OpenLog Hookup Guide

Contributors: Nate, Toni_K

Hardware Hookup

There are two main methods for connecting your OpenLog to a circuit. You will need some headers or wires to connect. Make sure that you solder to the board for a secure connection.

Basic Serial Connection

Tip: If you have a female header the OpenLog and female header on the FTDI you will need M/F jumper wires to connect.

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Female Headers

In stock PRT-00115

Single row of 40-holes, female header. Can be cut to size with a pair of wire-cutters. Standard .1" spacing. We use them exte…

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Jumper Wires Premium 6" M/M Pack of 10

In stock PRT-08431

This is a SparkFun exclusive! These are 155mm long, 26 AWG jumpers with male connectors on both ends. Use these to jumper fro…

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This hardware connection is designed for interfacing with an OpenLog if you need to reprogram the board, or log data over a basic serial connection.

Make the following connections:

OpenLog → 3.3V FTDI Basic Breakout

• GND → GND
• GND → GND
• VCC → 3.3V
• TXO → RXI
• RXI → TXO
• DTR → DTR

Notice that it is not a direct connection between the FTDI and OpenLog - you must switch the TXO and RXI pin connections.

Your connections should look like the following:

Once you have the connections between the OpenLog and the FTDI Basic, plug your FTDI board into a USB cable and into your computer.

Open up a serial terminal, connect to the COM port of your FTDI Basic, and go to town!

Project Hardware Connection

Tip: If you have the female headers soldered on the OpenLog, you can solder male headers to the Arduino Pro Mini to plug the boards together without the need for wires.

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Break Away Headers - Straight

In stock PRT-00116

A row of headers - break to fit. 40 pins that can be cut to any size. Used with custom PCBs or general custom headers.

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Break Away Male Headers - Right Angle

In stock PRT-00553

A row of right angle male headers - break to fit. 40 pins that can be cut to any size. Used with custom PCBs or general custo…

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While interfacing with the OpenLog over a serial connection is important for reprogramming or debugging, the place where OpenLog shines is in an embedded project. This general circuit is how we recommend you hook up your OpenLog to a microcontroller (in this case, an Arduino Pro Mini) that will write serial data out to the OpenLog.

First you will need to upload the code to your Pro Mini you intend to run. Please check out the Arduino Sketches for some example code that you can use.

Once you have programmed your Pro Mini, you can remove the FTDI board, and replace it with the OpenLog. Make sure to connect the pins labeled BLK on both the Pro Mini and OpenLog (the pins labeled GRN on both will also match up if done correctly).

If you cannot plug the OpenLog directly into the Pro Mini (due to mismatched headers or other boards in the way), you can use jumper wires and make the following connections.

OpenLog → Arduino Pro/Arduino Pro Mini

• GND → GND
• GND → GND
• VCC → VCC
• TXO → RXI
• RXI → TXO
• DTR → DTR

Once you're finished, your connections should look like the following with the Arduino Pro Mini and Arduino Pro. The Fritzing diagram shows the OpenLogs with the headers mirrored. If you flip the microSD socket relative to the Arduino's top view, they should match the programming header like an FTDI.

Power up your system, and you are ready to start logging!