Using a FTDI-cable with Arduino Mini

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
#1

  1. I have a Mini 04 that is soldered into a project.
    http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMini

  2. I have a FTDI-cable with cabling like 4.1 in
    http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_TTL-232R_CABLES_V201.pdf

  3. Now I want to solder a 6-pin header so I can connect this cable.

QUESTION 1: Am I wrong in supposing that this cable works?

As I understand, I just have to connect
a. GND (header pin for black cable) ==> GROUND on the Mini
b. VCC (header pin for red cable) => 5V+ on the Mini

And then just TXD + RXD.

QUESTION #2:

Do I connect the header pin for the orange cable (says TXD in FTDI datasheet) to the TX pin of the mini OR to the RX pin of the Mini?

No, I don’t want to trial and error.

QUESTION #3.

Can “all” other header pins (for cable CTS# and RTS#) just be left unconnected?

Regards/Hugs/Kisses/etc.

Madeleine

#2

Well I will take a stab at it, but be sure to get more then one opinion:

1. Ground to ground for sure. However you would only wire the 5V+ if your mini doesn't already have power applied from your normal way of powering it. That is, it's not a good idea to have the USB cable's power wired to the Arduino if it already has +5v power on it.

2. You wire cable TX to Arduino Rec and cable Rec to Arduino TX. That is an output signal must wire to a input pin and visa versa.

3. All others can be left unconnected. If you wish you could wire the cables' RTS* through a .1mfd cap and then to the mini's reset pin, then The Arduino IDE will do a auto-reset when uploading a new sketch, otherwise you will have to reset the mini however you now normally do.

Lefty

#3