Question 1

What is this used for? what is the difference between this and an ftdi board?

Accepted Answer

What is it used for...that seems to be a big question as it might indicate that you might need a bit more insight in what all this is - I'll try to give some limited detail here:

This little board converts UART TTL level signals (3.3V and 5V) to a USB level differential signal. It provides the most basic asynchronous serial data interface, which uses one TX line (Transmit) and one RX (Receive). UART = Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter. Asynchronous means that there is no clock line and the receiver has to know how fast data is being transmitted. It will then sample that data with its own clock running 16 times faster than the known data rate. 
TTL = Transistor-Transistor Logic. TTL uses bipolar junction transistors to realize the logic gate functions. This leads to the generally accepted logic levels for TTL logic: 0 to 0.8V is a logic low, 2V to VCC (typically 5V but today also 3.3V) is a logic high. 
 
This is just what the FTDI converter can do. However, the FTDI converter is capable of providing control to other signalling standards (RS422 and RS485 - both use differential signalling - additional converters are needed with the FTDI chip to run RS422 and RS485). The FTDI chip also provides all the signals to run a full (old school) rs232 level converter. RS232 is a bipolar signal where a logic low is from -15 to -3 and a logic high is from +3V to +15V.  The FTDI chip does NOT provide those levels - as mentioned above - an additional level converter is needed to do that. However, the FTDI chip provides the same unipolar TTL signals as the CP210X.

Long story short - this is used for running simple serial communication from e.g. a micro processor to a PC, where the PC uses the USB interface and the microprocessor uses the UART interface. Generally you'll use it like this:
1. plug in USB to UART converter into PC USB port
2. in device manager (after some installation process of drivers) you'll find the new device listed under Ports (COM & LPT) - there will be a name and then (COM#). If there are several (COM#s) listed, then you need to unplug the newly plugged in converter and the (COM#) belonging to the new converter disappears. It'll come back once you plug the converter back into the USB port.
3. You open a serial terminal (e.g. TeraTerm or Putty etc) - in the terminal select the COM# that you found in the Device manager
4. in select the baud rate (the rate at which 8 data bits plus start, stop and parity bits if any (there is always a start bit), can be sent at a time)
5. you can now send 8 bit ascii characters to the UART side which will appear on the terminal on your PC - as well as you can type characters into the terminal that will now appear on UART side of your converter

Don't know if that covers anything you were wondering about...
Torsten

Question 2

does it support windows10?
I really hope so but I'm thinking the answer is no.

Accepted Answer

Yes it supports window 10

Question 3

How can you switch from 3.3v to 5v operation?

Accepted Answer

The CP2120 has output pins for both 5V and 3.3V. You just choose which to use with your device. There are no jumpers or switches to change.

Question 4

Can this configure a lilypad. I see it only has a blue light now but sometimes blue and red. is something wrong with it. Is there a online manual?

Accepted Answer

No manual i know of. But i never looked to be honest. I used this to connect the display to a raspberry pi 3 and a dvmega. The light only told me ot was powered. Good luck with you project

Brand	HiLetgo
Item model number	3-01-0103-B
Item Weight	0.32 ounces
Product Dimensions	4.3 x 0.6 x 3.1 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH	4.3 x 0.6 x 3.1 inches
Color	Red
Manufacturer	HiLetgo
ASIN	B00LODGRV8
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Date First Available	July 10, 2014

HiLetgo CP2102 USB 2.0 to TTL 5PIN Serial Converter Module With cable for Linux, macOS, Win7, Win8, Win10

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