Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Shield - I2C interface

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.

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

GNDArduino shield header ground pins; also bottom row of servo headers
Arduino/shield logic ground and shared signal reference
Type · GroundVoltage · 0V
5VVCCArduino shield 5V header
Powers the PWM controller and sets I2C/PWM logic level
Type · PowerVoltage · 5V logic from Arduino
SDAArduino SDA header; also connected to A4 for older Arduino compatibility
I2C data line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
Type · I2CVoltage · logic level set by VCC
SCLArduino SCL header; also connected to A5 for older Arduino compatibility
I2C clock line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
Type · I2CVoltage · logic level set by VCC
V+ terminal +2-pin terminal block positive input
External servo/PWM load supply input through the terminal block
Type · PowerVoltage · 5V to 6V DC recommended for servos
V+ terminal -servo ground2-pin terminal block negative input and servo header bottom row
External servo/PWM load supply return, commoned with shield ground
Type · GroundVoltage · 0V
Servo header V+ railmiddle row of the 16 3-pin servo headers
Middle power row distributed to all 16 servo headers
Type · PowerVoltage · V+ external supply, typically 5V to 6V
CH0 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 0
PCA9685 channel 0 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH1 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 1
PCA9685 channel 1 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH2 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 2
PCA9685 channel 2 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH3 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 3
PCA9685 channel 3 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH4 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 4
PCA9685 channel 4 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH5 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 5
PCA9685 channel 5 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH6 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 6
PCA9685 channel 6 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH7 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 7
PCA9685 channel 7 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH8 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 8
PCA9685 channel 8 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH9 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 9
PCA9685 channel 9 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH10 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 10
PCA9685 channel 10 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH11 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 11
PCA9685 channel 11 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH12 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 12
PCA9685 channel 12 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH13 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 13
PCA9685 channel 13 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH14 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 14
PCA9685 channel 14 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
CH15 PWMtop/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 15
PCA9685 channel 15 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
Type · PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output

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
5VVCC	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

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

Pin details

23 connections

GND
Arduino/shield logic ground and shared signal reference
GroundVoltage · 0V
Arduino shield header ground pins; also bottom row of servo headers
5VVCC
Powers the PWM controller and sets I2C/PWM logic level
PowerVoltage · 5V logic from Arduino
Arduino shield 5V header
SDA
I2C data line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
I2CVoltage · logic level set by VCC
Arduino SDA header; also connected to A4 for older Arduino compatibility
SCL
I2C clock line for PCA9685 control, default shield address 0x40
I2CVoltage · logic level set by VCC
Arduino SCL header; also connected to A5 for older Arduino compatibility
V+ terminal +
External servo/PWM load supply input through the terminal block
PowerVoltage · 5V to 6V DC recommended for servos
2-pin terminal block positive input
V+ terminal -servo ground
External servo/PWM load supply return, commoned with shield ground
GroundVoltage · 0V
2-pin terminal block negative input and servo header bottom row
Servo header V+ rail
Middle power row distributed to all 16 servo headers
PowerVoltage · V+ external supply, typically 5V to 6V
middle row of the 16 3-pin servo headers
CH0 PWM
PCA9685 channel 0 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 0
CH1 PWM
PCA9685 channel 1 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 1
CH2 PWM
PCA9685 channel 2 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 2
CH3 PWM
PCA9685 channel 3 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 3
CH4 PWM
PCA9685 channel 4 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 4
CH5 PWM
PCA9685 channel 5 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 5
CH6 PWM
PCA9685 channel 6 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 6
CH7 PWM
PCA9685 channel 7 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 7
CH8 PWM
PCA9685 channel 8 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 8
CH9 PWM
PCA9685 channel 9 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 9
CH10 PWM
PCA9685 channel 10 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 10
CH11 PWM
PCA9685 channel 11 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 11
CH12 PWM
PCA9685 channel 12 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 12
CH13 PWM
PCA9685 channel 13 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 13
CH14 PWM
PCA9685 channel 14 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 14
CH15 PWM
PCA9685 channel 15 PWM signal for a servo, LED, or PWM load
PWMVoltage · logic level set by VCC; series-protected PWM output
top/signal row of 3-pin servo header channel 15

Start wiring

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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Pinout