SparkFun
SparkFun Qwiic Twist - RGB Rotary Encoder Breakout
The SparkFun Qwiic Twist is a digital RGB rotary encoder breakout with built-in I²C interface. It handles all interrupt management, switch debouncing, and LE...
The SparkFun Qwiic Twist is a digital RGB rotary encoder breakout with built-in I²C interface. It handles all interrupt management, switch debouncing, and LED PWM internally, presenting encoder position, button state, and RGB colour control over a simple I²C connection via Qwiic connectors.
The indent-style encoder provides tactile feedback with a satisfying click on each step, and includes a built-in push button for menu selection. One full rotation produces 24 counts (positive clockwise, negative counter-clockwise). The RGB LED beneath the knob supports over 16 million colours through software-controlled mixing.
Key Features
- I²C Rotary Encoder – Position count, button state, and RGB LED all accessible over I²C
- Built-In RGB LED – Software-controllable red, green, and blue LEDs with 16 million+ colour combinations
- Indent Encoder with Button – Tactile click feedback and push-to-select functionality
- 24 Steps Per Revolution – ±24 counts per rotation with direction tracking
- Qwiic I²C Connectors – Solderless daisy-chain connection
- Breadboard Compatible – 2.54 mm pin headers also broken out
Specifications
- Interface – I²C (Qwiic, 1 mm pitch JST connectors)
- Encoder Type – Incremental with indent and push button
- Steps Per Revolution – 24
- LED – RGB (PWM-controlled, software-addressable)
- Shaft Diameter – 6 mm (compatible with standard 6 mm knobs)
Ideal For
- User interface controls (volume, brightness, menu navigation)
- RGB colour selection dials
- IoT and embedded control panels
- Arduino and microcontroller projects
Package Contents
- 1× SparkFun Qwiic Twist RGB Rotary Encoder Breakout
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
- encoder
- A device attached to a motor or shaft that reports movement, such as rotation steps or position. In a pump system, an encoder can help measure or control how much the motor has turned, which affects how repeatable the watering amount can be.
- 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.
- IoT
- Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- 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.
- 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.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
Find this product in
Qwiic Twist Schematic
Schematic · 99.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
PEL12T Encoder Datasheet
Datasheet · 385.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
Qwiic Twist Dimensional Drawing
Mechanical Drawings · 19.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
Qwiic Twist Register Map
Document · 57.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 640.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
