--- title: "master-brick" url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/lawrence/projects/master-brick/" markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/lawrence/projects/master-brick/md" type: "UCC: User Created Content" author: "tinkerforge" author_url: "https://github.com/Tinkerforge/master-brick/tree/master" editor: "WIZnet" editor_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/" original_author: "tinkerforge" original_url: "https://github.com/Tinkerforge/master-brick/tree/master" published: "2026-01-23" language: "en" likes: 0 views: 295 comments: 0 source: "WIZnet Makers (https://maker.wiznet.io/)" --- # master-brick > master-brick Original author: tinkerforge (source: https://github.com/Tinkerforge/master-brick/tree/master) ## Article ## [Introduction] Tinkerforge Modular Platform and the W5500 Ethernet Solution ### 1) Industrial Implementation of a Modular System ![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/835998868%5F1769982934%2Epng) Tinkerforge is a modular hardware platform designed to break complex embedded system design into standardized building blocks—so developers can build industrial-grade systems without the burden of low-level circuit design. **Brick platform in real mass-produced products:** In Tinkerforge’s finished product lineup—such as **WARP (EV charger)** and **Energy Manager (smart grid solution)**—the internal controller architecture commonly centers around **Brick boards and Bricklets**. In other words, the platform goes beyond prototyping and acts as a **“proven engine”** that drives real commercial products. ![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/835998868%5F1769982976%2Epng) **System architecture:** A **Brick** (main compute, typically ESP32-based) connects to **Bricklets** (sensors, industrial I/O, etc.) via a straightforward **7-pin cable** structure, enabling fast and intuitive system assembly. Reference: --- ### 2) Technical Core: W5500-Based Wired Backbone ![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/835998868%5F1769982893%2Epng) In Tinkerforge systems, Ethernet is more than just “a communication option.” In high-reliability environments—such as EV chargers and energy management infrastructure—the **WIZnet W5500** functions as a robust **wired backbone**. **Benefits of Hardwired TCP/IP:** Network processing is handled at the hardware level without relying on a software TCP/IP stack. This allows the main MCU (e.g., ESP32) to concentrate resources on mission-critical workloads like charging control logic and power monitoring data processing. **Stability in industrial environments:** In infrastructure settings where high voltage and electromagnetic interference (EMI) are common, a hardware-based network approach (W5500) can be advantageous for maintaining communication integrity and overall system availability compared to software-stack-heavy designs. --- ### 3) Ethernet Master Extension: PoE vs. Non-PoE Tinkerforge provides two Ethernet interface options based on the W5500, enabling selection based on installation constraints and deployment environment. | Item | Ethernet Master Extension | Ethernet Master Extension with PoE | | --- | --- | --- | | Network chipset | WIZnet W5500 | WIZnet W5500 | | Power delivery | Requires separate external power input | Powered through Ethernet cable (PoE) | | Standards compliance | 10/100Base-TX | IEEE 802.3af (Class 0) | | Practical value | High-reliability wired connectivity | Simplified wiring and maximum installation convenience | **Why PoE matters:** By combining data and power into a single cable, the PoE version dramatically reduces design and installation complexity—especially for outdoor EV charger deployments or for sensor networks mounted in hard-to-power locations (e.g., factory ceilings). --- ### 4) Scalability: Reference Architecture for User Applications ![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/835998868%5F1769983011%2Epng) Each Tinkerforge expansion module (Bricklet) is designed as a **“functional unit”** to solve real problems in specific industrial domains. **Examples of key Bricklets and application referencesIndustrial lineup (PLC integration):** Modules such as **4–20 mA sensor interfaces** and **RS485/Modbus** Bricklets enable bridging legacy process equipment onto an Ethernet network (via W5500), supporting **factory retrofit and digital transformation**. **Environmental & energy monitoring (condition monitoring):** Precision power measurement (Energy Monitor), air quality (IAQ), vibration sensors, etc., provide immediately deployable references for smart grid or data center environment control. **Value for custom solution packaging:** These diverse module references can serve as a strong foundation for WIZnet solution planning—enabling integrated proposals like: **“W5500 PoE + industrial sensor module + custom firmware”** as a complete, deployable package. --- ## Company Overview: Tinkerforge (Germany) ### 1) Dual-Track Strategy: Horizontal + Vertical Tinkerforge’s business strategy effectively runs on two tracks—**universality** and **vertical integration**—at the same time. **Component sales (Horizontal):** Bricks and Bricklets are sold individually, enabling labs, universities, and corporate R&D teams to build tailored equipment—typical of a platform business model. **Finished solutions (Vertical):** Tinkerforge also ships finished products like **WARP** and **Energy Manager** built from its own modular components—serving as a strong proof point that “our modules can power real mass-produced products.” **Open-source ecosystem:** By publicly releasing both hardware design files (e.g., **KiCad schematics**) and firmware, Tinkerforge provides transparency and trust for industrial customers concerned about vendor lock-in. --- ### 2) Core Product Groups Tinkerforge hardware follows a thoroughly **distributed control architecture**. | Category | Characteristics / Key Products | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | **Bricks (Brains)** | Main controllers such as ESP32 Brick, Master Brick | Expandable via stacking | | **Bricklets (Senses / Hands)** | ~70+ functional modules: sensors, industrial I/O, displays, etc. | Quick connection via 7-pin cable | | **Extensions (Connectivity)** | Ethernet (PoE) based on WIZnet W5500, Wi-Fi, etc. | Acts as the system network backbone | | **Finished Products** | WARP Wallbox (EV charger), Energy Manager | Mass-produced products built on the modular platform | --- ### 3) Vision Tinkerforge ultimately aims for **“hardware design abstraction and standardization.”Industrial LEGO:** A world where complex embedded systems can be completed by assembly—without soldering, circuit debugging, or deep hardware redesign. **Sustainable hardware:** Instead of discarding an entire board when something fails, you replace only the functional module (Bricklet), enabling more sustainable infrastructure. **Practical IIoT (Industrial IoT):** Not a cloud-only, software-centric IoT narrative—but an execution-driven approach focused on connecting real physical sensors and equipment to a robust network (e.g., W5500) as quickly and reliably as possible. --- ### Q1. What’s the difference between a Brick and a Bricklet? A **Brick** is the main compute/controller board (often **ESP32-based**), while a **Bricklet** is a plug-in module that provides a specific function such as **sensing, industrial I/O, or interface expansion**. ### Q2. Why does the 7-pin cable architecture matter? The 7-pin cable approach makes systems **easy to assemble, expand, and maintain**, enabling fast module additions and replacements—useful for industrial deployments where serviceability matters. ### Q3. What role does the WIZnet W5500 play in Tinkerforge systems? The **WIZnet W5500** serves as a **reliable wired Ethernet backbone** for Tinkerforge systems—especially important in high-availability applications like EV charging and energy management. ### Q4. What are the key advantages of Hardwired TCP/IP (W5500)? Hardwired TCP/IP offloads network processing to hardware, which **reduces software stack overhead** and allows the main MCU (e.g., ESP32) to focus on **mission-critical control and data processing**. ### Q5. Why is hardware-based TCP/IP beneficial in industrial environments? In environments with **high voltage and EMI**, hardware offload solutions like W5500 can be advantageous for **communication integrity** and **system availability** compared to software-heavy networking approaches. --- Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/lawrence/projects/master-brick/