RC522 RFID Reader-Writer Module, 13.56 MHz, SPI (Development Board)

What the board does

The RC522 is the reader IC behind most hobby-grade 13.56 MHz modules. Wired to a microcontroller over SPI, it reads the UID of an ISO 14443A card held a few centimetres from its PCB antenna, and with the usual open-source libraries it reads and writes the sectors of a MIFARE Classic card and the pages of an NTAG-type tag. That makes it the standard first step for a door, locker, attendance or vending prototype on an Arduino-compatible board, ESP32 or Raspberry Pi.

Wiring and what it cannot read

The header carries SDA (chip select), SCK, MOSI, MISO, IRQ, GND, RST and 3.3 V, typical for the class. The board runs at 3.3 V: a 5 V microcontroller needs level shifting on the SPI lines. It reads ISO 14443A only, so it does not see our 125 kHz cards (use the 125 kHz UART module), ISO 15693 library labels, or UHF tags (use the UHF development module). For ISO 14443B, FeliCa or card emulation, the PN532 module is the broader choice. Test cards: our NFC cards and plain 13.56 MHz cards.

From prototype to product

A development module proves the idea; a finished product needs a reader designed for the site, with a housing, a proper antenna and the approvals that apply to it. Our HRD20 USB desktop reader and the other HF and NFC readers are the production step. Modules are quoted from one unit: request a quote.