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How to Use W5500 Mini: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

Image of W5500 Mini
Cirkit Designer LogoDesign with W5500 Mini in Cirkit Designer

Introduction

The W5500 Mini is a compact Ethernet controller designed to provide a simple and efficient interface for connecting microcontrollers to a network. It supports a full suite of TCP/IP protocols, including TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPv4, ARP, IGMP, and PPPoE, making it an ideal choice for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. With its small form factor and low power consumption, the W5500 Mini is widely used in embedded systems, home automation, industrial control, and other applications requiring reliable Ethernet connectivity.

Explore Projects Built with W5500 Mini

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
I2C-Controlled OLED Display with External EEPROM and Interactive Pushbuttons
Image of godmode: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
This is a microcontroller-based interactive device featuring a Wemos D1 Mini, an OLED display, external EEPROM, and an I/O expander. It includes user input buttons and status LEDs, with potential MIDI interface capabilities.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Dual-Microcontroller Audio Processing System with Visual Indicators and Battery Management
Image of proto thesis 2: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
This is a portable audio-visual device featuring two Wemos microcontrollers for processing, Adafruit MAX4466 microphone amplifiers for audio input, and an LCD TFT screen for display. It includes power management with TP4056 modules and LiPo batteries, and user-controlled toggle and rocker switches.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Wi-Fi Controlled Vibration-Sensing Robot with Battery Monitoring
Image of Vibration Trash: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
This circuit features a Wemos D1 Mini microcontroller connected to a MX1508 DC Motor Driver for controlling a DC motor, a SW-420 Vibration Sensor for detecting vibrations, and a Type-c Power Bank Module with an 18650 battery holder for power supply. The microcontroller monitors the vibration sensor and controls the motor driver based on the sensor's output, while also measuring the battery voltage through an ADC pin with a connected resistor for voltage scaling. The embedded code enables WiFi connectivity, OTA updates, and integration with Home Assistant for remote monitoring and control.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Beelink Mini S12 N95 and Arduino UNO Based Fingerprint Authentication System with ESP32 CAM
Image of design 3: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
This circuit features a Beelink MINI S12 N95 computer connected to a 7-inch display via HDMI for video output and two USB connections for power and touch screen functionality. An Arduino UNO is interfaced with a fingerprint scanner for biometric input. The Beelink MINI S12 N95 is powered by a PC power supply, which in turn is connected to a 240V power source. Additionally, an ESP32 CAM module is powered and programmed via a USB plug and an FTDI programmer, respectively, for wireless camera capabilities.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Explore Projects Built with W5500 Mini

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
Image of godmode: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
I2C-Controlled OLED Display with External EEPROM and Interactive Pushbuttons
This is a microcontroller-based interactive device featuring a Wemos D1 Mini, an OLED display, external EEPROM, and an I/O expander. It includes user input buttons and status LEDs, with potential MIDI interface capabilities.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of proto thesis 2: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
Dual-Microcontroller Audio Processing System with Visual Indicators and Battery Management
This is a portable audio-visual device featuring two Wemos microcontrollers for processing, Adafruit MAX4466 microphone amplifiers for audio input, and an LCD TFT screen for display. It includes power management with TP4056 modules and LiPo batteries, and user-controlled toggle and rocker switches.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of Vibration Trash: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
Wi-Fi Controlled Vibration-Sensing Robot with Battery Monitoring
This circuit features a Wemos D1 Mini microcontroller connected to a MX1508 DC Motor Driver for controlling a DC motor, a SW-420 Vibration Sensor for detecting vibrations, and a Type-c Power Bank Module with an 18650 battery holder for power supply. The microcontroller monitors the vibration sensor and controls the motor driver based on the sensor's output, while also measuring the battery voltage through an ADC pin with a connected resistor for voltage scaling. The embedded code enables WiFi connectivity, OTA updates, and integration with Home Assistant for remote monitoring and control.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of design 3: A project utilizing W5500 Mini in a practical application
Beelink Mini S12 N95 and Arduino UNO Based Fingerprint Authentication System with ESP32 CAM
This circuit features a Beelink MINI S12 N95 computer connected to a 7-inch display via HDMI for video output and two USB connections for power and touch screen functionality. An Arduino UNO is interfaced with a fingerprint scanner for biometric input. The Beelink MINI S12 N95 is powered by a PC power supply, which in turn is connected to a 240V power source. Additionally, an ESP32 CAM module is powered and programmed via a USB plug and an FTDI programmer, respectively, for wireless camera capabilities.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Common Applications and Use Cases

  • IoT devices requiring Ethernet connectivity
  • Home automation systems
  • Industrial monitoring and control
  • Network-enabled sensors and actuators
  • Data logging and remote monitoring systems

Technical Specifications

The W5500 Mini is based on the W5500 Ethernet controller chip, which integrates a hardwired TCP/IP stack and supports high-speed SPI communication with microcontrollers.

Key Technical Details

Parameter Specification
Supply Voltage 3.3V
Operating Current ~132 mA (typical)
Communication Interface SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)
Ethernet Speed 10/100 Mbps
Protocols Supported TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPv4, ARP, IGMP, PPPoE
Buffer Size 32 KB (internal TX/RX buffer)
Operating Temperature -40°C to +85°C
Dimensions ~28mm x 20mm

Pin Configuration and Descriptions

The W5500 Mini module typically has a 2x5 pin header for SPI communication and power connections. Below is the pinout:

Pin Number Pin Name Description
1 GND Ground connection
2 VCC Power supply input (3.3V)
3 SCK SPI Clock input
4 MISO SPI Master-In-Slave-Out (data output from W5500)
5 MOSI SPI Master-Out-Slave-In (data input to W5500)
6 CS Chip Select (active low)
7 RESET Reset input (active low)
8 INT Interrupt output (active low, indicates events like received packets)
9 NC Not connected
10 NC Not connected

Usage Instructions

How to Use the W5500 Mini in a Circuit

  1. Power Supply: Connect the VCC pin to a 3.3V power source and the GND pin to ground.
  2. SPI Communication: Connect the SCK, MISO, MOSI, and CS pins to the corresponding SPI pins on your microcontroller.
  3. Reset: Optionally, connect the RESET pin to a GPIO pin on your microcontroller for software-controlled resets.
  4. Interrupt Handling: If required, connect the INT pin to a GPIO pin on your microcontroller to handle interrupts.
  5. Ethernet Connection: Plug an Ethernet cable into the RJ45 connector on the W5500 Mini.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

  • Ensure the power supply is stable and within the specified range (3.3V).
  • Use pull-up resistors on the CS and RESET lines if they are not actively driven by the microcontroller.
  • Keep SPI communication lines as short as possible to minimize noise and signal degradation.
  • Use a proper Ethernet cable (Cat5e or higher) for reliable network performance.
  • Configure the W5500 Mini's IP address, subnet mask, and gateway settings according to your network requirements.

Example Code for Arduino UNO

Below is an example of how to use the W5500 Mini with an Arduino UNO to establish a basic Ethernet connection:

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Ethernet.h>

// Define MAC address and IP address for the W5500 Mini
byte mac[] = { 0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF, 0xFE, 0xED }; // Unique MAC address
IPAddress ip(192, 168, 1, 100); // Static IP address for the device

// Initialize the Ethernet server on port 80
EthernetServer server(80);

void setup() {
  // Start serial communication for debugging
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // Wait for the serial port to connect
  }

  // Initialize Ethernet with the specified MAC and IP address
  if (Ethernet.begin(mac) == 0) {
    Serial.println("Failed to configure Ethernet using DHCP");
    // Use static IP if DHCP fails
    Ethernet.begin(mac, ip);
  }

  // Start the server
  server.begin();
  Serial.print("Server is at ");
  Serial.println(Ethernet.localIP());
}

void loop() {
  // Listen for incoming clients
  EthernetClient client = server.available();
  if (client) {
    Serial.println("New client connected");
    // Send a simple HTTP response
    client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
    client.println("Content-Type: text/html");
    client.println("Connection: close");
    client.println();
    client.println("<!DOCTYPE HTML>");
    client.println("<html>");
    client.println("<h1>Hello from W5500 Mini!</h1>");
    client.println("</html>");
    delay(1); // Give the client time to receive the data
    client.stop(); // Close the connection
    Serial.println("Client disconnected");
  }
}

Notes:

  • Replace the mac and ip values with those appropriate for your network.
  • Ensure the Ethernet library is installed in your Arduino IDE.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Common Issues and Solutions

  1. No Ethernet Connection:

    • Verify the Ethernet cable is securely connected to the W5500 Mini and the router/switch.
    • Check the power supply voltage (3.3V) and ensure it is stable.
    • Confirm the SPI connections between the W5500 Mini and the microcontroller.

  2. Failed to Obtain IP Address via DHCP:

    • Ensure the DHCP server on your network is active and has available IP addresses.
    • Use a static IP address if DHCP fails.

  3. Unstable or Dropped Connections:

    • Check for noise or interference on the SPI lines.
    • Use shorter cables and proper shielding if necessary.

  4. Interrupt Pin Not Working:

    • Ensure the INT pin is properly connected to a GPIO pin on the microcontroller.
    • Verify the interrupt handling code in your firmware.

FAQs

Q: Can the W5500 Mini work with 5V microcontrollers?
A: Yes, but you must use level shifters or voltage dividers on the SPI lines to ensure compatibility with the 3.3V logic of the W5500 Mini.

Q: How do I update the firmware on the W5500 Mini?
A: The W5500 Mini does not require firmware updates as it uses a hardwired TCP/IP stack.

Q: Can I use the W5500 Mini with other microcontrollers besides Arduino?
A: Yes, the W5500 Mini is compatible with any microcontroller that supports SPI communication, such as ESP32, STM32, and Raspberry Pi.

Q: What is the maximum Ethernet cable length supported?
A: The W5500 Mini supports standard Ethernet cable lengths of up to 100 meters (328 feet).