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...
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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, 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.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny 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 (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.
- 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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Brands
Sensors & Input
introducing adafruit stemma qt
Document · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
adafruit pcf8591 adc dac
Document · 5.4 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
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