ESP32-C3-Zero Pro Development Board
Code name: ESP32C3_DEV
ESP32-C3-Zero Pro development board is based on esp32c3 microcontroller and uses riscv32 architecture. This board has a maximum CPU frequency of 160 MHz and a flash size of 4MB.
About ESP32-C3-Zero Pro
ESP32-C3-Zero Pro is an upgraded version of the ESP32-C3-Zero, featuring a better ceramic antenna and an IPEX antenna mount for improved wireless performance. It is based on the Espressif ESP32-C3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth dual-mode chip, with a 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor running at up to 160 MHz. It comes with 400 KB SRAM, 384 KB ROM, and 4 MB of onboard flash memory.
This board supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5 (LE), making it ideal for low-power IoT applications and wireless wearable devices. πΆ
Compared to the ESP32-C3-Zero, the Zero Pro offers enhanced signal strength due to its dual-antenna design, making it more reliable for applications requiring strong wireless connectivity. It retains the same ultra-compact footprint (22.52 Γ 18 mm) while adding more connectivity options.
For user convenience, it includes both a RESET button and a BOOT button to facilitate development and debugging. π
The board provides 11 digital I/O pins configurable as PWM outputs and 4 analog I/O pins for ADC inputs. It supports multiple serial interfaces, including 1Γ I2C, 1Γ SPI, and 2Γ UART, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. βοΈ
Where to Buy
Starting from
$3 per unit
Prices are subject to change. We earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate.
Technical Specifications
π°οΈ Connectivity
π§ Microcontroller
β¨ Features
- Improved wireless performance: Better ceramic antenna + IPEX antenna mount
- Ultra-small size: 22.52 Γ 18 mm
- Ultra-low power consumption: deep sleep current approximately 43 ΞΌA
- Onboard blue LED connected to GPIO8
- 11 digital IO pins
- 22 external interrupt pins
- 4 analog input pins
- 11 PWM pins
ESP32-C3-Zero Pro Pinout
The ESP32-C3-Zero Pro pinout is designed for versatility in a compact form factor. Key power pins include 5V, 3.3V, and GND, ensuring stable power delivery for various peripherals.
The board provides multiple communication interfaces:
- UART: TX, RX
- I2C: SDA, SCL
- SPI: SCK, MISO, MOSI, SS
For analog input, it offers ADC pins suitable for reading sensor data or voltage levels.
β Safe Pins to Use
For general GPIO usage, these are the safest and most flexible choices:
Why Are These Pins Safe?
- Not involved in bootstrapping β No impact on device boot mode or system startup
- Not linked to flash memory or PSRAM β Won't interfere with storage or memory access
- Not dedicated to USB or JTAG β Free for general use without affecting debugging
- No special hardware connections β Freely assignable without internal conflicts
β οΈ Pins to Avoid or Use with Caution
Some pins are reserved for critical functions like bootstrapping, JTAG debugging, USB communication, and flash memory operations. Misusing these pins may lead to boot failures, programming issues, USB conflicts, or disruptions in flash storage.
Critical Pin Categories:
- π οΈ Strapping Pins: Control boot behavior and flash voltage selection
- π JTAG Debugging Pins: Required for low-level debugging
- π USB Communication Pins: Used for USB Serial/JTAG communication
- β‘ Flash Memory & SPI Pins: Connected to SPI flash memory and PSRAM
- π‘ UART Serial Communication Pins: Used for debugging and firmware uploads
| PIN | Label | Reason | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| IO2 | GPIO2 | Must be held high during boot (if low on reset, normal flash boot may fail) | π οΈ Strapping |
| IO4 | MTMS | Used during boot; JTAG TMS for debugging; acts as Quad-SPI flash IO (hold data line) in internal-flash variants | π JTAG |
| IO5 | MTDI | Used during boot; JTAG TDI for debugging; acts as Quad-SPI flash IO (write-protect data line) in internal-flash variants | π JTAG |
| IO6 | MTCK | Used during boot; JTAG TCK for debugging; provides flash clock in internal-flash variants | π JTAG |
| IO7 | MTDO | Used during boot; JTAG TDO for debugging; acts as Quad-SPI flash IO (data line) in internal-flash variants | π JTAG |
ESP32-C3-Zero Pro Pin Mappings
This development board provides 11 digital IO pins, out of which 22 can be used as external interrupt pins , 4 as analog input pins and 11 pins have Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) .
| Pin | Function | ESP Pin | Input/Output | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5V | 5V | POWER INPUT | 5V power input for the board |
| 2 | GND | GND | POWER GROUND | Ground connection |
| 3 | 3V3 | 3.3V | POWER OUTPUT | 3.3V power output |
| 4 | IO0 | GPIO0 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, PWM |
| 5 | IO1 | GPIO1 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, PWM |
| 6 | IO2 | GPIO2 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, PWM |
| 7 | IO3 | GPIO3 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, PWM |
| 8 | IO4 | GPIO4 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, SPI SCK, PWM |
| 9 | IO5 | GPIO5 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, ADC, SPI MISO, PWM |
| 10 | IO6 | GPIO6 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, SPI MOSI, PWM |
| 11 | IO7 | GPIO7 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, SPI SS, PWM |
| 12 | IO8 | GPIO8 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, I2C Data line, PWM |
| 13 | IO9 | GPIO9 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, I2C Clock line, PWM |
| 14 | IO10 | GPIO10 | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO |
| 15 | IO20 | TX | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, UART Transmit |
| 16 | IO21 | TX | BIDIRECTIONAL | GPIO, UART Transmit |
Default Tools
| Bootloader tool | esptool_py |
| Uploader tool | esptool_py |
| Network uploader tool | esp_ota |
| Bootloader address | 0x0 |
| Flash mode | qio |
| Boot mode | qio |
| Maximum upload size | 1280 Kb (1310720 B) |
| Maximum data size | 320 Kb (327680 B) |
The ESP32-C3-Zero Pro development board by default uses esptool_py uploader tool, esp_ota network uploader tool for Over-the-air (OTA) uploads and esptool_py bootloader tool. The bootloader starts at address "0x0". Flash mode and boot mode for ESP32-C3-Zero Pro development board by default is qio and qio respectively.
