You can use a USB device with the Pi Zero, but you'd need a micro USB to USB-A socket OTG adaptor (those are easy to find and not expensive). Configuration of that type of device is automatic.
Or you can use a voltage converter connected to the UART TxD and RxD pins. The handshaking pins aren't always used, but you can connect those up as well if needed. A little bit of configuration is needed if you use this type of adaptor, and it's best if you disable Bluetooth (on a Zero W) as that uses the better of the two available serial ports.
Ive got a Zero that uses RS232 to talk to some equipment. I use a voltage converter (uses the MAX3232C chip) on the UART pins, and have this in /boot/firmware/config.txtFor a Zero W I would addThe minimum connections you'd need areThe device will be called /dev/ttyAMA0 on the Pi, and can also be accessed as /dev/serial0.
The USB device would show as something like /dev/ttyUSB0.
Or you can use a voltage converter connected to the UART TxD and RxD pins. The handshaking pins aren't always used, but you can connect those up as well if needed. A little bit of configuration is needed if you use this type of adaptor, and it's best if you disable Bluetooth (on a Zero W) as that uses the better of the two available serial ports.
Ive got a Zero that uses RS232 to talk to some equipment. I use a voltage converter (uses the MAX3232C chip) on the UART pins, and have this in /boot/firmware/config.txt
Code:
enable_uart=1Code:
dtoverlay=disable-btCode:
VCC -> 3.3VGND -> GNDRxOUT -> RxDTxIN -> TxDThe USB device would show as something like /dev/ttyUSB0.
Statistics: Posted by rpdom — Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:10 pm