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I built my own version of the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe (USB-C + 2.54mm headers)

r/embedded - I built my own version of the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe (USB-C + 2.54mm headers)

hi everyone :D

I designed and built my own version of the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe. It can act as a simple USB to UART/SWD bridge for debugging projects.

I'd been using a Raspberry Pi Pico as a cheap USB to UART bridge for a while for my projects and while it does the job, it's uh a bit clunky. I came across the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe and thought that's pretty cool and decided to make one myself but with USB-C (cause who uses micro usb in the big 2026) and regular 2.54mm pitch headers instead of JST.

I designed the board in KiCad and it has the following features:

  • RP2040 MCU

  • 16Mbit Flash

  • USB-C Connector

  • 2.54mm headers for UART/SWD

  • Status indicator LEDs for power, UART activity, and SWD

For firmware, I used the debugprobe firmware from Raspberry Pi and updated the pin definitions for my board. It’s the same firmware used in the official Debug Probe.

The case was designed Fusion360 and it's a screwless design where the top and bottom parts press fit together.

You can check out the project's github repo here: https://github.com/Outdatedcandy92/RP2040-DBUG-Probe

Everything is open source, including schematics, PCB production files, and 3D models, so you can build one yourself if you want :D

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devryd1

I think I would have used a rp2354 instead and skip the external Flash, but thats Just my preference. Nice Design, though.

FirefighterDull7183

Dammit why didn't I think of that 

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xThiird

ESD PROTECTION GODDAMNIT

FirefighterDull7183

Adding ESD protection diodes just slipped my mind while designing this :c

n7tr34

Everyone forgets the first time lol, next design you can put it in :)

InterestingBoard67

what app did you use to draw this image?

PerryThePlatypus_og

ESD is a myth /s

AlexTaradov
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I make my own debuggers and don't bother with protection. When the cost of the tool is $2 and I have dozens of them and can build more on demand, I don't care that much.

In practice I can only think of one case where tool started to behave strange. Not sure if it can be attributed to ESD or something else, since it was not worth my time investigating. And I use a lot of them. I basically leave the debugger with the project board and just keep it there until I'm done with that project.

Obviously everyone use cases are different, and it may be a good idea if you make them for sale, but from my perspective ESD protection is just extra part that I need to solder if I want to assemble a new debugger.

AnySky484

Hi! Design looks great! Are you a student in embedded or do it for fun or job?

FirefighterDull7183

Thanks :D I'm still in high school and do this for fun, but I'm planning to go into EE.

pisscumfartshit

I was also designing my own electronics at high school! You got a bright future ahead of ya

LadyZoe1

As a hardware/software engineer, I commend your enthusiasm. I am near retirement age, and my advice is to keep at it. Use the MCU that can do the job, don’t worry about criticism, there will always “be something better”. ESD protection is important, as well as automatic level shifting to your external interface. Texas Instruments makes an automatic direction controlled IC specific for this task. It allows you to interface to other devices with either higher or lower voltages. Basically the external device supplies its own Vcc to the power rail of your interface IC.

FirefighterDull7183

Thank you, I really appreciate the advice and encouragement :D

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AlexGubia

Good job! Might give it a try and swap it

FirefighterDull7183

Thanks :D

NoHonestBeauty

What I very much dislike about the original Pico designs is the lack of a reset button.

FirefighterDull7183

Yeah that's pretty annoying, If im using the pico I just end up setting one of the GPIO pins to trigger a software reset.

uCblank

That's cool, I have been using Pico dev boards as my debug probes but this seems more convenient, especially with USB C

heeen

fyi theres also jtag support for rp2040 https://github.com/lonehog/JTAGprobe https://github.com/Misaka0x2730/MioLink

FirefighterDull7183

ooo thats cool! thanks for sharing

KaiPereira

Love it, keep up the work :D

Poplecznikus

Looks great! How does such debugger work, do you need external app for debugging?

FirefighterDull7183

The RP2040 shows up as a COM port on your host device, so you can just go ahead and open that serial port to interface with UART.

For SWD debugging, you use tools like OpenOCD with GDB or an IDE.

bogdan2011

How did you handle assembly?