SparkFun Shift Register Breakout - 74HC595

The SparkFun Shift Register Breakout - 74HC595 is a highly functional breakout for the SOIC version of the 74HC595 shift register IC. It allows you to clock in data and latch it, thereby freeing up IO pins on your micro. All pins from the IC are broken out to standard 2.54mm spaced headers. The Serial in and out pins are conveniently located on opposite sides of the board, with the remaining pins carried over. This enables multiple shift register boards to be chained together seamlessly.

The SparkFun Shift Register Breakout - 74HC595 is ideal for projects that require a large number of inputs or outputs, such as LED matrices or seven-segment displays. It's also perfect for applications that need to control a large number of outputs with a limited number of IO pins. This breakout board simplifies the process of chaining multiple shift registers together by providing all the necessary connections and keeping everything compact and easy to use.

One of the key benefits of the SparkFun Shift Register Breakout - 74HC595 is its ability to free up IO pins on your micro. This means you can use those pins for other tasks or components in your project, making your designs more efficient and versatile. Additionally, the standard 2.54mm spaced headers make it easy to connect this breakout to other components or boards.

The unique feature of this product is the arrangement of the Serial in and out pins on opposite sides of the board. This not only makes it easier to use but also allows for multiple shift register boards to be chained together. This means you can significantly expand the number of inputs or outputs in your project without needing to use more IO pins on your micro.

Documentation for the SparkFun Shift Register Breakout - 74HC595, including the schematic, Eagle files, shift register tutorial, datasheet, and 7-segment library, is readily available. The design files can also be accessed on GitHub.