/32/216330_2.png) [@PaulRB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/PaulRB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/2 "2025-04-17T18:58:05Z")
> [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > Device signature = 0x000000 This signature, or 0xFFFFFF, indicates something isn't connected properly with the ICSP wires between programmer and the ATMEGA. The programmer is trying to read the signature and getting either all zeros or all ones, no data. ---
**Author:** ![PaulRB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paulrb/32/216330_2.png) [@PaulRB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/PaulRB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/3 "2025-04-17T19:02:47Z")
> [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > and heres the scematic: I don't see any bypass caps. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/4 "2025-04-17T19:07:40Z")
are they needed? i now added some headers and got: avrdude: Device signature = 0xffffff (probably .avr8x\_mega) avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature. Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override this check. ---
**Author:** ![PaulRB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paulrb/32/216330_2.png) [@PaulRB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/PaulRB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/5 "2025-04-17T20:47:48Z")
> [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > are they needed? Why don't you check the ATMEGA328 data sheet? > [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > now added some headers and got: > avrdude: Device signature = 0xffffff There you go. Adding the headers should have made no difference, yes? Unless the programmer's input (MISO) is floating. Then it can read ones or zeros at random. > [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > Double check connections ---
**Author:** ![b707](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/b707/32/854321_2.png) [@b707](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/b707)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/6 "2025-04-17T22:59:21Z")
> [@PaulRB](#): > > This signature, or 0xFFFFFF, indicates something isn't connected properly Or, in case of using an external oscillator - the signature 0XFFFFFF could means that the MCU external clocking doesn't start. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:11am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/7 "2025-04-18T05:11:19Z")
I am not the best at reading datasheets especially when they are that long. For the headers I first just put some headers in the holes and not inside actual headers. And where do you mean a bypass cap, yes I am missing one between AREF and GND but that is only for the ADCs right? ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/8 "2025-04-18T05:12:17Z")
I don't know, on my other board with the ATMEGA328P-PU it worked perfectly fine with the same clock and caps. It was a crystal of 16MHz ---
**Author:** ![b707](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/b707/32/854321_2.png) [@b707](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/b707)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/9 "2025-04-18T05:22:02Z")
> [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > For the headers I first just put some headers in the holes and not inside actual headers. Why you didn't solder them? Please show a photo of the board. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/10 "2025-04-18T05:43:50Z")
![WhatsApp Image 2025-04-18 at 07.33.52_2430b377](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/8/7/0/87073c7338bb4eef723e324aec9159892601e671.jpeg) This is the board, don't look at the clock i used a smd one but apparently it is a oscillator and not a crystal and these where to only ones i had laying around! ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/11 "2025-04-18T07:39:30Z")
Okay so back to it, apparently there was a short between GND and RST and after fixing it it works perfectly, only thing is that the RX and TX lights are always on and the 5V led turn instantly off after boot and the D13 led doesn't blink (i uploaded blink code and the pin 13 with a oscilloscope it turns on and off but not the led?) ---
**Author:** ![Budvar10](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/budvar10/32/215868_2.png) [@Budvar10](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Budvar10)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/12 "2025-04-18T08:52:18Z")
Check if the LED and the resistor in series are connected properly - PWR and D13 LED. In case of Rx and Tx it seems weird as you wrote it is able to upload and they are directly connected to the Rx and Tx lines. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/13 "2025-04-18T08:57:46Z")
Okay so i looked at it and all the GNDs of the 4 leds are connected in paralle and D13 is connected to pin 13 which does turn on and off and the 5v is directly to 5V the usb and the power convert circuit. And with tx and rx how can i can connect them like a arduino? The arduino uses a other usb to serial where they can do it but since i use the ch340c i dont have a sepperate tx rx pins for that? ---
**Author:** ![Budvar10](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/budvar10/32/215868_2.png) [@Budvar10](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Budvar10)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 9:12am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/14 "2025-04-18T09:12:11Z")
Tx and Rx LEDs should be connected directly to the appropriate lines. In case of CH340 there is no other option. However, it is weird to me they are always on, since there have to be signal 0/1 during the upload. 5V an D13 should not be so hard to investigate it. In case of 5V diode, must be 5V on the anode and about 2V drop on the cathode, e.g. check if they are oriented correctly. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/15 "2025-04-18T09:16:23Z")
Yes like they are always on even when inactive or powered not even from usb. and there is a voltage drop of 2 volts over the 5V let because of the 5.1kohm and then RX is fully on and the tx barely for some reason. Also the 5V does turn on when boot and after like 0.5 seconds it turns off and the tx rx lets turn on and nothing else after that ---
**Author:** ![jim-p](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/jim-p/32/922840_2.png) [@jim-p](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/jim-p)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/16 "2025-04-18T09:29:33Z")
> [@thijmen\_fick34](#): > > apparently there was a short between GND and RST Are there other shorts or opens? Maybe you better check each trace on the board. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/17 "2025-04-18T09:35:59Z")
No shorts, checked every trace that even connects to those leds, and i know the 5v works because on boots it turns on for like 0.5 seconds before the tx and rx get a chance. I also looked at it with a bench psu and still the same ---
**Author:** ![jim-p](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/jim-p/32/922840_2.png) [@jim-p](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/jim-p)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/18 "2025-04-18T10:07:59Z")
You have one resistor for all the LED. That only works if all the LED Vfs are very close but in your case the one with the lowest Vf will turn on first and cause a large voltage drop across the common resistor preventing the others from turning on. You need a separate resistor for each LED ---
**Author:** ![JohnLincoln](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@JohnLincoln](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/JohnLincoln)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 10:19am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/19 "2025-04-18T10:19:30Z")
Added to what jim-p has just said, you are using LEDs of different colours (orange, green and blue) so there will definitely be different forward voltages across them. ---
**Author:** ![thijmen\_fick34](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/thijmen_fick34/32/1107951_2.png) [@thijmen\_fick34](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/thijmen_fick34)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378/20 "2025-04-18T11:31:21Z")
You got it, omg thank you so much. I am gonna write it down so I never forget just a stupid mistake! [Next page](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/avrdude-device-signature-0x000000-on-custom-board/1374378.md?page=2)