Adafruit
Adafruit NeoKey BFF for Mechanical Key Add-On for QT Py and Xiao
The Adafruit NeoKey BFF adds a single mechanical key switch with RGB backlighting to any QT Py or Xiao board. Designed to solder or plug onto the back of you...
The Adafruit NeoKey BFF adds a single mechanical key switch with RGB backlighting to any QT Py or Xiao board. Designed to solder or plug onto the back of your QT Py, it features a Kailh hot-swap socket for tool-free MX-compatible switch changes and a reverse-mount NeoPixel that shines up through the keycap.
The key switch connects to pin A3 and the NeoPixel to pin A2 by default, with on-board jumpers for reconfiguration. Perfect for building a single-key macro pad, mute button, or notification trigger in the smallest possible form factor.
Key Features
- Kailh Hot-Swap Socket – Plug in any MX-compatible mechanical switch without soldering
- Reverse-Mount NeoPixel – RGB LED shines up through the switch for customisable backlighting
- QT Py / Xiao Compatible – Solders directly to the back or use headers for a removable connection
- Configurable Pins – Default A3 (key) and A2 (NeoPixel); on-board jumpers for remapping
- Compact Design – Stacks directly behind your QT Py for a minimal footprint
Ideal For
- Single-key macro pads and shortcut buttons
- Mute/unmute toggles for video calls
- Notification indicators with RGB feedback
- Custom USB HID input devices
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit NeoKey BFF PCB (assembled)
- 1× Break-off header strip
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
- HID
- Human Interface Device is a USB device class used for keyboards, mice, gamepads and similar controls. If a board supports HID over USB, it can act like an input device to a computer without needing a custom driver.
- Hot-swap
- Hot-swap means changing or connecting a power source while the circuit is still running. It matters when you want a project to keep operating during battery changes, supply swaps, or plug-in power transitions.
- 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.
- NeoPixel
- A type of addressable LED system where colour data is sent along a single digital data line from one LED or controller to the next. Compatibility matters because the timing and signal format must match for the lights or driver board to respond correctly.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
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