The TC2030-CTX connects any debugger with the standard 10-pin 0.05″ Arm Cortex Debug connector to a 6-pad TC2030 footprint on your PCB, giving you SWD, SWO trace and reset with no header fitted to the board.
- Debugger end
- 10-pin 0.05″ (1.27 mm) Cortex Debug, FTSH-105 style
- Board end
- TC2030 footprint, 6 pads
- Interface
- SWD + SWO + nRESET
- Not carried
- Full JTAG (TDI, nTRST)
Connector to Tag-Connect Head
Pin Table
| TC2030 pad | Signal | Cortex Debug pin | Connect on your PCB to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VTref | 1 | Target Vdd. Sets the debugger's I/O level; no series resistor |
| 2 | SWDIO / TMS | 2 | MCU SWDIO |
| 3 | nRESET | 10 | MCU reset pin, active low |
| 4 | SWCLK / TCK | 4 | MCU SWCLK |
| 5 | GND | 3, 5, 9 | Ground. Also drives GNDDetect, so the debugger sees a target attached |
| 6 | SWO / TDO | 6 | MCU SWO, for trace output. Optional: leave unconnected if not used |
Cortex Debug pins 7 (NC/RTCK) and 8 (NC/TDI) are not carried. If your design needs full JTAG, use the 10-pad TC2050-IDC-050-ALL instead.
LEMTA Version for the Microchip Atmel-ICE
Tag-Connect makes the TC2030-CTX, TC2030-CTX-NL and TC2030-CTX-SOFT in a LEMTA version, with the 10-pin ribbon connector fitted the other way round. Use it with the Microchip Atmel-ICE. Microchip gives the Atmel-ICE's 10-pin SAM port the standard Cortex Debug functions (VTG on pin 1, SWDIO on 2, SWDCLK on 4, SWO on 6, nSRST on 10, ground on 3, 5 and 9), but the header's physical pin numbering is reversed (rotated 180°) against the standard Cortex connector, so a standard cable puts the wrong signals on your board and can short the supply. The board footprint and pad assignment do not change. Order the LEMTA version by choosing "LEMTA (for Atmel-ICE)" on the product page.
Pinout confirmed?The TC2030-CTX plugs straight into your debugger's 10-pin Cortex connector.
Buy TC2030-CTX →Footprint
- Six pads, Ø0.79 mm (0.031″), on a 1.27 mm (0.050″) pitch in two rows of three. Seen from the component side with the single alignment hole on the left, the top row is pads 2, 4, 6 and the bottom row is 1, 3, 5 (the diagram above is rotated 180° from that view).
- Legged cables need four extra latch holes; the no-legs (NL) footprint needs only the pads and alignment holes. Mechanical drawings (PDF): TC2030 legged footprint, Rev B and TC2030-NL no-legs footprint, Rev B.
- No solder paste on the pads. Keep other tracks at least 0.5 mm (0.020″) from any pad.
- Mark the footprint "do not fit" on your BOM, so nobody tries to buy a part for it.
Debuggers This Cable Fits
Any debugger with a 10-pin 0.05″ Cortex Debug connector plugs straight in, including SEGGER J-Link EDU Mini, Keil ULINK2, PEmicro Multilink (MINI-10 port), Cypress MiniProg. For the Microchip Atmel-ICE, order the LEMTA version, which has the ribbon connector fitted reversed to suit the Atmel-ICE's header. For a J-Link or ST-LINK/V2 with the 20-pin 0.1″ connector, use the ARM20-CTX adapter with a TC2030-IDC cable. Full list in our Tag-Connect cable guide.
Other Versions of This Cable
These cables have the same 10-pin 0.05″ Cortex Debug connector and the same TC2030 head, so the diagram and pin table above apply to all of them. Differences from the TC2030-CTX are highlighted. Cables with other debugger connectors have their own pages.
| Cable | TC2030 head | Connector orientation | What is different | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC2030-CTXthis page | Legged | Normal | The reference cable. Legs clip into the board for hands-free debugging. | Buy → |
| TC2030-CTX-NL | No legs | Normal | Smaller footprint: pads and alignment holes only, no latch holes. Hold it by hand or with a TC2030-CLIP. | Buy → |
| TC2030-CTX-SOFT | Legged, soft-squeeze | Normal | Soft-squeeze head for production programming, easy on operators' fingers. Tag-Connect advises against it for development, as a tug can pull it off the board. Made to order. | Buy → |
| LEMTA versionsCTX, CTX-NL, CTX-SOFT | As above | Reversed for Atmel-ICE | Ribbon connector fitted the other way round, for the Microchip Atmel-ICE. Same board pinout. See the LEMTA diagram. Made to order. | Buy → |
Questions
Which TC2030 Pad Is nRESET on the TC2030-CTX?
Pad 3, wired to pin 10 of the 10-pin Cortex Debug connector. Pad 1 is VTref, 2 SWDIO, 4 SWCLK, 5 GND and 6 SWO.
Can I Use a Standard TC2030-CTX with the Atmel-ICE?
No. The Atmel-ICE's 10-pin header is numbered in reverse, so a standard cable puts the wrong signals on your board and can short the supply. Order the LEMTA version, which has the ribbon connector fitted the other way round.
What Is the Difference Between the TC2030-CTX and TC2030-CTX-NL?
Only the head. The legged version clips into four latch holes on the board; the NL version needs no latch holes and is held by hand or with a TC2030-CLIP.
Does the TC2030-CTX Carry Full JTAG?
No. It carries SWD, SWO and reset. TDI and nTRST are not connected; use the TC2050-IDC-050-ALL for full JTAG.
Buy the Cable and Accessories
Everything on this page uses the TC2030-CTX. Add the clip for hands-free debugging, or the demo PCB to try the footprint before your board goes to fab.
TC2030-CTX
6-pin Plug-of-Nails cable for any debugger with the 10-pin 0.05″ Cortex Debug connector. SWD, SWO and nRESET.
Buy TC2030-CTX →TC-FOOTPRINT
Demo PCB with every Tag-Connect footprint, to try cables before you commit a layout.
Buy TC-FOOTPRINT →Pin assignment: Tag-Connect TC2030-CTX datasheet. Footprint pad numbering and pitch: Tag-Connect TC2030-IDC and TC2030-IDC-NL footprint drawings, Rev B. Cable versions: Tag-Connect product pages, checked 4 Oct 2026. Atmel-ICE SAM port functions: Microchip Atmel-ICE user guide. LEMTA physical reversal: Tag-Connect Atmel-ICE cable selection guide and Big Mess o' Wires, "Atmel-ICE wiring horror" (2018). Diagram redrawn by Debug Store in our house style. Tag-Connect and Plug-of-Nails are trademarks of Tag-Connect LLC. Debug Store is a UK specialist distributor of embedded debug, programming and test equipment, supplying engineers worldwide since 1990.