AITRIP 1pc PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller IIC Interface
Bottom line: The 1pc PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller IIC: I2C free-running clock keeps PWM going without tying up the Arduino or Pi; main trade-off: no servo power supply included, so you add your own external source.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ I2C free-running clock keeps PWM going without tying up the Arduino or Pi
- ✓ Only two pins drive all 16 outputs, freeing GPIO on a Pi Zero
- ✓ Chain up to 62 boards for 992 total PWM channels
- ✓ 12-bit resolution gives about 4us servo steps at a 60Hz update rate
- ✓ 3.3V logic compliant while still switching 6V outputs for blue and white LEDs
Cons
- ✗ No servo power supply included, so you add your own external source
- ✗ Servo plugs wider than 0.1in limit you to 4 adjacent stacked headers
- ✗ Headers ship unsoldered on most PCA9685 breakouts, so bring an iron
- ✗ AITRIP clone lacks the vendor tutorials Adafruit publishes for this chip
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored 1pc PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller IIC… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the single board computers category. AITRIP's single board computers lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for single board computers of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- Contains an I2C-controlled PWM driver with a built-in clock. It means, unlike the TLC5940 family, you do not need to continuously send it signals tying up your microcontroller; it's completely free running!
- 5V compliant, which means you can control it from a 3.3V microcontroller and still safely drive up to 6V outputs, which is good when you want to control white or blue LEDs with a 3.4V+ forward voltage
- Supports using only two pins to control 16 free-running PWM outputs – you can even chain up 62 breakouts to control up to 992 PWM outputs.
- 3 pin connectors in 4 groups, so you can plug in 16 servos at one time (Servo plugs are slightly wider than 0.1" so you can only stack 4 adjacent ones on 0.1"-hole female headers.
- 12-bit resolution for each output - for servos, that means about 4us resolution at an update rate of 60Hz.
Full Specifications
| Brand | AITRIP |
|---|---|
| Model Name | PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Built-In Media | 2 PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM Servo Drivers |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Packs | 1 |
| Total Usb Ports | 16 |
| Compatible Devices | Servos |
| Included Components | 2 PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM Servo Drivers |
| Wireless Compability | Bluetooth |
| RAM Memory Technology | DDR |
| Connectivity Technology | I2C |
| Full listing title | 1pc PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller IIC Interface for Arduino Raspberry Pi Zero/Zero W/Zero WH/2B/3B/3B+ and Robot (1pc) |
Hardware benchmark data
Ready to buy?
1pc PCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller IIC Interface for Arduino Raspberry Pi Zero/Zero W/Zero WH/2B/3B/3B+ and Robot (1pc) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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