DFRobot
micro:IO Extender- a micro:bit IO Expansion Board
The micro:IO Extender is a compact expansion board for the BBC micro:bit that breaks out all 19 I/O pins as Gravity-compatible 3-pin headers. It provides plu...
The micro:IO Extender is a compact expansion board for the BBC micro:bit that breaks out all 19 I/O pins as Gravity-compatible 3-pin headers. It provides plug-and-play access to the full range of micro:bit GPIO, along with dedicated I2C and serial port headers, an onboard buzzer with switch, and edge connector contacts.
Clear silkscreen labelling on the back indicates the function of every interface, making it easy to get started with external sensors, actuators, and displays.
Key Features
- 19 I/O Pins – All micro:bit pins broken out as Gravity-standard 3-pin headers
- Dedicated I2C Header – Independent I2C interface (P19, P20) for sensors and displays
- Serial Port Header – Dedicated UART interface (P13, P14)
- Onboard Buzzer – Connected to P0, with a physical switch to enable/disable
- Edge Connector Contacts – Retains micro:bit edge connector access
- ENIG Finish – Gold-plated pads for reliable connections
Specifications
- Operating Voltage – 3.3 V
- Dimensions – 45.5 × 66.5 mm (1.79 × 2.62 in)
- Interface – 19× I/O ports (Gravity 3-pin)
Resources
- Product Wiki – Board overview, pinout, and specifications
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- Gravity
- Gravity is DFRobot’s plug-in connector system for sensors, motors and modules, using standard cables to reduce loose jumper wiring. It matters because Gravity-compatible parts can connect directly to these ports, while non-Gravity parts may need adapters or manual wiring.
- 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.
- 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.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
Find this product in
CE Certificate
Compliance · 613.3 KB · Click any page to view full size
RoHS Certificate
Compliance · 651.7 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — dfrobot.com
Supplier Description · 606.1 KB · Click any page to view full size
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
