# Pimoroni RGB Potentiometer Breakout

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** PIM523 · **Brand:** [Pimoroni](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pimoroni-australia) · **GTIN:** 769894016374
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-rgb-potentiometer-breakout.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-rgb-potentiometer-breakout.html.md))

Add a colourful light-up dial and turn your Raspberry Pi project up to 11!

## Pricing

- **Price:** $22.25 (inc GST) — $20.23 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $19.42 (exc GST) · 25+ $18.81 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- In stock, ships same business day if ordered before 2PM (Australia/Sydney).
- We can dispatch 2 today; more stock is typically available with a 7–12 day lead time.

## Description

This I2C breakout uses its clever Nuvoton microcontroller to help you easily incorporate a digital linear potentiometer into your project. You can directly control the RGB LED inside the pot - meaning it's great for using as an input device which can also show you a colour coded visual status (like a thermostat, or volume control).

Potentiometers have a limited range of motion and are good for dials that benefit from having a set start and end point - if you'd prefer one that can spin round continuously, Pimoroni also makes a [RGB Encoder Breakout!](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-rgb-encoder-breakout.html)

You can attach it to your Pi's GPIO directly or via a breadboard with the included headers, but it's also compatible with Pimoroni's fancy solderless [Breakout Garden](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-breakout-garden-hat-i2c-spi.html), which makes it easy to use several different breakouts at the same time.

**Features**

- [Nuvoton MS51 microcontroller](https://www.nuvoton.com/products/microcontrollers/8bit-8051-mcus/industrial-8051-series/ms51xb9ae/?__locale=en) with built-in 12-bit Analog to Digital Converter ([datasheet ](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/DS_MS51_16KBFlash_Series_EN_Rev1_12226d2564a.pdf)/ [Technical Reference Manual](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/TRM_MS51_16KBFlash_Series_EN_Rev1_38478c78a8b.pdf))
- Rotary encoder ([datashee](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/EC12PVF-D-15F-24-24C-03-6H_SPEC_33064fd917e.pdf)t / [drawing](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/EC12PVF-D-15F-24-24C-03-6H_974009d4a67.pdf))
- RGB LED (controllable by PWM)
- I2C interface, with a default address of 0x0E
- 3V to 5V compatible
- Reverse polarity protection
- Raspberry Pi-compatible pinout (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
- Compatible with all models of Raspberry Pi.
- [Python library](https://github.com/pimoroni/ioe-python)

**Kit includes**

- RGB Encoder Breakout (pre-assembled)
- 1x5 straight male header
- 1x5 right angle female header
- Pimoroni has designed this breakout board so that you can solder on the piece of right angle female header and pop it straight onto the bottom left 5 pins on your Raspberry Pi's GPIO header (pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9).

**Software**

RGB Encoder Breakout uses the same [Python library](https://github.com/pimoroni/ioe-python) as the [IO Expander Breakout - this example](https://wholesale.pimoroni.com/products/io-expander) shows you how to read the encoder and control the lights.

**Notes**

- The default I2C address is 0x18, but it's possible to change this in software if you'd like to use multiple IO Expanders, or avoid conflicts with other I2C devices. The new address will be saved in flash memory, so will persist if unpowered.
- This board uses a Nuvoton MCU with our custom firmware but if you're brave and hackerly, you can substitute your own firmware to change the way this board works and have a super cheap and capable microcontroller (though this is not for the faint of heart!)
- Dimensions: approx 26x24.5x12mm (LxWxH)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/r/o/rotarypot_1of2_large.jpg)