SparkFun Logic Level Converter - Bi-Directional

SparkFun Logic Level Converter - Bi-Directional Reviews

Average star rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5

(2 reviews)

A product’s star rating is calculated as the average of all its reviews.

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956 Reviews

4.5

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Product details

Brand: SparkFun

If you've ever tried to connect a 3.3V device to a 5V system, you know what a challenge it can be. The SparkFun bi-directional logic level converter is a small device that safely steps down 5V signals to 3.3V AND steps up 3.3V to 5V at the same time. This level converter also works with 2.8V and 1.8V devices. What really separates this Logic level converter from our previous versions is that you can successfully set your high and low voltages and step up and down between them safely on the same channel. Each level converter has the capability of converting 4 pins on the high side to 4 pins on the low side with two inputs and two outputs provided for each side. The level converter is very easy to use. The board needs to be powered from the two voltages sources (high voltage and low voltage) that your system is using. High voltage (5V for example) to the 'HV' pin, low voltage (3.3V for example) to 'LV', and ground from the system to the 'GND' pin. Get Started with the Logic Level Converter Guide Dimensions: 0.63 x 0.52" (16.05 x 13.33mm) Documents: Schematic Eagle Files Datasheet (BSS138) Hookup Guide GitHub Product Video
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great product. Quickly and easily solves the problem of interfacing 5V or 12V sensors and hardware components with 3.3V microcontrollers. Attached is a picture of my newest wireless master controller for potable rainwater harvesting, using the Sparkfun level converter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I use this with the SparkFun Pocket AVR Programmer because my target circuits use 3.3 volts. As a hobbyist, I found it easy to solder 12 header pins, plug 6 dupont wires from programmer to converter, another 6 duponts into a 2x3 ICSP cable, with electrical tape to hold it together. But for me, what would have been a more convenient form factor is if this converter would plug directly into the 2x5 connector on the programmer, with 2x3 ICSP pins on the other side. One undocumented oddity of this converter is that it sends small current on its 3.3v LV pin to the target; so I see some LEDs lit even though no other power is provided to target.