Adafruit
MCP4725 Breakout Board - 12-Bit DAC w/I2C Interface
The MCP4725 breakout board provides a 12-bit digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) over I2C. Send a digital value and the VOUT pin outputs the corresponding an...
The MCP4725 breakout board provides a 12-bit digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) over I2C. Send a digital value and the VOUT pin outputs the corresponding analogue voltage — ideal for generating waveforms, adjustable bias points, or anywhere you need a true analogue output rather than PWM.
The output is rail-to-rail and proportional to the supply voltage: 0–3.3 V when powered at 3.3 V, or 0–5 V at 5 V. An onboard EEPROM stores the last output value, automatically restoring it after a power cycle.
Key Features
- 12-Bit Resolution – 4096 steps of analogue output
- I2C Interface – Simple two-wire connection to any microcontroller
- Rail-to-Rail Output – Proportional to supply voltage (3.3 V or 5 V)
- EEPROM – Stores output voltage; restores on power-up
- Configurable Address – A0 pin broken out for running two DACs on one I2C bus
- Fast Mode I2C – Up to 3.4 Mbps for ~200 kHz output updates (on supported controllers)
- Breadboard Friendly – Includes 6-pin header
Specifications
- DAC: Microchip MCP4725
- Resolution: 12-bit
- Interface: I2C
- Supply Voltage: 3.3–5 V
- Output Range: 0 V to VDD (rail-to-rail)
Package Contents
- 1× MCP4725 12-Bit DAC Breakout Board
- 1× 6-pin header
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 12-bit resolution
- 12-bit resolution means the sensor’s measurement is divided into 4096 possible digital values. Higher resolution can make small changes in motion or tilt easier to detect, as long as the sensor range and noise are suitable for the project.
- 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.
- EEPROM
- A type of non-volatile memory that keeps stored data even when power is turned off. In a sensor module, it can be used to store settings or calibration data so they do not need to be re-entered every time.
- 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 chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
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Prototyping & Wiring
Related Tutorials
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