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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)
AITRIP

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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Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

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

BrandAITRIP
Model NamePCA9685 16 CH 12Bit PWM Servo Motor Driver Board Controller
Unit Count1 Count
Built-In Media2 PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM Servo Drivers
Number of Items1
Number of Packs1
Total Usb Ports16
Compatible DevicesServos
Included Components2 PCA9685 16-Channel 12-Bit PWM Servo Drivers
Wireless CompabilityBluetooth
RAM Memory TechnologyDDR
Connectivity TechnologyI2C
Full listing title1pc 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

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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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