Adafruit MOSFET Driver - For Motors, Solenoids, LEDs, etc

Sparky the Blue Smoke Monster emerges when the magic smoke escapes electronic components. His favorite occurrence is during initial attempts in electronics and robotics, particularly when enthusiasts make the error of directly connecting high-current devices like motors or LEDs to a microcontroller's GPIO pin.

These components require a transistor or MOSFET driver, alongside a kickback-protection diode to handle the inductive 'kick'. Without them, circuits can quickly go up in smoke. Our tutorials guide you through creating a transistor driver on a breadboard, but the complexity can lead to mistakes.

Enter the Adafruit STEMMA MOSFET Driver, designed for motors, solenoids, and LEDs. This board offers a solderless, plug-and-play experience with a JST PH input connector, accommodating a range from 3V to 30V. Featuring an AO3406 N-Channel MOSFET and a 1N4007 flyback diode, it efficiently manages devices drawing up to 1.5 Amps continuously.

Whether used to drive motors, high-power LEDs, or single-color LED strips, this solution makes high-current connections easy and reliable without needing extra breadboards. It not only simplifies the process but also minimizes errors, making it a powerful tool for simplifying your tinkering adventures.