PL2303 USB to TTL FTDI Adapter – User’s Guide

 

Overview

The PL2303 USB to TTL adapter bridges USB and serial UART communication. It’s ideal for interfacing microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino, ESP32, STM32) with a PC for programming, debugging, or serial monitoring.

Feature	Description
Chipset	Prolific PL2303 (check for genuine chip to avoid driver issues)
Voltage Levels	Typically supports 3.3V and 5V (via header pins)
Interface	USB Type-A to 5 pin TTL header (TX, RX, VCC (3.3V or 5V), GND)
Baud Rate Support	Up to 1 Mbps (typical use: 9600–115200 bps)
OS Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux (driver-dependent)

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Pinout Reference

Pin Label	Function	Notes
VCC	Logic Level Detection (3.3V or 5V)	Must comply with device under test (DUT)
GND	Ground	Common ground
TXD	Transmit data (from adapter)	Connect to RX of target
RXD	Receive data (to adapter)	Connect to TX of target

Always confirm voltage compatibility before connecting to avoid damaging your target device.

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Driver Installation

Windows

1. Download latest PL2303 driver from Prolific’s website.
2. Install and reboot.
3. Check Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT) → “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port”.

macOS

• macOS 10.13+ may block third-party kernel extensions.
• Use open-source drivers or consider using a CP2102/FT232 alternative.

Linux

• Most distros include PL2303 support via pl2303 kernel module.
• Check with: dmesg | grep pl2303 after plugging in.

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Wiring and Setup

Example: Connecting to ESP32/STM32/Arduino

Adapter Pin	Target MCU Pin
TXD	RX
RXD	TX
GND	GND
VCC (3.3V or 5V)	VCC (3.3V or 5V)

 

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Serial Communication

Use any serial terminal (e.g., PuTTY, Tera Term, CoolTerm, or Arduino Serial Monitor):

1. Select correct COM port.
2. Set baud rate (e.g., 115200).
3. Choose 8-N-1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).
4. Disable flow control unless using CTS/DTR.

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Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause & Fix
No COM port detected	Driver missing or counterfeit chip – try alternate driver or adapter
Garbage serial output	Baud rate mismatch or incorrect wiring (TX/RX swapped)
Device resets on TX	Voltage mismatch – Choose correct voltage source
Works on Linux but not Windows	Windows driver conflict – uninstall old drivers, use official installer

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Advanced Use

• Logic Analyzer Mode: Use RX pin to monitor serial output from target.
• Level Shifting: Select the appropriate voltage source.

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