16-Channel 12-Bit PWM/Servo Driver – PCA9685

Based on the PCA9685 chip, this compact board can drive up to 16 RC servos or LEDs at the same time

SKU 8300-YB607EAN 8219671102520Item type: Assembled

Description

Based on the PCA9685 chip, this compact board can drive up to 16 RC servos or LEDs at the same time. To work it has to be interfaced to Arduino, Fishino or another microcontroller. It has 16 output ports with 12 bit resolution, each with 3 pins: V+, GND and the PWM output.

The boards can be daisy-chained, setting the address (from A0 to A5) with solder jumpers, up to 62 boards on a single I²C bus, for a total of 992 outputs. The maximum current per pin is 25 mA and every PWM output has a 220 ohm resistor on it (keep that in mind if you are driving LEDs). 

Each PWM channel works completely independently, but they must all run at the same PWM frequency. LEDs probably want 1 kHz while servos need 60 Hz, so you cannot use part of the board for LEDs at 1 kHz and part for RC servos at 60 Hz.

Technical specifications
  • RC servo supply (+V pin): max 6 VDC (leave it unconnected if you are not using RC servos)
  • Can be daisy-chained, setting the address (from A0 to A5) with solder jumpers, up to 62 modules on a single I²C bus, for a total of 992 outputs
  • PWM frequency from 40 Hz to 1 kHz
  • 12 bit resolution on each output – for RC servos that means a resolution of 4 µs at a 60 Hz update rate
  • Output configurable as push-pull or open-drain
  • OE: output enable pin. It can be used to enable and disable all the outputs quickly
Documentation and useful links

Technical details

Board and logic supply from 3 to 5 VDC
OE output enable pin
Dimensions (mm) 62x25.4x16
Weight 11 grams

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