Arduino Pro Mini - 5V (Clone)

An Arduino Pro Mini Clone is a replica or imitation of the original Arduino Pro Mini, which is an official Arduino board. Clones are typically produced by third-party manufacturers and are designed to be functionally equivalent to the official boards. These clones are often more affordable than official Arduino products, making them popular among hobbyists and makers on a budget. While the components and layout may vary slightly from the original, the Pro mini clone is compatible with the Arduino software and can be programmed using the same IDE, making it a practical choice for those seeking a budget-friendly option for their projects.

Arduino Pro mini Clone is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P, the same chip used in the popular Arduino Pro mini board. It has 14 digital input/output pins (6 of which can be used as PWM outputs), 4 analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller. For powering it up, you can use external power supply or battery. You can tinker with your Pro mini without worrying too much about doing something wrong, worst case scenario you can replace the chip for a few dollars and start over again.

Specifications of Arduino Pro Mini - 5V:

• Microcontroller: ATmega328p
• Board Power Supply: 5 - 9 V MAX
• Circuit Operating Voltage: 5 V
• Digital I/O Pins: 14
• PWM Pins: 6
• UART: 1
• SPI: 1
• I2C: 1
• Analog Input Pins: 6
• External Interrupts: 2
• DC Current per I/O Pin: 40 mA
• Flash Memory: 32KB of which 2 KB used by bootloader
• SRAM: 2 KB
• EEPROM: 1 KB
• Clock Speed: 16 MHz (5V versions)

Difference between Arduino Pro mini original and its clone

Arduino Pro mini boards can be found both in original versions produced by Arduino and in clones manufactured by various Chinese companies.

We will introduce you the differences that the original Arduino board and the copy may have.

It is necessary to point out that the version that is sold on our site is an exact clone of the original board and in terms of functionality and quality, they are not different from the original version.

Here are some general differences that are often observed between original Arduino Pro mini  boards and their Chinese clones:

• Build Quality: Original Arduino boards are typically manufactured to higher quality standards. The components used, soldering quality, and overall build may be superior to some Chinese clones.
• Component Quality: Original Arduino boards often use higher-quality components, which can contribute to better performance and durability. Chinese clones may use cheaper components to reduce costs.
• Pricing: Original Arduino boards are generally more expensive than Chinese copies. The lower cost of Chinese copies may make them attractive to budget-conscious users.
• Clones and Variations: Some Chinese clones are exact clones of the original Arduino Pro mini, while others may have slight variations in design or component placement.
• Manufacturing Origin: Original Arduino boards are manufactured in Italy or other authorized locations. Chinese clones, as the name suggests, are often manufactured in China.

It's important to note that not all Chinese copies are of poor quality, and some functions perfectly well. However, users should be aware of potential differences in quality when choosing between an original Arduino Pro mini and a Chinese clone.

Considering the price difference in most cases, buying a quality copy of Arduino is a more suitable option for most users.

Pinout of Arduino Pro mini Clone:

The pinout of the clone version of Arduino Pro mini Clone is quite much similar to its original version. You can see the pinout of Arduino Pro mini in the following image:

How to connect Arduino Pro mini Clone to PC to program it

To program an Arduino Pro Mini, you'll need a USB-to-TTL serial adapter, as the Pro Mini doesn't have a built-in USB interface. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to connect an Arduino Pro Mini to your PC for programming:

Note: Before you start, make sure you have the necessary drivers installed for your USB-to-TTL adapter.

Required Hardware:

• Arduino Pro Mini
• USB-to-TTL Serial Adapter (e.g., FTDI or CP2102)
• Jumper wires

Connection Steps:

• Identify Pinout: The Pro Mini has six pins for programming labeled on the backside: GND, VCC, RXI, TX0, GND, RAW. The USB-to-TTL adapter will have pins labeled: GND, CTS, VCC, TXD, RXD, RTS.
• Connect Grounds (GND): Connect one of the GND pins on the Pro Mini to the GND pin on the USB-to-TTL adapter.
• Connect VCC: Connect the VCC pin on the Pro Mini to the VCC pin on the USB-to-TTL adapter.
• Connect RX and TX: Connect the RXI pin on the Pro Mini to the TXD pin on the USB-to-TTL adapter. Connect the TX0 pin on the Pro Mini to the RXD pin on the USB-to-TTL adapter.
• Connect the USB-to-TTL Adapter to PC: Plug the USB-to-TTL adapter into an available USB port on your PC.
• Install Drivers (if needed): If you haven't installed the drivers for your USB-to-TTL adapter, you may need to do so. Visit the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.

That's it! Your Arduino Pro Mini should now be successfully programmed. Remember to remove the jumper wire if you used it to set the Pro Mini in programming mode.

If your Pro Mini is not equipped with an auto-reset feature, then to put the Pro Mini in programming mode, connect a jumper wire from the RESET pin to the GND pin.