Adafruit
74LVC245 - Breadboard Friendly 8-bit Logic Level Shifter
An 8-bit logic level shifter in a breadboard-friendly DIP package. The 74LVC245 converts between 3.3V and 5V logic levels, making it easy to interface modern...
An 8-bit logic level shifter in a breadboard-friendly DIP package. The 74LVC245 converts between 3.3V and 5V logic levels, making it easy to interface modern 3.3V sensors and peripherals with 5V microcontrollers like Arduino.
Even when powered at 1.8V, the chip safely accepts up to 5V signals on its input pins and converts them to the lower voltage on the output side. It handles 8 channels of unidirectional digital signals — ideal for SPI, serial, and parallel bus interfaces. Note that it does not support bidirectional protocols like I2C or 1-Wire.
Key Features
- 8-Bit Level Shifting – Eight independent unidirectional channels
- Wide Voltage Range – VCC from 1.8V to 3.3V, inputs tolerate up to 5V
- Output Enable – OE pin to enable/disable all outputs
- Direction Control – DIR pin selects A→B or B→A translation
- DIP Package – Breadboard and perfboard friendly
How to Use
- Connect VCC to your target logic level (e.g. 3.3V)
- Connect GND to ground
- Tie OE (output enable) to ground to enable the device
- Tie DIR (direction) to VCC
- 5V signals on A pins appear level-shifted on B pins
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 1-Wire
- 1-Wire is a communication method where devices share a single data line, often with each device having its own address. It matters because several temperature modules can be connected to one microcontroller pin instead of needing a separate pin for each probe.
- 3.3V and 5V logic levels
- Logic level refers to the voltage a board uses to represent digital on and off signals. Support for both 3.3V and 5V logic means this breakout can connect more easily to common microcontrollers and single-board computers without extra level-shifting hardware.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
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