RGB Encoder Breakout

This I2C breakout uses its clever Nuvoton microcontroller to let you easily incorporate a digital rotary encoder into your project. It's possible to directly control the RGB LED inside the encoder. The encoder has a smooth but satisfyingly click action.

You can attach it to your Pi's GPIO directly or via a breadboard with the included headers, but it's also compatible with our fancy solderless Breakout Garden, which makes it easy to use several different breakouts at the same time.

Specifications

• Nuvoton MS51 microcontroller with built-in 12-bit Analog to Digital Converter (datasheet / Technical Reference Manual)
• Rotary encoder (datasheet / drawing)
• RGB LED (controllable by PWM)
• I2C interface, with a default address of 0x0F
• 3V to 5V compatible
• Reverse polarity protection
• Raspberry Pi-compatible pinout (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi (Python library)
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico (C++/MicroPython libraries).

Kit includes

• Encoder Breakout (pre-assembled)
• 1x5 straight male header
• 1x5 right angle female header

Pimoroni designed this breakout board so that you can solder on the piece of right angle female header and pop it straight onto the bottom left 5 pins on your Raspberry Pi's GPIO header (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9).

Software

RGB Encoder Breakout uses the same Python library as our IO Expander Breakout - this example shows you how to read the encoder and control the lights.

You can also use this breakout with Raspberry Pi Pico and other RP2040 boards, using C++ or Pirate brand MicroPython.

Note

1. The default I2C address is 0x0F, but it's possible to change this in software if you'd like to use multiple RGB Encoder Breakouts, or avoid conflicts with other I2C devices. The new address will be saved in flash memory, so will persist if unpowered.
2. This board uses a Nuvoton MCU with our custom firmware but you can substitute your own firmware to change the way this board works and have a super cheap and capable microcontroller.