Servo PWM Pi

16 Channel 12-bit PWM and Servo Driver with I2C interface using PCA9685 for driving LEDs and RC servos

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The Servo PWM Pi is a 16-channel, 12-bit PWM controller for the Raspberry Pi and other compatible single-board computers; suitable for driving LEDs and radio control servos. The board is based around PCA9685 PWM I2C LED controller IC from NXT and can drive each of the 16 outputs with a 12-bit (4096 steps) duty cycle from 0%  to 100%.

The output frequency is programmable from a typical 40Hz to 1000Hz. Each output driver is programmed to be either open-drain with a 22 mA current sink capability at 5 V or totem pole with a 22 mA sink, 10 mA source capability at 5 V. 220R current limiting resistors are used on each channel, allowing you to connect servos or LEDs directly to the outputs.

The PCA9685 contains 5 I2C address selection pins, which can be configured using solder bridges on the Servo PWM Pi Zero PCB. Using different I2C addresses on your Servo Pi allows you to stack several boards on a single Raspberry Pi; see the datasheet for more details on I2C address selection. The active LOW Output Enable input pin (OE) on the PCA9685 allows asynchronous control of the LED outputs and can be used to set all the outputs to a defined I2C-bus programmable logic state. The OE can also be used to externally ‘pulse width modulate’ the outputs, which is useful when multiple devices need to be dimmed or blinked together using software control. The OE pin can be connected to pin 7 (GPIO 4) on the Raspberry Pi GPIO port by bridging the solder pads on the Servo Pi marked OE.

Connecting RC Servos

The Servo Pi is only compatible with analogue RC servos; digital servos will not work. While the Servo Pi uses a 12-bit (4096-step) controller, due to the way RC servos are designed, only approximately 200 steps will be available for controlling the servo. You can find an example python library for controlling an RC servo in our Github Servo PWM Pi repository.

Powering the Servo PWM Pi

For safety reasons, the Servo PWM Pi is not connected to the 5V power rail on the Raspberry Pi.

Due to the high currents used on radio control servos and other PWM devices, it is recommended that you use an external 5V power supply to power the Servo Pi. External power can be provided through the 5V and GND pads on the Servo PWM Pi Zero. If you use two power supplies, one for the Raspberry Pi and one for the Servo Pi, please ensure that the ground wires on the two supplies are joined and do not have any potential difference between them. Any potential difference between the grounds could damage the Raspberry Pi and yourself.

If you are using the Servo PWM Pi for low current applications, below 300mA, you can power the Servo PWM Pi through the 5V pins on the Raspberry Pi GPIO port by bridging the “PWR Link” pads with a blob of solder.

Bridging the “PWR Link” pads will also allow you to power your Raspberry Pi from the Servo Pi power pins using an external 5V power supply, but please note this will bypass the internal fuse on the Raspberry Pi, leaving it vulnerable to damage from short circuits on any of the GPIO pins.

Technical Details

Input Ratings & Specifications

Spec
Ratings
Supply Voltage
2.3V to 5.5V
Voltage on any input/output pin
Vss to 5.5V
Logic Voltage at GPIO I2C Port
3.3V
Output Current On Each Pin
25 mA
Total Maximum Current
400 mA
Total Power Dissipation
400 mW

3D CAD Model

Servo Pi Zero - 3D CAD File (STEP Format)

Schematic

Servo Pi Zero Schematic

Mechanical Drawings

Click the image to enlarge

Compatibility

We have tested the Servo PWM Pi on the following platforms.

Model Status
Raspberry Pi Model A / B
Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+ / B+
Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ / B / B+
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Raspberry Pi 5
Raspberry Pi Zero
Raspberry Pi Zero W / Zero 2 W
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 IO Board
Raspberry Pi 400
Asus Tinker Board
Odroid

Assembly Instructions

The Servo PWM Pi is supplied with the 40-pin GPIO connector unsoldered.

We supply the Servo PWM Pi this way because the Raspberry Pi Zero is also provided without a GPIO header. The Servo PWM Pi could be fitted above or below the Raspberry Pi.

Before using the Servo PWM Pi, you need to solder the 40-pin GPIO connectors onto the PCB.  

PCB Header Assembly Jig

Download and print our PCB Header Assembly Jig to hold your circuit board when soldering the header pins.

Using the PCB assembly jig

Code Libraries and Tutorials

We have Python, C, C++, Node.js and Windows 10 IOT libraries for this expansion board.  All of our software libraries are open source and can be download from our GitHub repository or by clicking on the logos below for your selected programming language.

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Important Information

This development board/kit is intended for use for ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, OR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY and is not considered by abelectronics.co.uk to be a finished end-product fit for general consumer use. As such, the goods being provided are not intended to be complete in terms of required design-, marketing-, and/or manufacturing-related protective considerations, including product safety and environmental measures typically found in end products that incorporate such semiconductor components or circuit boards. Persons handling the product(s) must have electronics training and observe good engineering practice standards. This development board/kit does not fall within the scope of the European Union directives regarding electromagnetic compatibility, restricted substances (RoHS), recycling (WEEE), FCC, CE or UL, and therefore may not meet the technical requirements of these directives or other related directives. Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view, download Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reading software for your computer or mobile device.

Shipping and Delivery

For orders under £35 and tracked orders, the following delivery charges apply.

Shipping Rates

United Kingdom

Service Cost  Estimated Delivery Time 
Royal Mail 1st Class £2.49 1 - 3 days (Mon - Sat)
Royal Mail Special Delivery (Tracked) £8.49 Next day (Mon - Sat)

European Union

Deliveries to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. 

Service Cost  Estimated Delivery Time 
Royal Mail Airmail Service £4.29 3-5 Working Days **
Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed £12.99 3-5 Working Days **

Rest of the World

Service Cost  Estimated Delivery Time 
Royal Mail Airmail Service £5.99 5-7 Working Days **
Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed £18.99 5-7 Working Days **

* Free delivery uses the Royal Mail 1st Class service for UK orders and Royal Mail Airmail Service for international orders.

** All International destinations are subject to customs clearance at the destination country, which can add a short delay to your delivery times. Additional import duty may be charged for your order by customs on arrival to your country based on the order value.

We have a full list of all available delivery destinations on the Shipping Country List.

We aim to dispatch your order within 1 working day.  

Working days are normal weekdays; dispatch times do not include Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. Delivery transit times do not include national holidays and Sundays but may include Saturdays, depending on the delivery service provider in the destination country.

You can view details of international shipping issues and delays with the Royal Mail airmail service at Royal Mail International Incident Bulletin.

You can check the status of your order by going to the My Account area of the website.

Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) FAQ

What is the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS)?

The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is a system introduced by the European Union to simplify VAT collection for goods valued at €150 or less that are shipped to customers in the EU from outside the EU. By using IOSS, sellers collect VAT at the point of sale, ensuring that buyers do not have to pay additional import taxes or customs fees upon delivery.

How does IOSS benefit me as a customer?

IOSS makes your shopping experience easier and more transparent by:

Including VAT in the purchase price you see at checkout.

Eliminating unexpected customs charges or fees upon delivery.

Reducing potential delivery delays caused by customs clearance.

Will I have to pay any additional charges when my order is delivered?

No. If your order is covered by IOSS, all applicable VAT and import charges are already included in the price you pay at checkout. There will be no additional charges when your order is delivered.

How do I know if my order is covered by IOSS?

All orders shipped to EU countries and valued at €150 or less are covered by our IOSS registration. If your order qualifies, the VAT and import fees will be automatically calculated and included in the total price during checkout.

Does IOSS apply to all products?

IOSS applies to goods valued at €150 or less that are shipped from outside the EU to customers in EU member states. Certain items, such as excisable goods (e.g., alcohol or tobacco), may not qualify for IOSS coverage.

What happens if my order exceeds €150?

For orders valued above €150, IOSS does not apply. In such cases, import VAT and any applicable customs duties will need to be paid separately, usually upon delivery. We recommend checking your local regulations for further details.

Do I need to do anything to use IOSS?

No action is required on your part. We handle all the necessary IOSS processes on our end to ensure your order is VAT-compliant and free from additional import fees.

Does IOSS reduce delivery times?

Yes, IOSS can help speed up delivery times by streamlining the customs clearance process. Since VAT is prepaid, your order is less likely to be delayed during customs inspections.

Is IOSS available in all EU countries?

Yes, IOSS applies to all EU member states. Regardless of where you are in the EU, you can enjoy the benefits of IOSS when shopping with us.

Can I claim VAT back if I am VAT registered in the EU?

If you are VAT registered in the EU and wish to claim VAT back, please use the Guest Checkout and enter your VAT registration details before placing your order. It is not possible to enter your VAT details when using the PayPal express checkout.

What should I do if I still have questions?

If you have any further questions about IOSS or your order, feel free to contact our customer support team. We’re here to help!

Delivery Duty Unpaid for orders sent outside of the United Kingdom and EU over 150 euros

All orders sent to countries other than the United Kingdom and EU over 150 euros are shipped on a DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) basis, and the recipient may be subject to local taxes and customs import duty, which is charged on the value of the order.

Payment of these fees is the sole responsibility of the customer. 

Order Tracking

Our standard shipping service is not tracked, and we cannot supply tracking information for your order.

We can offer alternative shipping using Royal Mail, tracked and signed for service. You can select this option at checkout. Please note full end-to-end tracking depends on the tracking service from the regional postal service in the destination country.

Once your order has been sent, you can view your tracking code, which is available in the My Account section. Please allow up to 72 hours for your tracking code to be added to your order after despatch.

Returns

Our 180-day returns guarantee means that if for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase, you may return it to us in its original condition within 180 days of the date you received the item, unopened (with any seals and shrink-wrap intact), and we will issue a full refund for the price you paid for the item. We can only accept the return of opened items if they are faulty.

All Raspberry Pi add-on boards are checked on a Raspberry Pi during production, and all inputs are checked to ensure the inputs and outputs are within the specified ratings.

We cannot accept returns for faults caused by over-voltage being applied to inputs on the boards by the purchaser.

When returning an item to us, please clearly state why you are returning your parcel and whether you require a refund or exchange. Please note that the parcel is your responsibility until it reaches us, so we recommend you send it via registered or recorded post. 

The time it takes for a refund to reach the customer depends on the banks involved. It would normally take 3 - 5 working days to complete it.

Sales Tax

United Kingdom VAT at 20% is added to all orders for UK destinations. VAT is not added to NON-UK and EU destinations where the order total is more than 150 euros.

We are not responsible for any import taxes or VAT on the orders in the destination country. Import duty/tax is always paid by the person/company receiving the parcel/order.

Removed Delivery Destinations

We regret that we had to remove the following countries from our delivery destinations due to a very high failure rate of our parcels being delivered using the Royal Mail airmail service. This resulted in us refunding all of the missing orders, and we cannot continue to make such large losses by sending parcels to destinations where a large percentage of the items are lost in the postal systems.

Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, USA (due to shipping tariffs)  and the United Arab Emirates.

Also, due to problems with the courier delivering parcels to these destinations, we cannot use a third-party courier service for these delivery destinations due to the extra costs involved.

Customers can purchase our products from one of our international resellers

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