Spark Logic

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. connection guide

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. wiring guide with power, signal assignments, and bench checks.

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P.

80 contacts Current package

Next Thing Co. · Allwinner R8 · two 40-position headers U13 and U14

Power through Micro-USB

Required

Power the board only through the Micro-USB port for this fixture. Use a regulated 5 V supply rated at least 1 A and leave the UART adapter power wire disconnected.

  • Board supply
    • 5 V source
    • the Micro-USB port 5 V contact
  • Board return
    • Supply return
    • the Micro-USB port ground
    • GND (U13-1)
    • Meter COM
  • 3.3 V check

Bench checks

  • Verify the supply polarity and connector before plugging in. With the board powered, measure the regulated 3.3 V rail against ground.
  • Confirm a normal power indicator or boot message before adding accessories.

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. Hardware and Pin Headers

Connection scenarios

Connect a 3.3 V I²C peripheral

Use a peripheral whose data and clock lines are compatible with 3.3 V and share ground. Power the module from a separate regulated 3.3 V source within its operating limits. Pull SDA and SCL to the shared 3.3 V logic domain if the bus does not already have suitable pull-ups.

Peripheral SDA and SCL connect to the board I²C signals with common ground. Check the pull-ups and separate 3.3 V supply.PeripheralBoardSDAU13-9SCLU13-11GNDU13-1

Bench checks

  • Use the adapter mapped to TWI1. A device-tree configuration may be required for the running image.
  • Power the board and peripheral together. Check that both bus lines idle near 3.3 V, then query a documented register at the peripheral’s known address.

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. Hardware and Pin Headers

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. wiring map

Highlighted contacts are used in the required step or selected circuit. Select a contact to inspect it.

U13 left header
Component side with USB at the top. Contacts 1 and 2 are at the top.
U14 right header
Component side with USB at the top. Contacts 1 and 2 are at the top.
Selected pin details

U13-11 · TWI1-SCK

Multiplexed · Bus

Part of a board peripheral interface. Follow the signal assignment and I/O voltage.

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P. Hardware and Pin Headers

Electrical limits · Pin in the reference

Models and documents

Covers both original C.H.I.P. board headers, U13 and U14. Use the board’s orientation diagram before counting contacts.

Next Thing Co. C.H.I.P.
Allwinner R8 · two 40-position headers U13 and U14