I2C support for encoders

I2C support for encoders (encoder not included)

If you’ve ever tried adding an encoder to your project, you’ll have noticed that they can be quite a challenge to use (timers, interrupts, debouncing, and more). This product is a support module that will make it incredibly easy to integrate and use an encoder; in fact, it’s a breakout board designed to work with a standard I2C-based encoder. Please note: the encoder is not included.

On this breakout board with Stemma QT connectors, you can solder any PEC11 rotary encoder with a ‘standard’ pinout, with or without a push-button switch. The integrated microcontroller is programmed with Adafruit’s ‘Seesaw firmware’ and will keep track of all pulses and pins, then save the incremental value via I2C so it can be read at any time. Using a Stemma QT cable, you can connect the breakout board to any type of microcontroller, from an Arduino UNO to a Raspberry Pi (Seesaw library for Arduino and Seesaw library for CircuitPython/Python).

If you wish, you can easily connect this breakout board to a breadboard thanks to the six 0.1″ pads, and you can power it with 3–5V DC and use 3V or 5V I2C logic data.

There is a NeoPixel on the board which can be controlled via I2C to provide visual feedback, or you can keep it switched off if you prefer. On the back of the board, there is a power LED (green) and an INT LED (red). If you configure the interrupt, the LED will flash when the interrupt is active.

This product is a breakout-style PCB, assembled and tested, and is supplied with a header. It does not include the encoder.

Using the three integrated address jumpers, you can connect up to 8 of these ‘rotary encoder’ breakouts to a single I2C port. The first will be at address 0x36, the last at 0x3D.

Notes and technical details:

• Stemma QT connectors are compatible with SparkFun’s Qwiic I2C connectors.
• This product does not include the encoder. You must purchase it separately.
• The default I2C address is 0x36
• Product dimensions: 2.56×2.53×0.46 cm / 1.0″×1.0″×0.2″
• Product weight: 2.4 g / 0.1 ounces

Adafruit name: I2C QT Rotary Encoder with NeoPixel – STEMMA QT / Qwiic