FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 Development Kit for Smart Home (2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi 6, Home Assistant, BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread)

The FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 IO Expansion Kit is an advanced development platform that combines the powerful FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 microcontroller with a dedicated IO expansion shield. Engineered for next-generation IoT applications, it delivers cutting-edge wireless performance, comprehensive protocol support, and robust power flexibility. At its core is the ESP32-C5, offering dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity (2.4 & 5 GHz), alongside Bluetooth 5, Thread, and Zigbee.

This enables seamless integration into modern smart home platforms. It's an ideal choice for DIY enthusiasts building custom devices for open-source systems like Home Assistant or creating commercial products compatible with Matter. The development kit features an intelligent power management system with solar charging capabilities and an ultra-low deep sleep current of 21 μA. The included solderless IO expansion board simplifies prototyping, making it ideal for creating sophisticated projects such as custom Home Assistant sensor nodes, solar-powered outdoor monitors that report back via MQTT, or even a multi-protocol Zigbee/Thread gateway.

Next-Generation Connectivity with Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6

The ESP32-C5 is Espressif's first module to support Wi-Fi 6 on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 5 GHz band provides higher transmission speeds, lower latency, and reduced interference, ensuring stable and responsive wireless connections. Wi-Fi 6 technology further enhances network capacity and efficiency through OFDMA and TWT mechanisms, significantly reducing device power consumption and extending battery life for long-term deployments.

Unified Smart Home Ecosystem with Multi-Protocol Support

This development board natively supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, Thread, and Zigbee protocols. This comprehensive support allows for the creation of Matter end-devices over Wi-Fi or Thread, enabling cross-platform interoperability among smart home products. This versatility makes it a powerful tool for Home Assistant users, who can leverage it to create reliable MQTT clients, build custom Zigbee devices, or experiment with Thread and Matter integrations, all with a single board.

Flexible & Efficient Power Management

Designed for versatile deployments, the board accommodates multiple power sources, including Type-C, 5V DC, and direct solar panel input for charging a lithium battery. An integrated solar power management IC maximizes charging efficiency across varying light conditions, making it suitable for outdoor or power-constrained locations. Onboard systems provide battery level monitoring and a controllable 3.3V power output, which can de-energize external sensors to achieve minimal power consumption during idle periods.

Rapid Prototyping with Solderless IO Expansion Board

The kit includes a dedicated IO expansion board that eliminates the need for soldering during initial development phases. All IO pins from the FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 are brought out to conveniently arranged headers with clear functional partitions. This design facilitates the quick and direct connection of various sensors, displays, and peripherals, allowing for immediate out-of-the-box use and accelerating the transition from concept to functional prototype.

Specifications:

• Operating Voltage: 3.3V
• Type-C Input Voltage: 5V DC
• VIN Input Voltage: 5V DC or 4.5-6V solar panel
• Maximum Charging Current: 0.5A
• Sleep Current: 21 μA (deep sleep mode, battery powered)
• Module Size: 25.4 x 60 mm
• Processor: RISC-V single-core processor
• Clock Frequency: 240 MHz
• SRAM: 384 KB
• ROM: 320 KB
• Flash: 4 MB
• LP SRAM: 16 KB
• Wi-Fi Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 1T1R
• Wi-Fi Protocols: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
• IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n (data rate up to 150 Mbps)
• IEEE 802.11ax (20 MHz-only non-AP mode)
• Wi-Fi Modes: Station mode, SoftAP mode, SoftAP+Station mode and Promiscuous mode
• Bluetooth Protocols: Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth mesh
• Bluetooth Frequencies: 125 Kbps, 500 Kbps, 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps
• Compatible with IEEE 802.15.4-2015 protocol
• Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
• Data Rate: 250 Kbps
• Supports Thread 1.3, Zigbee 3.0

Development board Interface Pins:

• Digital I/O x18
• LED PWM Controller with 6 channels
• SPI x1
• UART x3 (LP UART x1)
• I2C x2 (LP I2C x1)
• I2S x1
• Infrared Transceiver: 5 transmitting channels, 5 receiving channels
• 1x 12-bit SAR ADC with 7 channels
• DMA Controller with 3 receiving channels and 3 transmitting channels

IO Expansion Board Interface Pins:

• IO x11
• I2C x3
• UART x1
• SPI x1
• RST x1
• VIN: 5V x1
• VOUT: 3V3_C x1

WIKI: https://wiki.dfrobot.com/dfr1236/

ESP-IDF: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32c5/get-started/index.html