What it is
The Tag-Connect TC2030-MCP-SWD is a 6‑pin plug‑of‑nails cable with self‑retaining legs that mates to the tiny TC2030 footprint on the target PCB and routes Serial Wire Debug (SWD) signals to Microchip debuggers that use a modular jack, enabling fast, reliable ARM Cortex/Microchip SAM programming and debugging without any mated header on the board.
Terminology: “Plug‑of‑nails” uses spring pogo pins pressed into a defined PCB footprint; the MCP suffix denotes the Microchip modular‑plug family; SWD denotes ARM’s 2‑wire debug interface (SWDIO/SWCLK plus nRESET, SWO, VTref, GND).
Where it fits in the range
Use this cable when a legged, self‑holding TC2030 is preferred for extended debug sessions and the host debugger expects a Microchip modular plug; for “no‑legs” production use, see the TC2030‑MCP‑SWD‑NL variant; for 10‑pin Cortex ribbon hosts, see the TC2030‑CTX family.
Target‑side pinout (TC2030 footprint)
| TC2030 Pin | Signal | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VTref | Target I/O reference (sense) |
| 2 | SWDIO | Serial Wire Data I/O |
| 3 | nRESET | System reset (active low) |
| 4 | SWCLK | Serial Wire Clock |
| 5 | GND | Ground (also GNDDetect) |
| 6 | SWO | Serial Wire Output (trace) |
This TC2030 SWD pin map matches the TC2030‑CTX ARM Cortex scheme, allowing a single tiny 6‑pad footprint to support multiple host adapters.
Wiring quick‑start
- Place the TC2030‑MCP‑SWD on the target footprint aligning the three steel guides; press until the four legs snap into their holes and the pogo pins seat.
- Connect the modular plug end to the supported Microchip debugger interface or adapter designed for SWD use.
- Power the target or enable power‑through if supported; the host will sense VTref on pin 1.
- Start a debug session using SWD mode in MPLAB X (for SAM/ARM targets) or the appropriate toolchain.
Tip: For rapid production flashing with minimal operator fatigue, consider the no‑legs variant plus a retention clip; for long debugging sessions, the legged cable is self‑retaining.
Ready‑to‑run examples
MPLAB X SWD session (SAM device)
pyOCD (CMSIS‑DAP host via SWD)
Mechanical and lifecycle
- Legged, self‑retaining design for hands‑free sessions.
- High‑reliability spring pins rated for repeated insertions.
- Tiny footprint (~0.02 in²) saves BOM and PCB area versus headers.
Compatibility notes
- Target side: TC2030 SWD footprint (6 pads + 3 guides + 4 leg holes).
- Host side: Microchip modular‑plug SWD solutions designed for ARM/SAM devices.
- If the host expects a 10‑pin Cortex ribbon, use TC2030‑CTX (same target pinout).
[Hero image placeholder: TC2030‑MCP‑SWD legged cable connected to a target PCB]
Engineering search terms
- tag‑connect tc2030 swd
- tc2030 mcp swd cable
- arm cortex swd tag‑connect
- microchip icd4 swd cable
- sam swd pogo cable
- tc2030 pinout swd
Competitors and commentary
- 10‑pin Cortex SWD ribbon and needle‑adapters: larger footprint and added BOM/connectors.
- Bed‑of‑nails fixtures: high throughput but costly and not handheld‑friendly for bring‑up.
- Tag‑Connect advantage: no mated connector, tiny footprint, self‑retention, proven reliability for both dev and production.