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XIAO PowerBread is an open-source hardware project designed to offer a reliable and efficient power solution for breadboard prototyping. Featuring built-in sensors, real-time monitoring, and compatibility with Seeed Studio XIAO microcontrollers, PowerBread makes powering and developing electronics projects easier than ever.
Easy installation and compact design
Direct power and monitoring you breadboard projects
- Real-Time Monitoring: View essential power metrics at a glance—no multimeter needed. The built-in display shows real-time voltage, current, and power data.
- High-Current Output: Deliver up to 1.5A of 3.3V power, ideal for most breadboard-based electronics projects.
- Built-in LCD Display: Stay informed with real-time feedback—critical power data is displayed clearly on the integrated LCD.
- Plug-and-Play Design: Compatible with standard breadboards, simply plug in, power up, and start prototyping without extra setup.
- Open-Source and Seeed Studio XIAO Compatibility: Compatible with almost all XIAO Dev Boards (the support for XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RA4M1 is still on the way), this open-source design provides flexibility for future extensions like USB-serial communication and PWM control.
- Dual-Channel Voltage and Current Sensing: Equipped with the INA3221 sensor for dual-channel voltage and current monitoring—know what’s happening with every aspect of your power supply.
- Compact Powerhouse: This compact design delivers both 3.3V and 5V outputs, optimizing your breadboard space without compromising on power.
- Multiple UI functions: The UI can be switched between data monitoring, line chart, and statistic mode.
Multiple UI functions
Long press the dial to switch channels in chart and statistic mode
- Input Voltage: Powered via USB-C through the Seeed Studio XIAO.
- Output Voltages: Provides 5V and 3.3V outputs, with a maximum current of 1.5A for the 3.3V rail.
- Current Sensing: The built-in INA3221 sensor measures voltage, current, and power for real-time display.
- Microcontroller: Driven by the RP2040, handling sensor data, display control, and enabling future features like USB-serial communication and PWM generation.
- Display: LCD screen for real-time power monitoring.
- PCB Dimensions: Designed for seamless integration with standard breadboards while minimizing space usage.
- XIAO Board: The XIAO RP2040 is highly recommended, also you can use: XIAO RP2350, XIAO ESP32-C3, XIAO ESP32-S3, XIAO ESP32-C6. (Make sure to flash the firmware compatible with your board type)
- XIAO PowerBread Board: Clone or remix the design from this repository. Also you can get the hardware from Seeed Studio or Tindie.
- Breadboard: Fits standard breadboards for easy prototyping.
- Power Supply: Use a standard USB power source.
Note: When purchasing from Seeed Studio, remember to also order a compatible XIAO board, as it's required but sold separately.
- Remix the project: Modify or remix the project using the provided Arduino source code.
- Directly use compiled firmware:
- For XIAO ESP32 series
- Web based flash tool: https://powerbread-flasher.ioatlas.com
- Tutorial: Flash Firmware for XIAO - ESP32 series
- For XIAO RP2040/RP2350
- Flash tool: Use the UF2 method to upload the firmware:
- Download the firmware file (*.uf2) from the Release page
- Connect XIAO to your computer via USB cable (must be a 4-pin data cable)
- Enter bootloader mode:
- Press and hold the BOOT button (B)
- While holding BOOT, press and release the RESET button (R)
- Release the BOOT button
- A new USB drive named "RPI-RP2" will appear on your computer
- Drag and drop the .uf2 firmware file onto the RPI-RP2 drive
- The XIAO will automatically reset and start running the new firmware
- Flash tool: Use the UF2 method to upload the firmware:
- For XIAO ESP32 series
- Real-time current sensor data displayed on the LCD.
- Dial wheel to adjust the UI for different viewing angles.
- Line chart mode to visualize power usage for each channel.
- Count mode to count average(second, minute, all time) and peak current consumption for each channel.
- Allow to save settings data to EEPROM.
- USB to Serial mode as a debug tool.
- PWM output on IO0 and IO1.
- ADC reading from IO0 and IO1.
- Web based UI for data monitoring.
| Version | Stable | Tags | Features added | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9.0 | Yes | - | Real-time current sensor data displayed on the LCD. | - |
| 1.0.0 | Yes | - | Dial wheel to adjust the UI for different viewing angles. | RP2040 |
| 1.1.0 | No | - | Line chart mode to visualize power usage for each channel. | RP2040 |
| 1.1.1 | Yes | - | support Data-Dashboard, Line-chart, current-Statistic，Setting | RP2040 |
| 1.1.2 | Yes | - | Introduces LED blink functionality for debugging purposes | RP2040 |
| 1.1.3 | Yes👍 | - | Add fixed-scale and auto-scale support for line-chart | RP2040 |
| 1.1.4 | Yes👍 | - | Add support for XIAO RP2350, XIAO ESP32-C3, XIAO ESP32-S3, XIAO ESP32-C6 | MultiPlatform |
| 2.0.0 | No | Beta | Switch to LVGL(LovyanGFX) for UI rendering. | RP2040 |
- System Config Explanation
- Default mode setting
- Shunt resistor setting (20mOhm, 50mOhm)
- Serial output setting (Human readable mode, Arduino plotter mode)
- Line chart setting (Chart refresh rate)
- The display is not responding
- Pls make sure you are using the latest firmware, the latest firmware have some bug fix for the stability.
- Try to reset the XIAO by pressing the reset button on the XIAO board.
- The display is not working
- Please check the I2C and SPI pin connections, and ensure the XIAO is properly soldered the pins.
- The current value is not correct
- Pls check the shunt resistor value, and set it correctly in the sysConfig. (e.g. 20 for 20mOhm, 50 for 50mOhm) -> System Config Explanation
- Both of the Volatage shows on display is 0V
- Pls check the power-on switch, it should be on the down side. (UP side is OFF, DOWN side is ON)
| Library | v1.x | v2.x | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino-Pico Core | ✅ | ✅ | Arduino-Pico Core (4.x.x) |
| Arduino-ESP32 Core | ✅ | ✅ | Arduino-ESP32 Core (3.x.x) |
| INA3221_RT Library | ✅ | ✅ | INA3221_RT Library |
| Adafruit GFX Library | ✅ | Adafruit GFX Library | |
| Adafruit ST7735 Library | ✅ | Adafruit ST7735 Library | |
| Adafruit SleepyDog | ✅ | Adafruit SleepyDog | |
| LovyanGFX | ✅ | LovyanGFX | |
| LVGL | ✅ | LVGL |
Contributions are welcome to improve the XIAO PowerBread project! Whether you want to submit a pull request, propose new features, or report a bug, feel free to use the issue tracker.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
