Adafruit
8-Channel PWM or Servo FeatherWing Add-on For All Feather Boards
The 8-Channel PWM or Servo FeatherWing adds 8 channels of 12-bit PWM output to any Adafruit Feather board via I2C. It uses an onboard PWM driver with a built...
The 8-Channel PWM or Servo FeatherWing adds 8 channels of 12-bit PWM output to any Adafruit Feather board via I2C. It uses an onboard PWM driver with a built-in clock, so it runs independently without tying up your microcontroller — unlike the TLC5940 family, no continuous signal is needed.
The FeatherWing is 5V-compliant, so you can drive up to 6V outputs from a 3.3V Feather — ideal for white or blue LEDs with higher forward voltages. With 6 address-select solder jumpers, you can stack up to 62 boards on a single I2C bus for a total of 992 PWM outputs.
Key Features
- 8× 12-Bit PWM Outputs – About 4 µs resolution at 60 Hz update rate for servos
- I2C Controlled – Free-running with built-in clock, no continuous signal required
- 5V Compliant – Drive up to 6V outputs from a 3.3V Feather
- Stackable – Up to 62 boards on one I2C bus (992 total outputs)
- Adjustable PWM Frequency – Up to approximately 1.6 kHz
- Push-Pull or Open-Drain – Configurable output mode
- 220 Ω Series Resistors – On all outputs for protection and easy LED driving
- Reverse Polarity Protection – On the terminal block power input
- Green Power-Good LED – Visual confirmation of power status
Ideal For
- Robotics projects (hexapod walkers, articulated arms)
- Multi-servo control
- Precise LED dimming and PWM control
- Kinetic art installations
Package Contents
- 1× 8-Channel PWM/Servo FeatherWing (fully assembled and tested)
- 2× 3×4 male straight headers (for servo/LED connections)
- 1× 2-pin terminal block (for power input)
- 1× 0.1″ header strip (for Feather connection)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- FeatherWing
- A FeatherWing is an add-on board made to plug into the Feather microcontroller board layout. Knowing a product is a FeatherWing helps you check whether it will physically and electrically fit your Feather-style mainboard.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- 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.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
- reverse polarity protection
- A circuit feature that helps protect the board if power is connected the wrong way around. It matters because it can reduce the chance of damaging the breakout during wiring mistakes, especially in classroom or prototyping use.
- servo
- A servo is a motor with built-in position control, usually told to move to a specific angle by a control signal. It matters when you need repeatable movement, such as steering, arms, flaps, or linkages, rather than continuous spinning.
- Terminal block
- A connector used to join wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way. For this product, it helps split one power input into several outputs without soldering.
Find this product in
Brands
Robotics & Motion
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
