Adafruit
I2C to 8-Channel Solenoid Driver
· MPN: ADA6318
This driver board makes it much easier to control multiple solenoids from a microcontroller over I2C. It uses an MCP23017 GPIO expander so you do not need to...
This driver board makes it much easier to control multiple solenoids from a microcontroller over I2C. It uses an MCP23017 GPIO expander so you do not need to dedicate lots of pins just to switch a bank of clicky, inductive loads.
Solenoid power connects through the centre terminal blocks, with each solenoid wired to the remaining terminal blocks. Each channel has its own AO3406 N-Channel MOSFET, flyback diode for inductive kick-back protection, and a red indicator LED that lights when the transistor is on.
The MCP23017 also has its B port broken out for general-purpose I/O such as LED driving or button inputs. Three address pins can be jumpered so up to 8 boards can share the same I2C bus for larger builds.
It works with 3V or 5V power and logic, making it suitable for boards ranging from Arduino-compatible Metro 328 projects to Raspberry Pi setups. STEMMA QT / Qwiic compatible JST SH connectors make I2C wiring simple and help share the bus with other STEMMA QT, Qwiic, Grove or compatible devices. A QT cable is not included.
Specifications:
- GPIO expander: MCP23017
- Solenoid channels: 8
- Solenoid power supply: 3V to 24V DC maximum
- Channel MOSFET: AO3406 N-Channel MOSFET
- MOSFET Vds rating: 30Vds
- MOSFET peak current: 3.6A peak
- MOSFET RdsOn: 70mΩ RdsOn
- MCP23017 total IO pins: 16 total IO pins
- Address pins: three address pins
- Daisy-chain capacity: up to 8 boards
- Total solenoids when daisy-chained: 64 solenoids
- Power and logic: 3V or 5V power and logic
- Product Dimensions: 51.0mm x 28.0mm x 10.2mm / 2.0" x 1.1" x 0.4"
- Product Weight: 10.7g / 0.4oz
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- AO3406
- A small N-channel MOSFET transistor used as an electronic switch for controlling higher-current loads. Its use matters because the microcontroller signal does not power the LED strip directly; the MOSFETs switch the larger LED current safely.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- Grove
- Grove is a plug-in connector ecosystem for sensors and modules that avoids soldering and jumper wires. Grove compatibility matters because it can make it quicker to add supported I2C devices, as long as the cable and voltage are suitable.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Find this product in
AO3406 MOSFET Datasheet
Datasheet · 313.1 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — adafruit.com
Supplier Description · 1.7 MB · Click any page to view full size
