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Small green circuit board with header pins on both sides

SparkFun Electronics

SparkFun Electronics Bi-Directional Logic Level Converter 1.8V 2.8V 3.3V

SKU CH-Q14T-W9YTJ

Bi-directional converter steps 5 V signals down to 3.3 V and up from 3.3 V to 5 V on the same channel, also supporting 1.8 V and 2.8 V logic levels

  • Product typeCurrent
  • Steps 5V down to 3.3V and 3.3V up to 5V simultaneously
  • Works with 1.8V and 2.8V logic devices
  • Bi-directional translation on four channels per board
  • Set independent high and low supply voltages per channel
  • Single board handles both step-up and step-down conversion

Bi-directional logic level converter

The SparkFun bi-directional logic level converter is a small board that translates signals between different voltage domains. It handles four channels, each with two inputs and two outputs, allowing safe communication between 5 V, 3.3 V, 2.8 V and 1.8 V devices. The module requires both the high and low supply voltages to be present for operation.

Voltage translation limits

The converter steps down 5 V signals to 3.3 V and steps up 3.3 V to 5 V simultaneously on the same channel. It also supports 2.8 V and 1.8 V logic levels, but the high and low rails must be supplied externally and match the connected devices. No internal regulation or voltage generation is provided.

Four-channel bidirectional shifting

Each unit provides four independent channels that shift logic levels in both directions without direction control pins. This fixed channel count determines whether the board matches a project's I/O requirements. Buyers needing more than four translated lines must use additional modules.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Serial & Protocol Converters, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $6.99
Cheaper than about 95% of the 121 comparable items (median $19.99).

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Specifications

Product
Product typeCurrent

Questions about this item

Should I pick this converter for a 1.8 V sensor or a 3.3 V microcontroller?

The board handles both 1.8 V and 3.3 V low-voltage sides, so it works with either device as long as the matching high-voltage supply is provided.

What does the 5 V to 3.3 V rating mean when I wire it into my circuit?

It means each of the four channels can translate a 5 V logic signal down to 3.3 V and a 3.3 V signal up to 5 V simultaneously without extra direction control.

Which interface standard does the converter use and what speed does it limit?

The converter uses a simple MOSFET-based transistor circuit per channel; it has no protocol clock, so the practical limit is set by the RC time constant of your wiring and load.

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