Adafruit
Adafruit PCF8591 Quad 8-bit ADC + 8-bit DAC - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
The Adafruit PCF8591 Quad 8-bit ADC + 8-bit DAC combines four analogue input channels and one analogue output channel in a single I2C breakout. Measure volta...
The Adafruit PCF8591 Quad 8-bit ADC + 8-bit DAC combines four analogue input channels and one analogue output channel in a single I2C breakout. Measure voltages from potentiometers, sensors, or other analogue sources — and generate analogue output signals — all over a simple two-wire connection.
With 8-bit resolution, the PCF8591 is ideal for basic analogue measurement and signal generation tasks where high precision isn't critical. Three I2C address jumpers let you chain up to 8 breakouts on a single bus for 32 ADC channels and 8 DAC channels. STEMMA QT connectors make wiring solderless and simple.
Key Features
- 4× 8-bit ADC Channels – Measure up to four analogue voltages simultaneously
- 1× 8-bit DAC Channel – Generate analogue output voltages
- I2C Interface – Simple two-wire connection, works with any I2C-capable board
- 3 Address Jumpers – Up to 8 breakouts on one bus (32 ADC + 8 DAC channels)
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic – Solderless STEMMA QT connectors for easy daisy-chaining
- Breadboard Friendly – Standard 0.1″ header pinout with SO16 chip mounted on breakout PCB
Ideal For
- Adding analogue inputs to boards without ADC (e.g. Raspberry Pi)
- Reading potentiometers, light sensors, or other analogue sensors over I2C
- Generating analogue control voltages for circuits or peripherals
- Multi-board setups needing many analogue channels on a budget
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- ADC
- An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.
- Address jumpers
- Address jumpers are small solder pads or links used to change a device’s bus address. They matter when you want to connect multiple identical displays to the same controller without their addresses conflicting.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- DAC
- A digital-to-analogue converter turns numbers from the microcontroller into a real analogue voltage. It matters if you want to generate simple waveforms, audio-style signals, or variable control voltages rather than just on/off outputs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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Sensors & Input
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