Board Overview

The ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 is an entry-level development board from Espressif, equipped with the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 module. The N16R8 variant includes 16MB of Flash and 8MB of PSRAM, making it ideal for applications requiring significant memory.

Board Layout

Key Components

ESP32-S3-WROOM-1

The main SoC module containing the ESP32-S3 chip with integrated antenna

CP2102N USB-UART

Silicon Labs USB-to-UART bridge for programming and serial communication

SGM2212 LDO

3.3V voltage regulator for stable power supply

SK68XXMINI-HS RGB LED

WS2812-compatible addressable RGB LED

Features

Dual USB Ports

The DevKitC-1 features two Micro-USB ports with distinct functions:

Port	IC	Function
USB (J4)	Native ESP32-S3	USB-OTG, USB-Serial/JTAG, USB-HID
UART (J2)	CP2102N	Traditional serial programming/debug

Tip

Use the UART port for reliable programming with esptool. The USB port enables native USB applications but requires proper USB stack configuration.

Auto-Programming Circuit

The board includes an auto-programming circuit that automatically handles the Boot/Reset sequence:

DTR	RTS	EN	IO0	Mode
1	1	1	1	Normal operation
0	0	1	1	Normal operation
1	0	0	1	Reset (EN low)
0	1	1	0	Download (Boot pressed)

Memory Configuration

The N16R8 variant provides substantial memory resources:

Memory Type	Size	Interface	Speed
Internal SRAM	512 KB	-	CPU speed
Flash	16 MB	Quad SPI (QIO)	Up to 80 MHz
PSRAM	8 MB	Octal SPI (OPI)	Up to 80 MHz

Note

The Octal PSRAM uses GPIO35-37 internally. These pins are not available for general use on N8R8/N16R8 variants.

Power Supply Options

The board can be powered through multiple sources:

1. USB (5V) - Either USB port provides power
2. 5V Pin - External 5V supply to the 5V header pin
3. 3V3 Pin - External regulated 3.3V supply (bypasses LDO)

Caution

Do not apply more than 5.5V to the 5V pin. The onboard LDO has limited current capacity (~500mA).

Buttons

Button	GPIO	Function
BOOT	GPIO0	Hold during reset for download mode
RST	CHIP_PU	System reset

LEDs

LED	GPIO/Location	Function
RGB	GPIO38 (V1.1) / GPIO48 (V1.0)	User-programmable addressable LED
PWR	Near LDO	Power indicator (always on when powered)

Related Resources

• Pinout Reference - Complete pin mapping
• Quick Start Guide - Get running in 5 minutes
• Specifications - Full electrical specifications