• Four high-side control channels at up to 20V, 2A
• Logic-level control from 3.3V or 5V
• Switching frequencies up to hundreds of kHz
• Debug LEDs for easy monitoring

What is it?

This board contains four channels, each a logic-controlled pFET to act as a high-side switch for a DC load of up to 20V, at 2A per channel. It can be used to switch DC loads whose operating voltage is higher than the logic level controlling it - making it ideal for controlling higher-power devices from a microcontroller or similar logic-level source. A second nFET to control the gate of the main output ensures the control inputs are active-high, and compatible with lower voltage control.

The four channels are identical and share a common ground for the control inputs, which are active-high and 5V tolerant but will switch on from as little as 2.5V, making them suitable for use with either 3.3V or 5V control sources. The outputs are split into two banks of two, with each bank having its own +V input, allowing you to control a mixture of different supply voltages if required.

Each control input also has an associated LED that illuminates when the channel is active, for easy debug or monitoring.

Ideal for controlling things like 12V LED tape, with near-zero switching time you can achieve PWM-style dimming at switching frequencies up to many hundreds of kHz if required. The four channels allow convenient control of RGB or RGBW devices with common-cathode connections.

There are no free-wheeling diodes provided on the board, so if using this to control highly inductive loads like motors, relay coils or solenoids, remember to include one in the output wiring.

Why did you make it?

I've been building some large LED panels lately that needed PWM dimming of a 12V source, controlled from a 5V microcontroller.

What makes it special?

The compact size and common power supply arrangement makes it convenient to build into larger devices that need to control multiple channels at once. The debug LEDs are also handy for visually inspecting if the outputs are being correctly controlled, without connecting up the final output device.