Codrino Mega

Codrino Mega Premium is an ESP32 dual-core development board with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RS485, Ethernet (W5500), and rich UART/I2C GPIOs for IoT use.

Aimee0

Published January 07, 2026

120 UCC

25 WCC

29 VAR

Original source (new tab)

Components

Hardware components

WIZnet - W5500

x 1

WIZnet parts

W5500 Datasheet

Project description

📌 Overview

Codrino Mega Premium is a multi-communication development board that integrates ESP32 (dual-core) with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, RS485, and Ethernet (WIZnet W5500) on a single platform. It targets use cases where wireless-only solutions (Wi-Fi/BLE) are insufficient due to noise, distance, or reliability constraints, by providing RS485 for fieldbus communication and wired Ethernet for a reliable backhaul in one unified board.

📌 Company Introduction

Electronics Coding ( https://electronicscoding.com/ )

Electronics Coding FZE is an electronics and software development company founded in 2023, headquartered in the Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company provides embedded systems, communication modules, development boards, and custom technology solutions, and offers a range of electronic components and sensors, including ESP32-based development boards such as the Codrino Mega series.

Its main activities include electronic product design and manufacturing, software development, and support for embedded systems projects. The company also shares project descriptions and application examples based on microcontrollers such as the ESP32 through its own blog.

At present, three products from Electronics Coding are confirmed to use the WIZnet W5500 Ethernet chip:

Codrino Mega–Premium :
A high-end ESP32 dual-core development board that integrates W5500 Ethernet along with UART, I²C, and RS485.
Codrino Mega–Pure :
An ESP32 development board focused on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and Ethernet (W5500), excluding RS485.
USR-ES1 W5500 Ethernet Network Module :
A standalone Ethernet module that interfaces with Arduino and ESP32 via SPI.

Through these products, Electronics Coding appears to use the ESP32 + W5500 combination as a standard design pattern, reflecting a practical choice aimed at reducing MCU load while providing stable and reliable wired Ethernet connectivity.

📌 Features

All-in-one multi-communication support: Simultaneous Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, RS485, and Ethernet (W5500)
Arduino IDE compatible with Board Manager support: A custom board package is provided via GitHub
I/O and interface configuration: 6× general I/O, 4× input-only pins, UART, RS485, and I²C
5V power architecture: Includes a 5V power adapter and terminal block input
USB interface (programming/debugging): Onboard USB interface for firmware upload and debugging

📌 System Architecture

MCU: ESP32 dual-core SoC with built-in Wi-Fi and BLE
Ethernet: WIZnet W5500 (SPI-connected, hardwired TCP/IP)
Fieldbus: RS485 port (1 channel)
Host / Development Interface: USB (serial bridge using CH340/CH341 driver)

📌 Role and Application of the WIZnet's Chip

The W5500 is an Ethernet controller based on hardwired TCP/IP, which processes TCP/UDP and related protocols directly inside the chip. It connects to an external MCU (such as the ESP32) via SPI to provide wired Ethernet connectivity.

It offers key features required for embedded wired communication at the chip level, including 8 hardware sockets, SPI speeds up to 80 MHz, and an integrated 32 KB buffer.

📌 Market & Application Value

Industrial IoT Gateway

Connects sensors and PLCs via RS485
Interfaces with upper-level SCADA systems or servers over Ethernet

Smart Factory Equipment Control

Real-time data transmission over wired Ethernet
Wi-Fi used primarily for configuration and maintenance

Education and Research Integrated Communication Board

Enables hands-on training with wired, wireless, and industrial communications on a single board

Smart Building / Energy Management

Reliable wired networking combined with multiple sensor interfaces

📌 Resources

Github ( https://github.com/ElectronicsCoding/ElectronicsCodingBoard )

Electronics Coding publishes board-specific development resources and example code for its development boards through GitHub. Users can download these materials and add them directly to the Arduino IDE’s libraries or examples directories, allowing them to view and run board-specific examples immediately without complex configuration.

Looking at the published structure, each product has its own example folder organized by board name. In the case of Codrino Mega Premium, examples are provided by communication interface, including:

Bluetooth Examples: Basic communication and connection test examples using the ESP32’s Bluetooth functionality
Ethernet Examples: Ethernet communication examples based on the WIZnet W5500
Serial Examples: UART-based serial communication examples
WiFi Examples: Network connection and communication examples using the ESP32’s Wi-Fi capability

This example structure goes beyond simple feature demonstrations. It is designed to help users understand each communication interface independently and practice them step by step. In particular, the fact that Ethernet examples are included in a board-specific folder shows that the W5500 is not treated as an optional add-on, but rather as a core network interface considered from the board design stage.

Overall, Electronics Coding goes beyond merely providing hardware for products such as the Codrino Mega Premium. By also supplying fully functional software examples, the company reduces the initial learning curve for developers and enables rapid feature validation and prototyping. From a maker’s perspective, this significantly enhances both the completeness of the platform and its real-world usability.

📌 QnA

Q1. Why does the Codrino Mega Premium use W5500 Ethernet?

A. The W5500 integrates a hardware TCP/IP stack, which reduces the CPU load on the ESP32 and provides wired communication with more predictable latency than Wi-Fi. This is especially advantageous in industrial IoT environments where stability and deterministic communication are critical.

Q2. How is Ethernet connected to the ESP32?

A. On the Codrino Mega Premium, the W5500 is connected to the ESP32 via the SPI interface. The ESP32 controls the W5500 over SPI, while the actual TCP/IP processing is handled internally by the W5500.

Q3. What is RS485 used for on this board?

A. RS485 is used for industrial serial communication such as Modbus RTU. It enables long-distance, multi-node communication with sensors, inverters, and PLCs, making it well suited for industrial automation systems.

Q4. Can beginners use the Codrino Mega Premium?

A. Yes. The board supports the Arduino IDE, so users with basic ESP32 experience can get started. However, having a basic understanding of Ethernet (W5500) and RS485 serial communication will make development easier.

Q5. Why choose this board instead of a Wi-Fi-only ESP32?

A. Wi-Fi is susceptible to interference and variable latency, whereas W5500-based Ethernet offers stable connections and consistent response times. For IoT and industrial applications where reliability is essential, the Codrino Mega Premium is a more suitable choice.

📌 Summary

The Codrino Mega Premium is a multi-communication development board that integrates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RS485, and WIZnet W5500–based Ethernet on an ESP32 platform. It is designed to reliably bridge data from RS485 field devices to wired Ethernet, while also supporting the combined use of wireless and wired connectivity.

By offering Arduino IDE compatibility and a dedicated Board Manager package, the board lowers the entry barrier for development. At the same time, its ability to handle RS485, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi simultaneously makes it a strong foundation for education, prototyping, and small-scale gateway design.