PropX
PropX Documentation

PropX-Tinker board tour

The map of the open-source PropX-Tinker board: USB-C, load power, MOSFET output connectors, isolated inputs, breakouts A/B/C, jumpers, and the display header.

github.com/propexperience/tinker

The friendly map. The deep, pin-by-pin version is the repo's hardware reference — the single source of truth for every pin.

  1. USB-C

    Powers the board (5 V → 3.3 V logic), loads firmware, and carries the serial console. One cable, three jobs.

  2. Load power (barrel jack)

    A separate 9–24 V supply for your loads only — it feeds the output connectors and the isolated inputs, never the logic. (The jack's "9-12V" marking is being corrected to 9–24 V; its role in the power path is being documented — #95.)

  3. Output connectors D and E

    Four opto-isolated, active-LOW, low-side MOSFET outputs (two per connector). Wire each load between the 12 V pin and an OUT pin — outputs stay safely OFF while the board resets or sits unprogrammed.

    ⚠️ Warning: Keep loads under 1.5 A each (rating — #98); add a flyback diode across motors, solenoids, and relays.

  4. Isolated inputs

    Two optocoupler inputs — sense switches and signals living on the load-power world with no electrical connection to the logic. Either polarity works.

  5. Audio jack

    3.5 mm line-level output — powered speakers, headphones, or an amp; a bare speaker won't work. (The "5w" silkscreen is being reconciled — #96.)

  6. MicroSD card slot

    FAT32 card with MP3s, played from the console's box browser.

  7. Reset and Boot buttons

    Reset restarts the board. Hold Boot + tap Reset = firmware-loading mode over USB.

  8. Buttons 1–4 and the RGB light

    Four buttons that print console events; two cycle the RGB light through ten colors (which two — #99; board labels vs the single fitted light — #97).

  9. Display header

    For the optional SSD1306 OLED (I²C, 0x3C) — the firmware draws the PropX logo at boot. Shares the I²C bus with Connector B.

  10. Breakout connectors A, B, C

    Serial (A: TX/RX), I²C (B: SDA/SCL + two GPIO), SPI (C: MOSI/CLK/MISO + two GPIO) — all 3.3 V only. GPIO3 and GPIO17 have no pull resistor; configure one before trusting them as inputs.

  11. Jumpers J1–J4

    Set a breakout pin's resting level: shunt toward VCC = pull-up, toward GND = pull-down, removed = floating.

  12. Power tap ("5v output")

    5 V + 3.3 V + GND for your add-ons (current limits — #98).

← All PropX-Tinker guides

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