Hardware Interface

Connector pinouts and hardware interface details

3 minute read

This page provides detailed pinout information for all connectors on the Interceptor Carrier Board v2.0.

Board Layout Overview

The board follows a Mini-ITX layout with the following major areas:

Rear I/O - HDMI, USB, Ethernet
Power Section - ATX connector, fan headers
Storage - SATA connectors
Expansion - FFC connectors for PoE boards
Compute Module - Central location

J1 - ATX Power Connector (24-pin)

Standard ATX 24-pin power connector. Compatible with 20-pin PSUs (pins 11-14, 23-24 optional).

Pin	Signal	Pin	Signal
1	+3.3V	13	+3.3V
2	+3.3V	14	-12V
3	GND	15	GND
4	+5V	16	PS_ON#
5	GND	17	GND
6	+5V	18	GND
7	GND	19	GND
8	PWR_OK	20	NC
9	+5VSB	21	+5V
10	+12V	22	+5V
11	+12V	23	+5V
12	+3.3V	24	GND

Important

Ensure your PSU provides a stable +3.3V rail. Voltage drops below 3.2V will cause the Raspberry Pi to crash or behave erratically.

J2 - Front Panel Header (8-pin)

The front panel header provides connections for power button, power LED, and UART.

Pin	Signal	Description
1	LED+	Power LED Positive (Green wire)
2	LED-	Power LED Negative (Black wire)
3	PWR_BTN	Power Button (Red wire)
4	PWR_BTN	Power Button (White wire)
5	UART_TX	Serial Transmit (3.3V TTL)
6	UART_RX	Serial Receive (3.3V TTL)
7	GND	Ground
8	GND	Ground

Pin Orientation: Pins 1 & 2 are at the bottom left of the header.

UART Configuration

Baud Rate: 115200
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Parity: None
Flow Control: None

Use a 3.3V USB-to-Serial adapter. Do not use 5V logic - this will damage the compute module.

J3 - RS-485 Connector (3-pin)

Industrial serial communication interface.

Pin	Signal
1	A (Data+)
2	B (Data-)
3	GND

J4 & J5 - HDMI Ports

Two full-size HDMI 2.0 connectors supporting up to 4K @ 60Hz.

J4 - HDMI0 (Primary)
J5 - HDMI1 (Secondary)

Banana Pi Note

When using Banana Pi CM4, only J4 (HDMI0) is functional.

J6 - Rear USB 2.0 Ports

Two USB 2.0 Type-A ports for peripherals.

Port	Speed
USB1	480 Mbps
USB2	480 Mbps

USB 2.0 Header (9-pin)

Internal header for additional USB 2.0 ports (standard motherboard pinout).

Pin	Signal	Pin	Signal
1	+5V	2	+5V
3	D-	4	D-
5	D+	6	D+
7	GND	8	GND
9	Key	-	-

J8 - Gigabit Ethernet Switch (4-port)

Four RJ-45 ports connected to the RTL8367RB managed switch.

Port	Default VLAN	Speed
1	VLAN 1	10/100/1000
2	VLAN 1	10/100/1000
3	VLAN 1	10/100/1000
4	VLAN 1	10/100/1000

Each port has integrated LEDs for link status and activity.

J9 & J10 - FFC Connectors (40-pin)

Flat Flexible Cable connectors for Interceptor PoE Board expansion.

Connector	Description
J9	PoE Board 1 (poe0, ports 0-7)
J10	PoE Board 2 (poe1, ports 8-15)

Cable Installation:

Pull the locking clips outward
Insert the FFC cable with blue reinforcement tape facing the clips
Push clips inward to lock

Warning

Ensure cables are fully seated. Poor connections can cause intermittent PoE issues.

J11 - J15 - SATA Connectors

Five SATA III connectors for storage drives.

Connector	Port Number	Controller
J11	SATA 0	JMB585
J12	SATA 1	JMB585
J13	SATA 2	JMB585
J14	SATA 3	JMB585
J15	SATA 4	JMB585

All ports support hot-plug and 6 Gbps transfer rates.

M1 - M4 - Fan Connectors (3-pin)

Four 12V fan headers for case/drive cooling.

Pin	Signal
1	GND
2	+12V
3	Sense (tachometer)

Note

PWM speed control is not supported. Fans will run at full speed when connected.

Micro SD Card Slot

Located near the compute module socket. Supports microSD cards up to 512GB (tested).

RTC Battery

CR2032 (3V) coin cell battery holder for real-time clock backup.

Compute Module Socket

Two high-density connectors for Raspberry Pi CM4/CM5 or compatible modules.

200-pin connector - Primary interface
Alignment notches prevent incorrect installation
Press firmly until module clicks into place

Last modified December 30, 2025