MicroSD Card Module Power Supply Requirement and Can I Test Without SD Card

Other Hardware Storage
1

Hi everyone!

I read the datasheet after buying a 64gb SDXC and it turns out it is not compatible at all. But I want to be able to test if the SD card module works or not (without an SD card), is there a way to do that? Like for the code?

This is what the module looks like

Anyways... another problem I have is that I currently have an Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense rev2 which only supplies 3.3V since I have not yet soldered the VUSB for the 5V out.

Does the statement "Power supply is 4.5V ~ 5.5V, 3.3V voltage regulator circuit board" mean that 3.3V is not enough to power the module? If not, are there micro SD card modules that can be powered with 3.3V since the end product (we are designing a wearable controller) uses just 3.3V power supply.

2

For a 3.3V board you just want a bare breakout. No 5V regulator, no level shifters, nothing.

You might want to check how much current your board can supply on the 3.3V pin. uSD cards are surprisingly current hungry.

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This is unfortunately not available in my country. Do I need to have a separate 5V power supply for the one I currently have? :frowning:

5

That SD should work with spi if its format is FAT32.

The connection should look like this:

Place a cap for the VCC input at the module.

I prefer avoid using that module. There is no need for it (just the SD holder).

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The SD I have has an EXFAT format so it won't work with it.

I was trying to power the module with 3 1.5V batteries and didn't know how to check if it's working since I don't have a compatible SD card. Any ideas?

Thank you!

7

That's only one example of the kind of thing you need. There are many others.

I honestly wouldn't consider using a breakout designed to interface with a 5V board with a 3.3V board. It might work; it might not. Proper tools for the job and all that.

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8

You might want to look at using the SdFat.h library instead of the SD.h library. I believe SdFat supports the larger cards.

You should power the SD module with 5V, not 3.3V. However, if you are handy with a soldering iron, you could solder a wire from the module's Vcc pin to the output pin of the module's regulator. That would bypass the regulator. Then you could power with 3.3V.

However, you have to be sure your 3.3V supply can provide enough current to power the card.

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