Don’t forget which version you have! We’ll need to differentiate between the
two when we get to uploading code in Arduino. If you’re not sure which
version you have, check the back corner of the board. One of two boxes
should be checked to indicate the operating voltage.
How to Power the Pro Micro
As the Pro Micro’s main feature is its innate USB functionality, the most
common way to power it is via
USB
. In this setup, a 5V Pro Micro will be
powered directly from the USB bus and a 3.3V Pro Micro will regulate the
5V supply coming in from USB down. The other end of the USB cable can
be connected to either a computer, USB hub, or a USB wall adapter, which
can (in most cases) provide more power.
Alternatively, if your Pro Micro is living out in the wild, out of reach of USB
cables, it can be powered through either the ‘RAW’ or ‘VCC’ pins. A supply
going into the
‘RAW’
pin will be
regulated
down to the correct operating
voltage (5V or 3.3V). To be safe, it shouldn’t be any higher than 12V, and it
should be at least 1V more than the Pro Micro’s operating voltage (e.g. >6V
for a 5V Pro Micro).
Pro Micro powered through the RAW pin by a set of four, series AA
batteries.
If you power the Pro Micro through the
‘VCC’
pin, keep in mind that this
signal is
unregulated
. Only use this if you have a clean, regulated 3.3V or
5V supply to connect to it.
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