Arduino shield with PCA9685 providing 16 channels of 12-bit PWM over I2C (addresses 0x60–0x80). Up to 62 shields can be stacked for 992 total outputs. Drives servos up to 6 V from 5 V logic; ~4 µs resolution at 60 Hz.
Arduino/shield logic ground and shared signal reference
Powers the PWM controller and sets I2C/PWM logic level
I2C data line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
I2C clock line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
External servo/PWM load supply input through the terminal block
External servo/PWM load supply return, commoned with shield ground
Middle power row distributed to all 16 servo headers
PCA9685 channel 0 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 1 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 2 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 3 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 4 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 5 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 6 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 7 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 8 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 9 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 10 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 11 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 12 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 13 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 14 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PCA9685 channel 15 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
| Pin | Position | Type | Function | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GND | Arduino shield header ground pins; also bottom row of servo headers | ground | Arduino/shield logic ground and shared signal reference | 0V |
| 5V / VCC | Arduino shield 5V header | power | Powers the PWM controller and sets I2C/PWM logic level | 5V logic from Arduino |
| SDA | Arduino SDA header; also connected to A4 for older Arduino compatibility | i2c | I2C data line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40 | logic level set by VCC |
| SCL | Arduino SCL header; also connected to A5 for older Arduino compatibility | i2c | I2C clock line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40 | logic level set by VCC |
| V+ terminal + | 2-pin terminal block positive input | power | External servo/PWM load supply input through the terminal block | 5V to 6V DC recommended for servos |
| V+ terminal - / servo ground | 2-pin terminal block negative input and servo header bottom row | ground | External servo/PWM load supply return, commoned with shield ground | 0V |
| Servo header V+ rail | middle row of the 16 3-pin servo headers | power | Middle power row distributed to all 16 servo headers | V+ external supply, typically 5V to 6V |
| CH0 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 0 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 0 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH1 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 1 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 1 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH2 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 2 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 2 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH3 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 3 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 3 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH4 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 4 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 4 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH5 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 5 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 5 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH6 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 6 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 6 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH7 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 7 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 7 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH8 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 8 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 8 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH9 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 9 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 9 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH10 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 10 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 10 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH11 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 11 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 11 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH12 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 12 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 12 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH13 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 13 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 13 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH14 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 14 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 14 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
| CH15 PWM | top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 15 | pwm | PCA9685 channel 15 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load | logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output |
PWM · I2C · UART · Wide input · Breakout
Confirm the data interface matches your host board.
Module pins: 5V / VCC, V+ terminal +, Servo header V+ rail, GND, V+ terminal - / servo ground, SDA, SCL, CH0 PWM. Schematik maps them to your board in the app.
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