Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver - I2C interface [PCA9685]

PCA9685-based I2C breakout providing 16 channels of 12-bit PWM output for controlling servos, LEDs, or other PWM loads from a single I2C address. Up to 62 boards can be chained for 992 channels total.

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

VCC
Logic supply — 3.3 V or 5 V; module logic operates at 3.3 V when supplied 3.3 V
Type · PowerVoltage · 3.3
GND
Common ground — must share ground with ESP32 and servo supply
Type · Ground
SDA
I2C data line; connect to the controller's SDA pin. Logic level follows VCC.
Type · I2C
SCL
I2C clock line; connect to the controller's SCL pin. Logic level follows VCC.
Type · I2C
V+
Separate servo/load rail power. Use the voltage and current required by the connected servos or loads, commonly 5V-6V for RC servos.
Type · PowerVoltage · 5
OE
Output Enable. Outputs are enabled when OE is LOW and disabled when OE is HIGH; pulled low by default on many breakouts.
Type · GPIO
PWM0-PWM15
16 PWM output channels; connect to servo signal wires or other PWM-controlled loads. All channels share the same PWM frequency.
Type · PWM

Pin	Type	Function	Voltage
VCC	Power	Logic supply — 3.3 V or 5 V; module logic operates at 3.3 V when supplied 3.3 V	3.3
GND	Ground	Common ground — must share ground with ESP32 and servo supply
SDA	I2C	I2C data line; connect to the controller's SDA pin. Logic level follows VCC.
SCL	I2C	I2C clock line; connect to the controller's SCL pin. Logic level follows VCC.
V+	Power	Separate servo/load rail power. Use the voltage and current required by the connected servos or loads, commonly 5V-6V for RC servos.	5
OE	GPIO	Output Enable. Outputs are enabled when OE is LOW and disabled when OE is HIGH; pulled low by default on many breakouts.
PWM0-PWM15	PWM	16 PWM output channels; connect to servo signal wires or other PWM-controlled loads. All channels share the same PWM frequency.

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified

Pin details

7 connections

VCC
Logic supply — 3.3 V or 5 V; module logic operates at 3.3 V when supplied 3.3 V
PowerVoltage · 3.3
GND
Common ground — must share ground with ESP32 and servo supply
Ground
SDA
I2C data line; connect to the controller's SDA pin. Logic level follows VCC.
I2C
SCL
I2C clock line; connect to the controller's SCL pin. Logic level follows VCC.
I2C
V+
Separate servo/load rail power. Use the voltage and current required by the connected servos or loads, commonly 5V-6V for RC servos.
PowerVoltage · 5
OE
Output Enable. Outputs are enabled when OE is LOW and disabled when OE is HIGH; pulled low by default on many breakouts.
GPIO
PWM0-PWM15
16 PWM output channels; connect to servo signal wires or other PWM-controlled loads. All channels share the same PWM frequency.
PWM

Start wiring

PWM · I2C · UART · Wide input · Breakout

Confirm the data interface matches your host board.

Module pins: VCC, V+, GND, SDA, SCL, PWM0-PWM15. Schematik maps them to your board in the app.

Motor drivers

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View all 76

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Pinout