PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver I2C Interface
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Features
- This board/chip uses I2C 7-bit address between 0x60-0x80, selectable with jumpers
- Terminal block for power input (or you can use the 0.1″ breakouts on the side)
- Reverse polarity protection on the terminal block input
- Green power-good LED
- 3 pin connectors in groups of 4 so you can plug in 16 servos at once (Servo plugs are slightly wider than 0.1″ so you can only stack 4 next to each other on 0.1″ header
- “Chain-able” design
- A spot to place a big capacitor on the V+ line (in case you need it)
- 220 ohm series resistors on all the output lines to protect them, and to make driving LEDs trivial
- Solder jumpers for the 6 address select pins
- i2c-controlled PWM driver with a built in clock. Unlike the TLC5940 family, you do not need to continuously send it signal tying up your microcontroller, its completely free running!
- It is 5V compliant, which means you can control it from a 3.3V microcontroller and still safely drive up to 6V outputs (this is good for when you want to control white or blue LEDs with 3.4+ forward voltages)
- 6 address select pins so you can wire up to 62 of these on a single i2c bus, a total of 992 outputs – that’s a lot of servos or LEDs
- Adjustable frequency PWM up to about 1.6 KHz
- 12-bit resolution for each output – for servos, that means about 4us resolution at 60Hz update rate
- Configurable push-pull or open-drain output
- Output enable pin to quickly disable all the outputs
Specifications:
| Driver IC | PCA9685 |
|---|---|
| Length (mm): | 62 |
| Width (mm): | 25 |
| Height (mm): | 15 |
| Weight (g): | 10 |
Package Includes
- 1 x PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver I2C Interface
PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver I2C Interface Overview
The PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver is an I²C-controlled board that provides 16 independent PWM outputs ideal for driving servos, LEDs or small motors. It operates with a built-in clock, freeing up your microcontroller’s PWM pins and enabling precise timing up to 1.6 kHz.
Key Features of PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver I2C Interface
- 16 independent PWM outputs with 12-bit resolution (4096 steps)
- Adjustable PWM frequency up to approximately 1.6 kHz for smooth motion control
- Configurable push-pull or open-drain output modes
- Output ENABLE pin for immediate disabling of all channels
- Terminal block power input with reverse polarity protection
- Green power-good LED indicator and fast shipping from Zbotic
Applications and Use Cases
- Driving multiple hobby servos in robotic arms or walking robots
- PWM dimming of LED strips for lighting effects or displays
- Controlling small DC motors or actuators in automation projects
- Daisy-chaining boards to expand PWM outputs for large LED matrices
- Adding extra PWM channels to microcontrollers with limited outputs
How to Use PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver I2C Interface
Connect VCC and GND on the terminal block to your power source, then wire SDA and SCL pins to your microcontroller’s I²C bus. Set the board’s I²C address via the address pins, enable outputs using the OE pin, and program the PWM duty cycle and frequency by writing to the PCA9685 registers over I²C. Open-source libraries are available to streamline initialization and channel control.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many PCA9685 boards can be daisy-chained on one I²C bus?
You can connect up to 62 PCA9685 driver boards on the same I²C bus, providing control of up to 992 PWM channels.
What voltage should I use for the power input?
Supply the terminal block with a suitable voltage for your servos or LEDs, typically 5–6 V. The board’s reverse polarity protection guards against wiring mistakes.
Can this board handle the current draw of multiple servos?
The PCA9685 outputs only PWM signals and does not supply servo power directly. Use an external power source rated for your servos’ combined current, wired through the terminal block.
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