CH552G Dev Board

Description

A simple breakout board with minimal hardware design for the CH552g as well as a C project to be used as a basis.

I've become fond of the CH552g for projects as it's simple like AVR unlike something like ARM, but it doesn't require a programmer and has built-in USB support from the factory, unlike something like AVR but like ARM.

To ensure I don't have to constantly order pcb after pcb, I've created this dev board that can go on a breadboard, so I can prototype with the chip more easily.

Order Boards

Open up KiCAD and export the Gerber and Drill files and zip them up or grab a zip from Releases.

Then go to JLCPCB's website, start a new order with the zip file, and select PCB Assembly.

Then upload the provided BOM and CPL (in the pcb/ folder) and submit an order.

Build Example Code

First, clone the repo, then make sure you clone all submodules: git submodule update --init --recursive

Dependencies

• Linux:
  • Just use nix. Use nix-shell to get the following:
    • gnumake
    • hidapi
    • libusb1
    • libusb
    • python3
    • sdcc
    • virtualenv which will create .venv w/
      • pyusb
      • ch55xtool
• Windows:
  • Install sdcc
  • Install mingw
  • Install WCHISPTool
    • Only relevant for uploading, not building

Build

On Linux, make sure you have the python virtualenv active and sdcc in your path (this happens every time you run nix-shell)

Run make -C example-code (or mingw32-make -C example-code), and it will build everything.

Upload

Linux:

Assuming the program has been built, to upload:

1. Hold down a button on the board you want to upload to
2. Plug into USB and let go of the button
3. Within 2 seconds of letting go, run make -C example-code upload

If it fails, just try again a few times. If it's still not working, then repeat the process.

Windows:

Use WCHISP Studio