Adafruit
Adafruit 7-Segment Backpack - 1.2 Tall Digits
Drive large 1.2" tall 7-segment displays with ease using this HT16K33-based I2C backpack. The updated design includes a built-in 5V boost converter so you ge...
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Drive large 1.2" tall 7-segment displays with ease using this HT16K33-based I2C backpack. The updated design includes a built-in 5V boost converter so you get bright, consistent LED segments even when running from 3.3V power — no separate 5V supply needed. STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors provide plug-and-play I2C connectivity.
The backpack handles all multiplexing over I2C, keeping your wiring simple. Stackable design with address jumpers lets you run up to 8 backpacks on the same two I2C wires.
Key Features
- HT16K33 I2C LED Driver – Simple I2C control with no additional pins required
- Built-In 5V Boost Converter – Bright LEDs from 3.3V or 5V power
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Plug-and-play I2C with no soldering for the data connection
- Stackable – Address jumpers allow up to 8 backpacks on the same I2C bus
- For 1.2" 7-Segment Displays – Large, readable digits
- Arduino and CircuitPython Support – Ready-to-use LED Backpack library
Ideal For
- Large clocks and timers
- Score displays and counters
- Temperature and sensor readouts
- Any project needing large, visible numeric display
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit 7-Segment Backpack for 1.2" Displays (assembled and tested)
- 1× Header strip
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Address jumpers
- Address jumpers are small solder pads, links or switches used to change a device's address on a shared bus such as I2C. They matter when you want to connect several identical devices to the same controller, since each one needs a unique address to avoid conflicts.
- boost converter
- A boost converter is a switching power circuit that raises a lower input voltage to a higher output voltage. It is used when a device needs more voltage than its power source provides, for example running a 5 V sensor from a 3.3 V supply.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- 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 (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.
- LED driver
- An LED driver is a control chip or circuit that supplies and switches power to LEDs. For a display board, it reduces the number of microcontroller pins needed and handles tasks like lighting the right segments and adjusting brightness.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
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