RGB Encoder Wheel Breakout

This cool mechanical encoder has five buttons (up, down, left, right and centre) and a rotary scroll wheel (with satisfying clicky detents). We’ve surrounded it with 24 twinkly RGB LEDs and turned it into a handy, pre-assembled I2C breakout so it’s convenient to incorporate into your Raspberry Pi or Raspberry Pi Pico projects.

It’s compatible with the fancy Breakout Garden system, where using breakouts is easy as popping it into one of the slots and starting to grow your project, create, and code. It also has two Qw/ST connectors so it can be easily plugged into microcontrollers and HATs with Qwiic or STEMMA QT connectors, like Cosmic Unicorn or Wireless Plasma Kit.

Check out our full range of Breakout’s and Breakout Garden’s here

Features

• Nuvoton MS51 microcontroller (datasheet / Technical Reference Manual)
• ANO Directional Navigation and Scroll Wheel Rotary Encoder (Diagram)
• 24 RGB LEDs driven by an IS31FL3731 driver chip
• I2C interface, with addresses: 0x13 (encoder), 0x77/0x74 (LEDs)
• 3V to 5V compatible
• Reverse polarity protection (on Breakout Garden connector)
• Fully assembled, no soldering required!
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi computers (Python library)
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico (C++/MicroPython libraries)
• Schematic

Software

There’s an easy-to-use Python library for using this breakout with a Raspberry Pi computer, with examples that use the encoder and LEDs together to make a clock, stopwatch or handy colour picker.

That’s not all! You can also use this breakout with Raspberry Pi Pico and our growing selection of RP2040 boards, using C++ or Pirate brand MicroPython.

Package Contents

• 1x RGB Encoder Wheel breakout
• 1x 1×5 pin header
• 1x 1×5 right-angle socket header

Notes

• The default I2C address of the encoder is 0x13, but it’s possible to change this in software if you’d like to use multiples, or avoid conflicts with other I2C devices. The new address will be saved in flash memory, so will persist if unpowered.
• The I2C address of the LEDs can be changed from 0x77 to 0x74 by cutting the trace on the back of the breakout.
• Fancy a few extra GPIOs? We’ve added pads that can be used to access some spare GPIOs on the Nuvoton / IO Expander. These can be used as inputs and outputs, they’re ADC-capable and PWMable and we’ve also added convenient power and ground pads. Free GPIO, woo!
• Want to make a snazzy diffuser for the LEDs? Here’s a .dxf file for laser cutting!
• Dimensions: 48x42x10.5mm (LxWxH, approx). The mounting holes are M2.5 and 34mm apart (centre to centre).