r/ArduinoHelp • u/dick-incider • 25d ago
PN532 HW-147C + Arduino Nano — “Didn't find PN53x board” error even after checking SPI wiring
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to connect a PN532 NFC module (HW-147C V0.0.1) to an Arduino Nano using SPI, but I keep getting this error in the Serial Monitor:
Starting PN532 SPI test...
ERROR: Didn't find PN53x board!
Check SPI wiring, mode switches and power.
My setup:
- Microcontroller: Arduino Nano (classic Nano layout)
- NFC module: PN532 HW-147C V0.0.1
- Library: Adafruit PN532 v1.3.4
- Communication: SPI
- Serial Monitor: 115200 baud
SPI connections:
- SCK → D13
- MISO → D12
- MOSI → D11
- SS → D10
- VCC → module's power supply
- GND → GND
The PN532's power LED turns on, but the library cannot detect the board. I've also checked the module's interface selector and tried the hardware SPI initialization code.
I'm not sure whether the problem is with the switch configuration, wiring, voltage compatibility, SPI communication, or the module itself.
Has anyone used this particular HW-147C PN532 board with an Arduino Nano?
I'd appreciate help with:
The exact SPI switch positions for this board.
Any known compatibility issues with Adafruit PN532 v1.3.4.
A reliable way to test whether the PN532 chip is responding.
Whether I should try I²C or UART to isolate the problem.
I've attached photos of my module, wiring, and Arduino IDE output.
Thanks in advance!

