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2 layers43.2 × 17.8 mmArduinoISP, the printed circuit board in 3D

A PCB to use an Arduino Nano as an In-Circuit Serial Programmer (ISP) for programming AVR microcontrollers.

Size
43.2 × 17.8 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
16
Nets
34
Pads
71
Tracks, vias
122, 16
Pours
1
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 10.0 (file 20260206)
Created
11 May 2026
Updated
15 May 2026

Overview

ArduinoISP is an open-source printed circuit board by stonedDiscord, from the stonedDiscord/ArduinoISP repository on GitHub, published under the BSD-2-Clause licence. It is a 2-layer board of 43.2 × 17.8 mm with 16 parts on 34 nets, routed with 122 tracks and 16 vias.

It is built around the FRC0603F2200TS, 2541WV-03P and 2541FV-15P-B, with the GL0603UR01, GL0603UG01 and DS1013-10SSIB1-B-0 among its other parts. Its parts include 5 connectors, 3 resistors and 3 diodes. It belongs with the interfaces and adapters boards of this library.

Main components

9

README

README.md

ArduinoISP

A PCB to use an Arduino Nano as an In-Circuit Serial Programmer (ISP) for programming AVR microcontrollers.

ArduinoISP PCB

Overview

This board makes it easier for an Arduino Nano to function as an ISP programmer, enabling you to burn bootloaders to other Arduinos and program AVR chips like the ATmega series, or ATtiny microcontrollers. To do that, it connects the Arduino Nano correctly to the microcontroller's SPI pins (MOSI, MISO, SCK) and reset pin. The board is designed in a way that the 6-pin socket header can be directly soldered to the board vertically, while the 10-pin header can accept a flat cable with an adapter on the other end, similiar to the many USBASP clones.

Hardware

The PCB includes:

  • Two 15-pin headers for connecting to an Arduino Nano:
    • J1 (Analog): Pins for A0-A7, AREF, 3V3, and power
    • J2 (Digital): Pins for D0-D13, GND, and power
  • AVR-ISP-10 connector (J3): Standard 10-pin ICSP programming header for target devices
  • AVR-ISP-6 connector (J4): Standard 6-pin ICSP programming header for target devices
  • 3 Status LEDs: Heartbeat, Error and Program
  • Pull-up resistors (R2, R3): 220Ω current limiting for LEDs

Assembly

  • Start with the SMD resistors
  • Next solder the LEDs
  • Then the 2 6-Pin connectors
  • Next solder the 10-Pin connector
  • Do the 2 Arduino headers last

Pin Mapping

The ISP programming uses the following connections from the Nano to the 6-pin ICSP connector:

ISP PinSignalNano Pin
1MISOD12
2VCC+5V
3SCKD13
4MOSID11
5RSTD10
6GNDGND

The standard ICSP header pinout looks like this, with the key (if present) next to SCK

MISOVCC
] SCKMOSI
RSTGND

Usage

1. Program the Arduino Nano

  1. Open the ArduinoISP sketch: File > Examples > 11.ArduinoISP > ArduinoISP
  2. Select your Nano board and port
  3. Upload the sketch to the Nano

You can also find the sketch on the official Arduino GitHub page

2. Wire the Boards

Connect the Nano to this PCB's headers. The board will provide the 6-pin ISP connector for connecting to your target device.

3. Burn the Bootloader

  1. Select the target board type in Tools > Board
  2. Select Arduino as ISP in Tools > Programmer
  3. Use Tools > Burn Bootloader

Requirements

  • Arduino Nano
  • Target AVR microcontroller board
  • Arduino IDE

Notes

  • Be cautious when programming 3.3V devices (Due, Zero, etc.) - ensure the jumper is set correctly.

Sponsor

This project is participating in the 2026 Kicad PCB Design Contest. You can check out the project on the PCBway website.

Acknowledgements

Parts

16
QtyValueFootprintReferences
4MountingHole_65milArduinoISP:MountingHole_65milMH1, MH2, MH3, MH4
3220Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric_Pad0.98x0.95mm_HandSolderR1, R2, R3
15V 3VConnector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_VerticalJP1
1AnalogConnector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x15_P2.54mm_VerticalJ1
1DigitalConnector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x15_P2.54mm_VerticalJ2
1ERRLED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric_Pad1.05x0.95mm_HandSolderD2
1HBLED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric_Pad1.05x0.95mm_HandSolderD1
1ISP-10Connector_IDC:IDC-Header_2x05_P2.54mm_VerticalJ3
1ISP-6-PinsArduinoISP:IDC-Header_2x03_P2.54mm_HorizontalJ4
1ISP-6-SocketArduinoISP:IDC-Header_2x03_P2.54mm_HorizontalJ5
1PRGLED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric_Pad1.05x0.95mm_HandSolderD3

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Questions

How big is the ArduinoISP PCB?

It measures 43.2 × 17.8 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the ArduinoISP use?

16 parts, built around the FRC0603F2200TS, 2541WV-03P, 2541FV-15P-B and GL0603UR01. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the ArduinoISP KiCad files?

From the stonedDiscord/ArduinoISP repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is ArduinoISP.kicad_pcb and its schematic ArduinoISP.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the ArduinoISP design in my own project?

Its repository publishes it under the BSD-2-Clause licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).