Adafruit
Adafruit QT 5V to 3V Shifter Breakout - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
The Adafruit QT 5V to 3V Shifter Breakout lets you safely connect 3.3 V STEMMA QT / Qwiic sensors to 5 V microcontrollers like the Arduino Uno. Many I2C sens...
Get notified when back in stock
The Adafruit QT 5V to 3V Shifter Breakout lets you safely connect 3.3 V STEMMA QT / Qwiic sensors to 5 V microcontrollers like the Arduino Uno. Many I2C sensors and Qwiic-compatible devices are not 5 V safe — connecting them directly to a 5 V board risks damage. This breakout handles the voltage translation so your 3.3 V sensors stay protected.
On the input side, connect your 5 V microcontroller. The on-board 3.3 V regulator (500 mA) steps the power down while level-shifting circuitry translates I2C signals to 3.3 V on the output side. STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors on both sides make wiring solderless, and breadboard breakout pins let you use it on a perfboard too.
Key Features
- 5 V to 3.3 V Regulation – On-board 3.3 V regulator provides up to 500 mA for connected sensors
- I2C Level Shifting – Safely translates 5 V I2C signals down to 3.3 V
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Plug-and-play I2C on both sides; no soldering required
- Breadboard Friendly – Breakout pins for prototyping; doubles as a QT-to-perfboard adapter
- Protects 3.3 V Sensors – Prevents over-voltage damage from 5 V microcontrollers
Also Consider
- QT 3V to 5V Level Booster – The reverse: boosts 3.3 V up to 5 V for sensors that need higher voltage
Ideal For
- Connecting 3.3 V Qwiic / STEMMA QT sensors to 5 V Arduino boards
- Protecting I2C devices that are not 5 V tolerant
- Bridging 5 V and 3.3 V I2C buses in mixed-voltage projects
- Breadboard prototyping with STEMMA QT breakout
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
- 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.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- 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.
Find this product in
Brands
introducing adafruit stemma qt
Document · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
