Hey there! If you're looking to control 12 channels of PWM, this is the perfect breakout board for you. It's built around the TLC59711 PWM driver chip, capable of handling 12 separate channels of 16-bit PWM output. That's the highest resolution we've ever seen! It's specifically designed for precise LED control, but not suitable for driving servos. If you need to drive servos, we've got a dedicated controller for that.
The board only needs two 'SPI' pins to send data, and our Arduino library shows how to use any digital microcontroller pins. The best part? It's completely chainable. As long as you have enough power, you can connect as many boards as you want, like a cool chain of blue PCBs. Each of the 12 outputs has constant current and is open drain. You can drive multiple LEDs in series with a V+ anode supply up to 17V. If you're driving something that needs a digital input, use a pullup resistor from the drive pin to your logic level for a full waveform.
One resistor sets the current for each output. The constant current ensures that the LED brightness stays the same even if the power supply dips. We use a 3.3K resistor for about 15mA, but you can change it by soldering a thru-hole resistor. Check the TLC59711 datasheet for resistor-to-current details. There's also a useful on-chip 3.3V regulator for your logic level needs.
We've added some extras to make this board super easy to use: a green power-good LED, four mounting holes, a current-set resistor, and a bit of 0.1' header so you can solder it on and plug into a breadboard.
To use it, power the V+ with 5 - 17VDC and connect the ground to the common ground. Then send 3 - 5V logic SPI data on DIN (data in) and CLK (clock). Our Arduino library will help you start blinking LEDs. Just install it and run the example code with the noted pin configuration.
P.S. There's a typo in the silkscreen. The second R0 should be R1, but we're sure you'll figure it out!
Using this Adafruit TLC59711 board is a breeze. First, power it up by connecting the V+ to a 5 - 17VDC power source and link the ground to the common ground. Next, send 3 - 5V logic SPI data through the DIN (data in) and CLK (clock) pins. Our Arduino library is here to help you start blinking LEDs right away. Just install it and run the example code with the specified pin configuration.
Remember, this board is great for LED control but not for driving servos. If you need to drive servos, look for our dedicated controller. Also, when driving something that requires a digital input, use a pullup resistor from the drive pin to your logic level to get a full waveform.
The board has a constant current output, which means the LED brightness won't change even if the power supply dips. You can adjust the current by changing the resistor. We use a 3.3K resistor for about 15mA, but you can solder a different thru - hole resistor if you want. Check the TLC59711 datasheet for more details.
Maintenance is easy. Keep it in a dry and clean place. There's a handy on - chip 3.3V regulator that you can use if you need a logic level regulator. And don't worry about the typo in the silkscreen (the second R0 should be R1), it won't affect the board's performance.
