16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver – I2C interface – PCA9685

Most Micro Controllers come with very limited PWM capabilities: Only a few PWM outputs, and only a low resolution like 8 bit, for example.

The PCA9685 from NXP has 16 free-running PWM outputs, and can be daisy-chained up to 62 of these boards for a total of 992 PWM outputs – more than anyone will ever need.

• I2C-controlled PWM driver with a built in clock. You don’t need to continuously send the signal from you micro controller.
• 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

The breakout board comes with the following features:

• Terminal block for power input (or you can use the 0.1breakouts on the side)
• Power LED
• 3 pin connectors in groups of 4 so you can theoretically plug in 16 servos the same time
• Cascadable (chainable) design
• 1000 capacitor on the V+ line
• 220 Ohm current limiting resistors on all PWM outputs to protect them, and to make driving LEDs easy
• Solder jumpers for the 6 address select pins

This module comes with the headers already assembled, as shown on the pictures.

We recommend this website for a tutorial about how to get started with PCA9685 and Arduino or MicroPython.