Best selling Electronics modules from Adafruit

On this page you’ll find a ranking of the best Electronics modules from Adafruit. To give you a quick overview, we’ve added the most important product details. This page always stays fresh and updates automatically.

1. Adafruit MicroSD card breakout board+

Breakout board with a microSD socket and level shifter for easy connection of the circuit to 5V systems.

- Onboard 5V-3V voltage regulator, 150mA - suitable for
power-hungry cards as well.
- Integrated level shifter makes it suitable for 3V, 3.3V, and 5V projects.
- Activity LED for writing and reading.
- Four mounting holes.
- Push-push socket for easy insertion and removal of the card.
- Comes with header (not soldered) - suitable for breadboards and cables - you decide.
- Ideal for Arduino.

Wiring to the Arduino (for using the SDfatLib):
GND to Ground (yes, really!)
5V to 5V
CLK to Pin 13
DO to Pin 12
DI to Pin 11
CS to Pin 10.
 

2. Adafruit TCA9548A I2C Multiplexer

You have just found the perfect I2C sensor and want to connect two, three, or more of them to your Arduino, but then you realize: "Uh oh, the chip has a fixed I2C address, and from what I know about I2C, you can't have two devices with the same address on the same SDA/SCL pins!" Are you out of luck? You would be, if you didn't have this ultra-cool TCA9548A 1-to-8 I2C multiplexer!

Finally, there is a way to connect up to 8 I2C devices with the same address to a microcontroller. This multiplexer acts as a gatekeeper, forwarding commands to the selected set of I2C pins.

Using it is quite simple: The multiplexer itself has the I2C address 0x70 (but can be set from 0x70 to 0x77). You can simply send a single byte with the desired multiplexed output number to the port, and all future I2C packets will be sent to that port. Theoretically, you could use 8 of these multiplexers at addresses 0x70 to 0x77 to control 64 devices with the same I2C address.

As with all Adafruit breakouts, we have brought this nice chip to a breakout board for you, so you can use it on a breadboard with capacitors and pull-ups as well as pull-downs, making usage a breeze. Some headers are required, and once soldered, you can plug it into a breadboard. The chip itself is compatible with both 3V and 5V, so you can use it with any logic level.

Technical details:

- Weight: 1.8 g
- Selectable I2C address: 0x70-0x77.
 

3. Adafruit FT232H Breakout USB to GPIO+SPI+I2C

Wouldn't it be cool to operate a tiny OLED display, read a color sensor, or make some LEDs blink directly from your computer? Sure, you can program an Arduino or Trinket to communicate with these devices, but why can't your computer just talk to these devices and sensors itself? Well, now your computer can communicate with devices via the Adafruit FT232H Breakout Board!

What can the FT232H chip do? This chip from FTDI is similar to their USB-to-serial converter chips but adds a multi-protocol synchronous serial engine that allows for the use of many common protocols like SPI, I2C, serial UART, JTAG, and more! There are even a handful of digital GPIO pins that you can read and write to control things like LEDs, read switches or buttons, and more. The FT232H breakout is like a little Swiss Army knife for serial protocols at your computer!

This chip is powerful and useful if you want to quickly iterate and test a device using I2C or SPI with Python or implement simple general input and output. There's no firmware to deal with, so you don't have to worry about how to send data to and from an Arduino that then communicates to and from an electronic sensor or display.

This breakout features an FT232H chip and an EEPROM for configuration.
 

4. Adafruit PN532 NFC/RFID controller breakout board v1.3

The PN532 NFC/RFID Controller Breakout Board v1.3 from Adafruit is a versatile electronics module based on the widely used PN532 NFC chip. This chip is integrated into many modern devices and enables a variety of applications in the field of Near Field Communication (NFC) and RFID. With the ability to read and write both tags and cards, as well as communicate with mobile phones, this module is ideal for projects that require NFC technology. It supports various communication protocols such as UART, I2C, and SPI, making it a flexible solution for developers. The board comes with a tuned 13.56 MHz stripline antenna, a 0.1-inch header, two jumpers, and a 4050 level shifter chip. Additionally, a Mifare Classic 1K card is included, facilitating entry into NFC and RFID projects.

- Supports NFC and RFID applications with bidirectional communication
- Versatile communication protocols: UART, I2C, and SPI
- Includes a tuned 13.56 MHz stripline antenna
- Compatible with various NFC/RFID tags and cards
- Package includes Mifare Classic 1K card for immediate use.
 

5. Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board WAV/OGG Trigger with 16MB Fl

The Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board is an innovative solution for integrating audio and sound effects into projects without the need for a microcontroller or programming. This compact electronics module is ideal for anyone looking for simple and effective audio output, whether for props, costumes, or other creative applications. With dimensions of just 1.9 x 0.85 inches, it is lightweight and portable, making it a practical choice for various projects. The sound board features 16 MB of built-in storage, providing ample space for approximately 15 minutes of compressed stereo audio data. User-friendly operation is enhanced by the ability to connect the module to a computer via a micro USB cable for quick and easy audio file transfers. These features make the Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board a user-friendly and versatile solution for audio applications.

- Completely standalone, requires no microcontroller or Arduino
- 16 MB of built-in memory for audio effects
- Easy file transfer via mass storage USB
- Compact dimensions for easy integration into projects.
 

6. Adafruit Monochrome 1.3" 128x64 OLED graphic display

Highly contrasting 1.3" OLED display with a resolution of 128x64 pixels. Thanks to OLED technology, no backlight is needed, which reduces power consumption while improving contrast - the average power consumption is only about 40 mA.

The SSD1306 driver chip communicates via I2C or SPI. The OLED is powered with 3.3 V but is fully compatible with both 3.3 V and 5 V thanks to the level shifter present on the PCB.

Adafruit provides a complete Arduino library with graphics and text functions. Since the display needs to be buffered, a microprocessor with at least 1 kB of RAM is required.

Size / Dimensions:

* PCB: 35 mm x 35 mm
* Screen: 35 mm x 24 mm
* Thickness: 5 mm
* Weight: 8.5 g

OLED Display Details:

* Screen diagonal: 1.30"
* Resolution: 128 x 64 pixels
* Colors: Monochrome (white)
* Module construction: COG
* Module size (mm): 34.50 x 35.00
* Panel size (mm): 34.50 x 23.00 x 1.45
* Active area (mm): 29.420 x 14.70
* Pixel pitch (mm): 0.23 x 0.23
* Pixel size (mm): 0.21 x 0.21
* Brightness (cd/m²): 100 (typical) @ 12 V.
 

7. Adafruit DS3231 Precision RTC Breakout

The datasheet for the DS3231 explains that this component is an extremely accurate I²C-integrated RTC/TCXO/crystal. This real-time clock (RTC) is the most precise one you can get in a small, power-saving package.

Most RTCs use an external 32kHz timing crystal to keep time with low power consumption. However, these crystals have slight drift, especially with temperature fluctuations, as the oscillation frequency changes slightly. This RTC is housed in a robust casing, as the crystal is located inside the chip. Right next to the integrated crystal is a temperature sensor that compensates for frequency changes by adding or removing clock ticks, ensuring that timekeeping stays on schedule.

This is the best RTC you can get, and now we have it in a compact, breadboard-friendly breakout. With a coin cell inserted on the back, you can maintain precise timekeeping for years, even during power outages. Ideal for data logging and clocks, or anything where you really need to know the time.

It comes as a fully assembled and tested breakout with a small piece of header. You can solder the header to plug it into a breadboard or solder wires directly.

A coin cell is required to utilize the battery backup capabilities. To simplify international shipping, we do not include one, but we have them in stock, so grab one or use a CR1220 that you have on hand.
 

8. Adafruit ADS1115 16-Bit ADC 4 Ch. w/Gain Amplifier

For microcontrollers without an analog-to-digital converter or when
you want a higher-precision ADC, the ADS1115 provides 16-bit precision
at 860 samples/second
over I2C. The chip can be configured as 4
single-ended input channels, or two differential channels. As a nice
bonus, it even includes a programmable gain amplifier, up to x16, to
help boost up smaller single/differential signals to the full range.
We like this ADC because it can run from 2V to 5V power/logic, can
measure a large range of signals and its super easy to use. It is a
great general purpose 16 bit converter.

The chip's fairly small so it comes on a breakout board with ferrites
to keep the AVDD and AGND quiet. Interfacing is done via I2C. The
address can be changed to one of four options (see the datasheet table
5) so you can have up to 4 ADS1115's connected on a single 2-wire I2C
bus for 16 single ended inputs.

To get you started, we have example code for both the Raspberry Pi
(in our Adafruit Pi Python library [1]) and Arduino (in our ADS1X15
Arduino library repository [2]) Simply connect GND to ground, VDD to
your logic power supply, and SCL/SDA to your microcontroller's I2C
port and run the example code to start reading data.

* Wide Supply Range: 2.0V to 5.5V
* Low Current consumption: Continuous Mode: Only 150A Single-Shot
Mode: Auto Shut-Down
* Programmable Data Rate: 8SPS to 860SPS
* Internal Low-Drift Voltage Reference
* Internal Oscillator
* Internal PGA
* I2C Interface: Pin-Selectable Addresses
* Four Single-Ended or two differential Inputs
* Programmable Comparator

Links:
------
[1] https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-Raspberry-Pi-Python-Code
[2] https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_ADS1X15
 

9. Adafruit Ina219

Thanks to the INA219B IC, you can measure voltage and current and transmit the data to a microprocessor via I2C. The major advantage is that this sensor can measure up to 26 VDC, even though it operates on just 3 V or 5 V. This breakout is therefore ideal for monitoring battery voltages or solar cells. The precision amplifier measures the voltage across a 0.1 Ohm, 1% resistor and allows measurements of up to 3.2 Amperes with a resolution of 0.8 mA. The resistor can be replaced with a 0.01 Ohm resistor, enabling measurements of up to 32 Amperes with a resolution of 8 mA. The application is very straightforward: power the sensor with 3 V or 5 V and connect the I2C pins to the microprocessor. Then simply connect the source to be measured to VIN+ / VIN- and you're ready to go. 

10. Adafruit Mini Metal Speaker

The Mini Metal Speaker from Adafruit is a compact and versatile electronics module that is ideal for a variety of audio projects. With a diameter of just 28 mm and a weight of only 6 g, this speaker is particularly space-saving and can be easily integrated into small applications. It offers a resonance frequency of 680 ±20 % Hz and a frequency range of approximately 600 to 10 kHz, making it an excellent choice for projects that require clear and precise audio output. The speaker comes with a cable, which facilitates installation and connection to various hardware. Its robust construction and ability to operate in a temperature range of -20 °C to 55 °C make it a reliable companion for creative electronics projects.

- Compact design with a diameter of only 28 mm
- Resonance frequency of 680 ±20 % Hz
- Frequency range of 600 to 10 kHz
- Temperature range of -20 °C to 55 °C.
 

Adafruit Mini Metal Speaker (Loudspeaker)
Electronics modules
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CHF6.70 per piece for 2 units

Adafruit Mini Metal Speaker

Loudspeaker

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