Hookup Guide
Schematic
Graphical DatasheetProduct Overview
It's thin! It's blue! It's the Arduino Pro Mini! This is SparkFun’s unique take on the Arduino architecture, stripping away everything but the essentials to create a board that is small, affordable, and perfect for permanent installation. This version runs at 3.3V and 8MHz, making it the ideal choice for battery-powered applications or for interfacing directly with modern 3.3V sensors without the need for logic level shifters.
Designed for Pros
We call it the "Pro" series for a reason. To minimize cost and profile, this board does not come with pre-populated connectors. This allows you to solder wires directly to the board or add your own headers in any orientation your project requires.
- Beginner Note: If this is your first time using Arduino, we highly recommend starting with the Uno R3 or our SparkFun RedBoard. The Pro Mini is designed for users who are comfortable with system voltage limitations, off-board USB programming, and component soldering.
Programming & Power
To keep the board as small as possible, we removed the USB circuitry. Instead, the Pro Mini is designed to connect directly to the FTDI Basic Breakout board for programming.
- Auto-Reset: The FTDI Basic supports auto-reset, so you don't need to press the reset button manually to upload code.
- Voltage Regulation: The board features an onboard regulator capable of accepting up to 12VDC.
As a little pro tip, if you're supplying unregulated power (like a 9V battery), connect to the "RAW" pin. However, if you're supplying regulated 3.3V, connect directly to VCC.
Latest Revisions
Instead of thinking of the Pro Mini as just a shrunk-down Uno, think of it as an optimized tool! The latest open-source version of the board features:
- Extra Pins: We’ve broken out ADC6 and ADC7, providing two additional analog inputs not available on standard boards.
- I2C Ready: Includes footprints for optional I2C pull-up resistors for easier sensor integration.
Supporting the Ecosystem: A portion of every sale is given back to Arduino LLC to help fund the continued development of new tools and the Arduino IDE.
