sparkfun QwiicBus COM-18000 Technical document

SparkFun QwiicBus Hookup Guide
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Introduction
Introducing the SparkFun QwiicBus system! The QwiicBus is a fast and easy way to extend the range of your I C
bus. The QwiicBus system features two boards: the SparkFun QwiicBus EndPoint and the SparkFun QwiicBus
MidPoint. SparkFun also offers the QwiicBus Kit that includes two EndPoints, one MidPoint and two Ethernet
cables to get you started with the QwiicBus.
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SparkFun QwiicBus Kit
KIT-17250
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SparkFun QwiicBus - EndPoint
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COM-16988
SparkFun QwiicBus - MidPoint
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COM-18000
Product Showcase: SparkFun QwiicBus MidPoint & Product Showcase: SparkFun QwiicBus MidPoint & ……

Using NXP's PCA9615 differential I C bus buffer IC, the QwiicBus converts the two default I C signals into four
differential signals (two for SCL and two for SDA). The differential signals are sent over an Ethernet cable, which
attaches to the EndPoint or MidPoint through the on-board RJ-45 connectors. Differential signaling allows the I C
signals to reach distances of over 100 feet while still maintaining their signal integrity. In our testing using two
EndPoints, four MidPoints, at least one Qwiic device on each node and over 200 feet of Ethernet cable, we were
able to use all devices with nearly no signal integrity loss!
The EndPoint acts as the starting and ending points of the QwiicBus and the MidPoint allows you to add a drop-in
I2C connection to your long-distance differential I C chain wherever you would like.
These boards grew out of a collaboration with FarmHand Automation. While developing autonomous micro-
tractors to help small farmers grow their business, Farmhand realized they needed a low cost, open source
CAN/Modbus alternative. Read more about their story here. FarmHand founder, Alex Jones said, "We knew the
sensors we wanted to use, but as soon as you need to communicate over long distances in noisy environments
things get complicated. The Qwiic Midpoint is going to solve a lot of that headache." The QwiicBus MidPoint and
QwiicBus EndPoint are ideal for applications that require long-range communication over Ethernet, such as
agricultural technology or data collection/monitoring in rural/remote areas.
Whether you have a robot with multiple I C devices throughout it like FarmHand, a sensor network project with
multiple sensors over a large area or other I C projects you can think of that require a wired signal transmission
over long distances, the QwiicBus makes that communication a breeze!
Required Materials
If you are using the QwiicBus Kit, you'll have the required boards and Ethernet cables to assemble your QwiicBus
circuit. Otherwise, you'll want to pick up two EndPoints and however many MidPoints your project needs.
Along with the QwiicBus boards, you will need the following materials to follow along with this tutorial. You may not
need everything though depending on what you have. Add it to your cart, read through the guide, and adjust the
cart as necessary.
A microcontroller is needed to control any I C devices attached to your QwiicBus. Below are a few options that
come Qwiic-enabled out of the box:
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SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32 WROOM SparkFun Qwiic Pro Micro - USB-C
(ATmega32U4)

If you would prefer to use a single-board computer (SBC) like a Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano as your controller,
the products below will also work with the QwiicBus:
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WRL-15663
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DEV-15795
SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic
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DEV-15123
SparkFun RedBoard Artemis
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DEV-15444
NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit (V3)
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DEV-16271
SparkFun DLI Kit for Jetson Nano
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KIT-16308
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2 GB)
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DEV-15446
SparkFun Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Kit - 4GB
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KIT-16386

If your favorite microcontroller or single board computer is not already Qwiic-enabled, you can add that
functionality with one or more of the following items:
You will also probably want a few Qwiic cables to connect your devices on your I C bus:
SparkFun Qwiic Adapter
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DEV-14495
SparkFun Qwiic SHIM for Raspberry Pi
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DEV-15794
SparkFun Qwiic Shield for Arduino
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DEV-14352
SparkFun Qwiic pHAT v2.0 for Raspberry Pi
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DEV-15945
2
Qwiic Cable - 100mm
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PRT-14427
Qwiic Cable - 500mm
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PRT-14429

Finally, if you are not using the QwiicBus Kit you'll need at least one straight through Ethernet cable.
Optional Extras for Alternate QwiicBus Power Configurations
The QwiicBus offers multiple power configurations intended for applications where many devices need to be
powered over the QwiicBus. We cover these configurations in more detail in the Hardware Overview and
Hardware Assembly. To use these configurations you will need some extra hardware and tools. Click the button
below to view some recommended products for alternate power configurations.
ADDITIONAL HARDWARE & TOOLS FOR ALTERNATE QWIICBUS POWER CONFIGURATIONS
Suggested Reading
If you aren't familiar with the Qwiic system, we recommend reading here for an overview.
Qwiic Connect System
We would also recommend taking a look at the following tutorials if you aren't familiar with the topics they cover.
Qwiic Cable - 50mm
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PRT-14426
Qwiic Cable - 200mm
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PRT-14428
Logic Levels
Learn the difference between 3.3V and 5V devices and
logic levels.
Electric Power
An overview of electric power, the rate of energy
transfer. We'll talk definition of power, watts, equations,
and power ratings. 1.21 gigawatts of tutorial fun!

Hardware Overview
The simplicity of the QwiicBus is one of its biggest appeals as all you really need to get started is the QwiicBus
boards, Ethernet and Qwiic cables and a controller (either development board or SBC). Other I C communication
methods require packetizing I C communication into another protocol, be it RS-485 or 1-Wire. However, the
PCA9615 keeps the I C protocol by utilizing a differential transceiver. In this section, we'll take a closer look at the
QwiicBus boards and the hardware present on them to better understand how they work.
PCA9615 Bus Buffer IC
Let's take a quick look at the PCA9615 IC at the heart of the MidPoint and EndPoint. The PCA9615 acts as a
bridge that translates a standard two-wire I C bus to a four-wire differential I C bus. Translating to a differential bus
helps prevent signal disruption in noisy environments as well as extending the signal over long-distance
transmissions. For detailed information about the full functionality and feature set of the PCA9615 review the
datasheet.
I2C
An introduction to I2C, one of the main embedded
communications protocols in use today.
How to Work with Jumper Pads and PCB Traces
Handling PCB jumper pads and traces is an essential
skill. Learn how to cut a PCB trace, add a solder
jumper between pads to reroute connections, and
repair a trace with the green wire method if a trace is
damaged.
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The PCA9615 has two supply voltage rails: VDDA and VDDB. VDDA acts primarily as the I C-bus side power
supply and VDDB primarily is used for the differential side power supply. While the two power supplies have
slightly different operating ranges (VDDA supply voltage range: 2.3-5.5V. VDDB supply voltage range: 3.0-5.5V),
both the EndPoint and MidPoint default to net both voltages together at 3.3V.
The PCA9615 supports I C clock speeds up to 1MHz though the maximum cable length is inversely related to the
clock speed. At max speed, the max rated cable length is listed at 3m but can be increased at lower clock speeds.
For example, in our testing of the QwiicBus with over 200 feet of Ethernet cable we observed no significant signal
loss while running at the standard clock speed for the Arduino Wire Library (100KHz).
We've designed the QwiicBus MidPoint and EndPoint to have multiple configuration options for powering your
QwiicBus so there is a bit to take note of before powering everything up. We cover the different power
configurations further down in the Solder Jumpers sub section as well as in the Hardware Assembly section so
read on for more information.
The QwiicBus boards also break out the Enable (EN) pin to a PTH header if you would like to control the PCA9615
manually. By default, it is pulled to VDDA via an internal resistor. Refer to section 7.3 of the PCA9615 datasheet
for more information on using this pin.
Qwiic and I C Interface
As a large portion of you readers have come to expect, the I C pins are broken out to two Qwiic connectors so you
can easily connect your QwiicBus boards to other Qwiic devices. We've also broken out the four I C pins to
standard 0.1"-spaced PTH header pins for users who prefer the standard plated through-hole connection.
Differential Output and RJ-45 Connectors
The EndPoint has a single RJ-45 to send the differential signal out to another EndPoint or to your MidPoint nodes.
The MidPoint comes with two RJ-45 connectors so you can easily integrate it into your existing bus.
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Depending on your project's power needs, the unused Green and Blue twisted pairs in the Ethernet cable can be
used to send 5V over the Blue pair (Ethernet pins 4 and 5) or 3.8V to 36V over the Green pair (Ethernet pins 3 and
6). On the EndPoint, the Blue pair is broken out to PTH pins labeled VCC1 and GND and the Green pair is broken
out to PTH pins labeled VCC2 and GND2.
We've also broken out the VCC2 and GND2 lines to a pair of PTH pins on the MidPoint if users would like to use
them for powering peripherals or running the voltage over the QwiicBus chain on separate wires.
VCC1 is tied to both VDDA and VDDB on the PCA9615 so long as the 0-1 jumper is CLOSED (more on that in the
following sections). VCC2 and GND2 are connected to the Ethernet Green pair intended for powering the buck
regulator on any attached MidPoint(s). If users are powering the QwiicBus through either of these voltage inputs,
the Bypass jumper on all MidPoints must be OPENED. Using the Green or Blue pair to provide voltage to the
QwiicBus requires the proper power configuration covered in the Hardware Assembly section.

Lastly, you may notice the VCC2 and GND2 PTH pins on the EndPoint are labeled GRN and GRNW when viewed
from the top. The Green pair can be used as an isolated signal line by opening the VDDA and GND jumpers on
the EndPoint. Note, when using the Green pair in this way, make sure the GND2 jumper(s) on any attached
MidPoints are opened.
Buck Regulator - MidPoint Only
The MidPoint includes the LMR33630 Simple Switcher variable buck regulator from Texas Instruments . The
regulator accepts an input voltage between 3.8V to 36V so you can send higher voltages over the Ethernet cable
to render any voltage drop over long cables negligable and the [email protected] output provides a larger current source
for any devices attached to the MidPoint. The LMR33630 has a variable voltage output that the MidPoint design
sets to 3.3V.
The buck regulator is not powered by default but the design features a dual jumper labeled PSEL users can adjust
to enable the buck regulator to power the MidPoint(s) from a higher voltage (5V or 3.8V to 36V) via the Blue and
Green pair pins broken out on the EndPoint and MidPoint. Read on to the Solder Jumpers sub-section below and
the Hardware Assembly section for more information on how to use these alternate power configurations.
Note: While the buck regulator is rated for 3A, sourcing max current through the regulator continuously will
cause it to heat up and decrease its efficiency. Running max current through the regulator for an extended
period of time can also damage the IC and is not recommended.
Solder Jumpers
If you have never worked with solder jumpers and PCB traces before or would like a quick refresher, check
out our How to Work with Solder Jumpers and PCB Traces tutorial for detailed instructions and tips.
In this section we'll cover the jumpers found on both QwiicBus boards and their functionality, default state and a
few things to take note of prior to adjusting them.
Since this guide covers both QwiicBus boards (EndPoint and MidPoint) we'll denote which jumpers are found on
both boards as well as board-specific jumpers. The EndPoint's five jumpers are labeled: I2C, PWR, VDDA, GND
and 0-1. The six MidPoint jumpers are labeled: I2C, PWR, BP, PSEL, GND1 and GND2.
® ®

QwiicBus EndPoint Solder Jumpers - Top QwiicBus EndPoint Solder Jumpers - Bottom
QwiicBus MidPoint Solder Jumpers - Top QwiicBus MidPoint Solder Jumpers - Bottom
I C Pull-Up Jumper - EndPoint and MidPoint
This jumper connects the SDA and SCL lines to VDDA of the PCA9615 (normally 3.3V) via a pair of 4.7kΩ
resistors. The jumper's default state is CLOSED. To disable the pull-up resistors open the jumper by severing the
trace between the three pads.
Note: Each MidPoint will need its own set of pull-up resistors on the I C side of the PCA9615. We
recommend disabling any pull-up resistors on devices connected to the MidPoint's Qwiic connectors or the
SDA/SCL pins since if multiple devices have their pull-up resistors enabled, the parallel equivalent resistance
can create too strong of a pull-up for the bus to operate correctly.
Power (PWR) LED Jumper - EndPoint and MidPoint
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This jumper connects the Power LED's cathode to 3.3V via a 1kΩ resistor. The jumper is CLOSED by default.
Open the jumper by severing the trace between the two pads to disable the power LED on either QwiicBus board.
VDDA and GND Jumpers - EndPoint
The VDDA and GND jumpers connect VDDA (if the 0-1 jumper is closed) and Ground to the Green twisted pair on
the RJ-45 jacks and Ethernet cable. Their default state is CLOSED. If users do not need the Green pair for a
power input, these jumpers can be opened so that pair is avaiable for other data lines or redundant power
connections. Most users will want to leave these jumpers alone. If using the Green pair as an independent signal,
make sure the GND2 jumper on any MidPoints is OPEN.
0-1 Jumper - EndPoint
The 0-1 jumper nets VDDA and VDDB on the PCA9615 together. By default this jumper is CLOSED to power both
VDDA and VDDB with the same supply voltage (3.3V in the default power configuration). Open this jumper if using
two separate voltages for VDDA (VCC) and VDDB (VCC1). If using separate voltages, make sure they fall within
the voltage ranges for VDDA (2.3V-5.5V) and VDDB (3.0V-5.5V).
Heads Up! When using any of the alternate power configurations, the 0-1 jumper on the primary / first
EndPoint should be OPEN but the 0-1 jumper on the terminating / last should be CLOSED to avoid leaving
VDDB on the terminating EndPoint floating. Take note that with the 0-1 jumper CLOSED, 5V is sent to the
Qwiic connectors and 3.3V PTH pin on the terminating EndPoint.
Bypass (BP) Jumper - MidPoint
The Bypass jumper (labeled BP on the board) nets VCC1 with the 3.3V rail on the MidPoint. By default, this
jumper is CLOSED. When the QwiicBus system is powered at 3.3V, this jumper can remain closed but if the PSEL
jumper is adjusted to use anything over 3.3V to power the QwiicBus, this jumper must be OPEN.
Power Select (PSEL) Jumper - MidPoint
This dual jumper selects which voltage supplies the input voltage for the MidPoint buck regulator. The Power
Select jumper defaults to all open and the buck regulator is unpowered. In this default setting, power for each
EndPoint is 3.3V and provided over the Blue pair of the Ethernet cable from the microcontroller/SBC or dedicated
3.3V power supply.
If using the 5V power configuration, this jumper should be closed to set it to the "1" side. When set to "1", the
input voltage is still provided over the Blue pair of the Ethernet cable but at 5V.
If using the 3.8V-36V power configuration, close the jumper to set it to the "2" side. When set to "2", input voltage
is provided over the Green pair of the Ethernet cable.
Important! If either alternate setting of the PSEL Jumper is used, the Bypass Jumper must be OPEN.
GND1 and GND2 Jumpers - MidPoint
The GND1 and GND2 jumpers net both input voltages to a common ground. Both jumpers are CLOSED by
default. In advanced-use cases, users can open one or both of these jumpers to reduce noise and/or prevent
ground loops on QwiicBus boards further down the chain. Most users will want to leave these jumpers alone.
Board Dimensions

The QwiicBus EndPoint PCB measures identically to the Differential I C Breakout at 1.75in x 1.00in (44.45mm x
25.40mm). The MidPoint measures 1.80in x 1in (45.72mm x 25.40mm) and is flared to 1.10in (27.94mm) wide at
the RJ-45 end. The RJ-45 connectors extend roughly 0.30in (7.62mm)from the edge of the PCB on both boards.
Hardware Assembly
In this section we'll go over configuring your QwiicBus EndPoint and MidPoint as how to assemble the QwiicBus
circuit. Before we start connecting anything there are a couple of things to take note of.
Ethernet Cables
Make sure your Ethernet cables are straight-through (i.e. Pin 1 on one end of the cable is connected to Pin 1 on
the other end) and not crossover. Most Ethernet cables sold are straight-through so you probably have nothing to
worry about here. If you're not sure what type of Ethernet cable you have, you can test for pin continuity with a
digital multimeter.
Also take the voltage drop over the Ethernet cables into account. For longer chains or for circuits with many
devices on multiple MidPoints, consider using one of the alternate power configurations so the voltage drop is
negligible. The formula below can help you calculate the voltage drop at different lengths of CAT-6/Ethernet cable
and whether or not you will need to consider one of the alternate power options:
In this formula, I is the current through the object in Amperes and R is the resistance of the wires in Ohms. Most
CAT-6/Ethernet cable will have 24AWG internal wires and depending on the quality of the cable will be either
copper or aluminum. Refer to a table like this one from PowerStream to determine the resistance in Ω/1000ft or
Ω/km to help calculate the approximate voltage drop.
I C Pull-Up Resistors
Take time to note which devices you will have connected to your EndPoint and MidPoint's I C bus side have their
pull-up resistors enabled and what voltage they are tied to. Almost all Qwiic products have pull-up resistors
enabled by default that pull the SDA/SCL lines connected directly to the I C bus to 3.3V.
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The PCA9615 requires pull-up resistors on the two-wire I C bus so each EndPoint and MidPoint must have at
least one pair of pull-up resistors enabled on the two-wire side. The pull-up resistors do not translate through to the
differential side of the PCA9615. To help make things a bit simpler, each QwiicBus EndPoint and MidPoint come
with pull-up resistors on both SDA and SCL lines tied to VDDA. Normally, VDDA is 3.3V but can be as high as 5V
on the EndPoint depending on the power configuration settings.
Note: If multiple devices are connected and you have a single device with pull-up resistors, make sure the
voltage they are netted to is within the operating voltage range of all other I C devices on the bus (normally
3.3V for Qwiic devices). If needed, you can shift the voltage to safe levels with a level shifter or voltage
divider. If you're not familiar with logic levels and how to shift them, take a read through this tutorial.
Power Configuration Settings
As we mentioned in the Hardware Overview section of this guide, both QwiicBus boards feature a plethora of
jumpers as well as two pairs of dedicated power PTH pins to configure how to power your QwiicBus circuit. Let's
take a closer look at the three options available for powering the QwiicBus.
Important! When using alternate power configurations make sure to double check the jumpers on all
EndPoints and MidPoints on your QwiicBus are set properly per the instructions below. Any QwiicBus boards
or other Qwiic devices on your bus can be damaged if the circuit is assembled improperly.
Default - Entire System at 3.3V
In this configuration, the entire system is powered at 3.3V and the buck regulator(s) on the MidPoint(s) are
unpowered. On the MidPoint(s), the Bypass jumper is CLOSED and both sides of the PSEL jumper are OPEN.
3.3V is provided either from your development board or single-board computer through the Qwiic connector or the
3.3V pin on the primary EndPoint.
Take note, in this configuration where all power is provided over the CAT-6/Ethernet cables, your total current draw
will for attached devices will be limited to ~550mA with standard CAT-6/Ethernet cables due to the physical
constraints of the wires inside. Anything beyond 550mA runs the risk of damaging the wires and can create a fire
hazard.
The 3.3V supply voltage is then transferred from the initial EndPoint over the CAT-6/Ethernet cables in your
QwiicBus system. Note that over long lengths of wire, you will see voltage drop and devices further down your
QwiicBus chain may misbehave if the voltage drops below their operating range. Refer to the formula and links in
the Ethernet Cables subsection above for calculating the voltage drop in your circuit.
Alternate 1 - VCC1 at 5V
While the default 3.3V configuration should work just fine for shorter QwiicBus chains, we found the PCA9615
functions better when powered with 5V. Powering VCC1 with 5V also allows us to also use the buck regulator on
the MidPoint to source up to [email protected] to devices connected to the MidPoint. Using this configuration requires
adjusting both the EndPoint and MidPoint as well as multiple power supplies.
First and most importantly, the Bypass jumper on each MidPoint must be OPEN. On each MidPoint, adjust the
PSEL jumper to the "1" side (see image below).
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It is also strongly recommended to OPEN the 0-1 jumper on the primary / first EndPoint to isolate VCC (VDDA)
from VCC1 (VDDB) but leave the 0-1 jumper on the terminating EndPoint CLOSED. Leaving the 0-1 jumper
closed will send 5V to any Qwiic devices attached to your terminating / last EndPoint.
With the jumpers adjusted and your QwiicBus circuit assembled including any peripheral devices attached to your
MidPoint(s), connect your 5V source to the VCC1 and GND PTH pins on the primary EndPoint. If the 0-1 jumper is
opened, 3.3V should be provided over the Qwiic connectors or through the 3.3V PTH pin to power VCC (VDDA)
on the primary EndPoint.
Alternate 2 - VCC2 at 3.8V to 36V
For this configuration, we use two separate voltages to power the EndPoints and MidPoint(s). First and most
importantly, the Bypass jumper on each MidPoint must be OPEN. Adjust the PSEL jumper to the "2" position on
each MidPoint.

If you plan to power VCC1 with 5V it is recommended to OPEN the 0-1 jumper on the primary EndPoint to isolate
VCC from VCC1. As covered above, we recommend leaving the 0-1 jumper CLOSED on the terminating
EndPoint.
After adjusting the jumpers and assembling your QwiicBus circuit including any peripheral devices attached to your
MidPoint(s), connect 3.8V to 36V to the VCC2 and GND2 PTH pins on the primary EndPoint. 3.3V for the first
EndPoint should be provided from the microcontroller/SBC via the Qwiic connectors or a dedicated source through
the 3.3V PTH pin.
Alternate 3 - VCC1 at 5V and VCC2 at 6V to 36V
This advanced configuration uses multiple power supply to allow for optimal performance of the QwiicBus over
very long distances with multiple MidPoints. As mentioned above, we have found the QwiicBus operates best over
long distances at 5V (particularly VDDB @5V). In this configuration, VCC1 is powered with 5V and VCC2 is
powered with 6V-36V. Before connecting power supplies, a few jumpers must be adjusted.
First, the Bypass jumper on each MidPoint must be OPEN. Set the PSEL jumper on all MidPoints to the "2"
position. The 0-1 jumper on the primary EndPoint is OPEN and the 0-1 jumper on the terminating EndPoint is
CLOSED. This isolates VDDA and VDDB on the first EndPoint so the Qwiic connectors on the first EndPoint are at
3.3V. As we mentioned before, the Qwiic connectors and 3.3V PTH pin on the terminating EndPoint will be at 5V
so be careful what is connected to that EndPoint.
After adjusting jumpers on all the QwiicBus boards and assembling the rest of your circuit (including connecting
any Qwiic devices to MidPoints/EndPoints), connect the 5V power supply to the VCC1 and GND PTH pins and the
power supply sourcing 6V to 36V to the VCC2 and GND2 PTH pins to the primary EndPoint.
Assembling the QwiicBus Circuit
Important! Make sure your QwiicBus circuit is not powered when adding or removing devices to your
MidPoint(s) and EndPoint. Connecting and disconnecting devices while your QwiicBus is powered can cause
voltage spikes and damage the PCA9615.
After taking into consideration how you intend to configure your QwiicBus circuit it's time to assemble it. Adjust the
appropriate jumpers (if necessary), connect any Qwiic/I C devices to the EndPoints and MidPoint(s) and connect
the QwiicBus boards to each other with Ethernet cable plugged into the RJ-45 connectors on each board. Once
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the devices are all connected together, power up the circuit. The photo below shows the QwiicBus assembled in
the default configuration (all boards powered with 3.3V) so your circuit may differ.
A completed QwiicBus Kit circuit using a SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic and operating at 3.3V
With everything adjusted and connected properly, that's all you need to assemble your QwiicBus circuit. Go forth
and build ridiculously long, wired I C circuits to your heart's content!
Troubleshooting
Here a few troubleshooting tips for the SparkFun QwiicBus.
I C Communication
The PCA9615 supports I C clock speeds up to 1MHz at short distances but as the cable length increases, high
clock speeds can become more unreliable. If you find you are losing data or having unreliable communication on
your QwiicBus, try reducing the clock speed as a quick software fix. Switching to one of the alternate power
configurations can also help boost the reliability over long distances at high clock speeds.
Voltage Drop
Over long distances of cable the voltage may drop below the operating voltage range of the PCA9615 or attached
devices. The formula below can help you calculate the voltage drop at different lengths of CAT-5/Ethernet cable
and whether or not you will need to use one of the alternate power options:
I is the current through the object in Amperes and R is the resistance of the wires in Ohms. Most CAT-5/Ethernet
cable will have 24AWG internal wires and depending on the quality of the cable will be either copper or aluminum.
Refer to a table like this one from PowerStream to determine the resistance in Ω/1000ft or Ω/km to help calculate
the approximate voltage drop over your QwiicBus circuit.
Recommended Power-Up/Power-Down Procedure
Remember to power down the QwiicBus circuit before connecting or disconnecting any devices to the chain.
Connecting or disconnecting devices to the QwiicBus can damage the PCA9615 on the QwiicBus boards if it is
powered on.
Floating VDDB on the Terminating EndPoint
Reminder, when using any of the alternate power configurations, the 0-1 jumper on the primary / first EndPoint
should be OPEN but the 0-1 jumper on the terminating / last should be CLOSED to avoid leaving VDDB on the
terminating EndPoint floating. Take note that with the 0-1 jumper CLOSED, 5V is sent to the Qwiic connectors and
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3.3V PTH pin on the terminating EndPoint.
General Troubleshooting
Need help?
If your product is not working as you expected or you need technical assistance or information, head on over
to the SparkFun Technical Assistance page for some initial troubleshooting.
If you don't find what you need there, the SparkFun Forums are a great place to find and ask for help from
our Tech Support team and communicty. If this is your first visit, you'll need to create a Forum Account to
search product forums and post questions.
Resources and Going Further
Now that you have your QwiicBus set up and configured to your liking, it's time to start creating some I C device
networks! For more information, take a look at the following links:
QwiicBus EndPoint Links
Schematic (PDF)
Eagle Files (ZIP)
Dimensional Drawing (PNG)
PCA9615 Datasheet (PDF)
Hardware GitHub Repository
QwiicBus MidPoint Links
Schematic (PDF)
Eagle Files (ZIP)
Dimensional Drawing (PNG)
LMR33630 Datasheet (PDF)
Hardware GitHub Repository
For inspiration for your I C project using the QwiicBus, check out the following tutorials:
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2
AS726X NIR/VIS Spectral Sensor Hookup
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It's now easier than ever to measure and characterize
how different materials absorb and reflect different
wavelengths of light. The AS726X spectral sensors
allow you to detect wavelengths in the visible range
(VIS) and near infrared range (NIR)!
Qwiic MP3 Trigger Hookup Guide
Playing MP3s has never been easier.

Qwiic pHAT for Raspberry Pi Hookup Guide
Get started interfacing your Qwiic enabled boards with
your Raspberry Pi. The Qwiic pHAT connects the I2C
bus (GND, 3.3V, SDA, and SCL) on your Raspberry Pi
to an array of Qwiic connectors.
SparkFun Qwiic MicroPressure Hookup Guide
Get started using your Qwiic MicroPressure breakout
board with this hookup guide.