Help with RFID reader on mega board

Hi I got a elegoo arduino mega kit for Christmas and in the box comes a rfid reader and its card. I tried to use it and the sample code but it will not read the card, and its also telling me it cant communicate with the reader. I've tried wiring it to a breadboard instead, made sure all the pins are connected correctly, and yes the board is connected with 3.3 volts ik the rfid reader is not 5v compliant. I would really appreciate any help I could get. btw I'm connected using usb if that makes a difference

heres the code :

/*
 * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Example sketch/program showing how to read data from a PICC to serial.
 * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * This is a MFRC522 library example; for further details and other examples see: https://github.com/miguelbalboa/rfid
 * 
 * Example sketch/program showing how to read data from a PICC (that is: a RFID Tag or Card) using a MFRC522 based RFID
 * Reader on the Arduino SPI interface.
 * 
 * When the Arduino and the MFRC522 module are connected (see the pin layout below), load this sketch into Arduino IDE
 * then verify/compile and upload it. To see the output: use Tools, Serial Monitor of the IDE (hit Ctrl+Shft+M). When
 * you present a PICC (that is: a RFID Tag or Card) at reading distance of the MFRC522 Reader/PCD, the serial output
 * will show the ID/UID, type and any data blocks it can read. Note: you may see "Timeout in communication" messages
 * when removing the PICC from reading distance too early.
 * 
 * If your reader supports it, this sketch/program will read all the PICCs presented (that is: multiple tag reading).
 * So if you stack two or more PICCs on top of each other and present them to the reader, it will first output all
 * details of the first and then the next PICC. Note that this may take some time as all data blocks are dumped, so
 * keep the PICCs at reading distance until complete.
 * 
 * @license Released into the public domain.
 * 
 * Typical pin layout used:
 * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 *             MFRC522      Arduino       Arduino   Arduino    Arduino          Arduino
 *             Reader/PCD   Uno/101       Mega      Nano v3    Leonardo/Micro   Pro Micro
 * Signal      Pin          Pin           Pin       Pin        Pin              Pin
 * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * RST/Reset   RST          9             5         D9         RESET/ICSP-5     RST
 * SPI SS      SDA(SS)      10            53        D10        10               10
 * SPI MOSI    MOSI         11 / ICSP-4   51        D11        ICSP-4           16
 * SPI MISO    MISO         12 / ICSP-1   50        D12        ICSP-1           14
 * SPI SCK     SCK          13 / ICSP-3   52        D13        ICSP-3           15
 *
 * More pin layouts for other boards can be found here: https://github.com/miguelbalboa/rfid#pin-layout
 */

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>

#define RST_PIN         5          // Configurable, see typical pin layout above
#define SS_PIN          53         // Configurable, see typical pin layout above

MFRC522 mfrc522(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);  // Create MFRC522 instance

void setup() {
	Serial.begin(9600);		// Initialize serial communications with the PC
	while (!Serial);		// Do nothing if no serial port is opened (added for Arduinos based on ATMEGA32U4)
	SPI.begin();			// Init SPI bus
	mfrc522.PCD_Init();		// Init MFRC522
	delay(4);				// Optional delay. Some board do need more time after init to be ready, see Readme
	mfrc522.PCD_DumpVersionToSerial();	// Show details of PCD - MFRC522 Card Reader details
	Serial.println(F("Scan PICC to see UID, SAK, type, and data blocks..."));
}

void loop() {
	// Reset the loop if no new card present on the sensor/reader. This saves the entire process when idle.
	if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
		return;
	}

	// Select one of the cards
	if ( ! mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
		return;
	}

	// Dump debug info about the card; PICC_HaltA() is automatically called
	mfrc522.PICC_DumpToSerial(&(mfrc522.uid));
}

and heres a pic of my wiring
orange and grey are my 3.3 and ground, fourm wouldn't let me add the extra picture, swy :frowning:

here is the schematic

This is not the first time that someone has asked this question. It appears that Egeloo ship RFID cards that do not work with the kit you bought. The solution is to purchase another RFID-RC522.

It should be wired up like this:-

Do you have a link to one that works. really kinda scummy they wont do the qa to make sure their stuff works

Just search on ebay for one. Every one I have bought there works fine if you wire it up correctly.

did i wire it bad or is it just elegoo

Don't know because I always wire up things correctly and have not got an elegoo kit.

2 Likes

So apparently even though the datasheet and silkscreen says 3.3 volts elegoos boards will only run off 5 I haven't tested higher but 5 is what worked for me

I'm using the same kit as the OP and can confirm @sasha121 is correct. Mine wouldn't read when using the 3.3v. Swapped to the 5v and everything worked.

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