As a high-performance development board equipped with the dual‑core STM32H747, the Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi features a power system designed with wide‑voltage input + two‑stage buck conversion + multi‑path power delivery. This ensures stable power supply when high‑power peripherals and wireless functions operate simultaneously, offers flexible powering across multiple scenarios, and includes protection circuitry for core components.
1. Three Power Supply Paths for Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi
The board supports three power input methods: VIN pin power, USB‑C power, and USB‑A power. Each method suits different usage scenarios, and power paths are automatically compatible with no manual switching required.
This diagram shows the complete power tree block diagram of the Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi development board, clearly illustrating the full power supply chain from external inputs to on‑board modules, core components, voltage conversion logic, and key parameters.
Input Source 1: J12 USB‑C Port
- Function: Combined programming and power supply; the most common input for desktop debugging
- Output signal: VBUS_USB0 (standard USB 5V)
- Subsequent path: VBUS_USB0 → D1 Schottky diode → +5V common power rail
- Diode purpose: Reverse polarity protection + unidirectional conduction; prevents back‑feeding from USB‑C and circulating currents during multi‑supply operation. Schottky diodes also reduce voltage drop (approximately 0.3V) to minimize power loss.
Input Source 2: Headers VIN Pin (2.54mm header)
- Function: Wide‑voltage external power input for industrial / high‑power scenarios
- Output signal: VIN (input range 6V ~ 32V; U7 supports up to 32V as marked)
- Subsequent path: VIN → U7 buck converter → +5V common power rail
- Key parameters of U7:
- Max input voltage: 32V (wide‑voltage compatible with 12V/24V industrial supplies)
- Max output current: 1.5A (sufficient current for the 5V rail)
Input Source 3: J2 USB‑A Port
- Function: USB Host mode + backup power supply
- Power logic: +5V rail → U9 power switch → VBUS_USB1 → J2
- Role of U9: Reverse blocking to prevent back‑feeding from external USB devices and protect the mainboard. Only outputs 5V to the USB‑A port when the board’s 5V rail is stable, enabling Host‑mode power delivery.
2. Voltage Conversion: Two‑Stage Buck to Unified 3.3V
First Stage: VIN → 5V (active only for VIN input)
- Core IC: U7 buck regulator
- Function: Steps down wide 6–32V VIN input to stable 5V, feeding the +5V common rail
- Note: 5V from USB‑C feeds directly into the +5V rail through D1, bypassing U7 to avoid secondary conversion losses.
Second Stage: 5V → 3.3V (active for all input methods)
- Core IC: U6 buck regulator
- Input: +5V common rail
- Output: +3V3 (3.3V, the sole core logic voltage of the board)
- Key parameters of U6:
- Max input voltage: 22V (redundant design protects downstream circuits even if VIN is overvoltage)
- Max output current: 1A (supplies the dual‑core MCU, wireless, storage, and all other modules)
Header Outputs: External Power Interfaces
- 5V header: Directly derived from the +5V common rail, for powering external 5V sensors / peripherals
- 3V3 header: Directly derived from the +3V3 rail, for powering 3.3V peripherals
- IOREF header: Connected directly to +3V3, providing logic level reference for shields (GIGA R1 is a pure 3.3V board with no 5V logic)
Related Part Number:
Sources:
- Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi Datasheet
- Special thanks to EEPW and related projects for their support: Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi – Development Board Evaluation
Related Contents:
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Three Power Supply Paths
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Interface & Peripheral Breakdown
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Wireless Features: Wi‑Fi Specifications & Characteristics
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Bluetooth Specifications & Characteristics
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Audio Function Overview
- Arduino GIGA R1 Evaluation Board — Three Programming Methods