Adafruit
Adafruit LTC4316 I2C Address Translator
· MPN: ADA5914
The Adafruit LTC4316 I2C Address Translator solves one of I2C's most frustrating limitations: address conflicts. When two devices share the same fixed I2C ad...
The Adafruit LTC4316 I2C Address Translator solves one of I2C's most frustrating limitations: address conflicts. When two devices share the same fixed I2C address, this chip performs on-the-fly address translation — devices on the output side appear at a different address to the controller on the input side, with no code changes needed on the device itself.
The translation works by XOR-ing the device address with a configurable bitmask. Two onboard DIP switches let you flip address bits A4, A5, and A6, giving you four translation options per device. For even more flexibility, a solder pad accepts an XOR_LOW resistor to set the bottom 3 address bits according to the datasheet values.
Key Features
- On-the-Fly Address Translation – Transparently remaps I2C addresses using XOR logic
- Two DIP Switches – Four address translation options by flipping bits A4, A5, and A6
- Optional XOR_LOW Resistor – Solder pad for setting bottom 3 address bits for additional options
- Transparent to Devices – Connected devices still see their original address; only the controller sees the translated address
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic – Solderless I2C connectors on both sides (input and output)
Ideal For
- Resolving I2C address conflicts between identical sensors
- Running multiple copies of fixed-address I2C devices on one bus
- Expanding I2C sensor networks without multiplexer code overhead
- Projects where device drivers support configurable addresses
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit LTC4316 I2C Address Translator (STEMMA QT)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
- I2C address
- An I2C address is the number a device uses so a microcontroller can tell it apart from other devices on the same I2C bus. It matters because two devices with the same fixed address may conflict if used together.
- multiplexer
- A multiplexer is a chip or board that lets one controller switch between several devices that would otherwise conflict on the same bus. It matters here because multiple modules with the same I2C address cannot normally share one I2C bus without extra hardware.
- 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.
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
