DFRobot FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 Development Kit for Smart Home Support 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi 6 BLE 5 Multi-Protocol Home Assistant Zigbee Thread
Introduction
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 23 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.
Figure: FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 with IO Expansion Board
Figure: FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 with Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6
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.
Photos
Applications
Matter Smart Devices
Off-Grid Weather Station
High-Speed, Low-Latency Robot Controller
Multi-Protocol IoT Gateway
Prototype Interactive Art & Wearables
Specification
Basic Parameters
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: 23 μA (ECO1 version, deep sleep mode, battery powered)
Module Size: 25.4 x 60 mm
Hardware Information
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
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
Bluetooth Protocols: Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth mesh
Bluetooth Frequencies: 125 Kbps, 500 Kbps, 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps
IEEE 802.15.4
Compatible with IEEE 802.15.4-2015 protocol
Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
Data Rate: 250 Kbps
Supports Thread 1.3, Zigbee 3.0
FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 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
On-board Function Pin Definition
FPC PINS (Firebeetle 2 ESP32-C5 PINS): Description
VCC (3V3): 3V3
LCD_BL (15/D13): Backlight
GND (GND): GND
SCLK (23/SCLK): SPI clock
MOSI (24/MOSI): Master output, slave input
MISO (25/MISO): Master input, slave output
LCD_DC (8/D2): Data/Command
LCD_RST (26/D3): Reset
LCD_CS (27/D6): TDT chip select
SD_CS (3/A2): SD card chip select
FCS (NC): Font library chip select
TCS (6/D12): Touch chip select
SCL (10/SCL): I2C clock
SDA (9/SDA): I2C data
INT (7/D11): INT
BUSY (NC): Tear-proof pin
X1 (NC): Custom pin 1
X2 (NC): Custom pin 2
Documents
Product wiki: //wiki.dfrobot.com/SKU_DFR1236_FireBeetle_2_ESP32_C5_Development_Board_IO_Expansion_Kit
ESP-IDF: //docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32c5/get-started/index.html
Connect to Home Assistant with MQTT Tutorial: //www.dfrobot.com/blog-18423.html
ESP32-C5 Dev Board Shipping List
FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 IoT Development Board x1
20pin-2.54mm pitch pin header x2
ESP32-C5 Dev Kit Shipping List
FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 Development Board x1
FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 IO Expansion Board x1
All good