Here is a useful, practical review covering its features, quirks, and what you should know before buying.
The gold standard for Linux and macOS users. It is a command-line utility that natively supports the CH341A programmer. Step-by-Step Programming Guide ch341a v 118
| Feature / Variant | CH341A "Mini Programmer" (Black) | CH341A "ZIF Programmer" (Blue) | CH341B | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | SPI Flash / I2C EEPROM | SPI Flash / I2C EEPROM | USB-to-serial bridge | | Chip Support | 24/25 series, others via adapter | 24/25 series, others via adapter | Primarily UART | | Typical Price | Very low ($5-10) | Low ($10-15) | N/A | | Pros | Extremely cheap, compact, flexible | No soldering for DIP8 chips, better voltage regulation | Has a built-in oscillator | | Cons | Known 5V data line bug (prior v1.7), needs mod for safety | Larger, slightly more expensive | Poor internal oscillator accuracy causes timing issues | | Known Hardware Bug | YES (5V on data lines) | NO (proper 3.3V supply) | YES (poor internal oscillator) | Here is a useful, practical review covering its
The (often labeled on the PCB as CH341A Series Programmer V1.18 or similar) is a specific revision of the ubiquitous, low-cost USB EEPROM/Flash programmer . Step-by-Step Programming Guide | Feature / Variant |
If your board outputs 5V logic, you can safely modify it by lifting of the CH341A chip or cutting the 5V trace feeding its logic subsystem, then jumping it directly to the output of the onboard 1117-3.3V voltage regulator.