MCP4725
Public Unreviewedby Ray
Microchip 12-bit I2C DAC with EEPROM, SOT-23-6. Buffered voltage output, 2.7-5.5 V. Datasheet-verified.
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markdownMCP4725
Microchip Technology · 12-bit I2C DAC · SOT-23-6
12-bit single-channel, buffered voltage-output digital-to-analog converter with non-volatile EEPROM and an I2C interface, in a SOT-23-6 package. The EEPROM stores the DAC code and configuration so the output returns to a set value on power-up, no MCU write needed. The rail-to-rail buffered output swings 0 to VDD from a 2.7 to 5.5 V supply, and an address pin plus I2C give multiple devices on a bus. The default way to add a real analog output to an MCU that only has PWM.
Pinout
| Pin | Name | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VOUT | output | Analog DAC output. Buffered rail-to-rail voltage output from the internal 12-bit resistor-string DAC (0V to VDD). Can drive resistive loads down to 5 kOhm and up to 1000 pF capacitive load; short-circuit current ~15-24 mA (VDD=5V). |
| 2 | VSS | power_in | Ground reference for the device. Analog and digital ground return; all signals are referenced to VSS. |
| 3 | VDD | power_in | Positive supply voltage input, 2.7V to 5.5V (abs max 6.5V). Also serves as the DAC voltage reference (VREF = VDD), so it must be clean and well-decoupled for accurate DAC performance. Typical IDD 210 uA. |
| 4 | SDA | bidirectional | I2C serial data line. Open-drain, requires external pull-up to VDD. Supports Standard (100 kbps), Fast (400 kbps), and High-Speed (3.4 Mbps) modes. VIH >= 0.7VDD, VIL <= 0.3VDD; VOL <= 0.4V at IOL = 3 mA. |
| 5 | SCL | input | I2C serial clock input. Open-drain bus line driven by the I2C master; requires external pull-up to VDD. VIH >= 0.7VDD, VIL <= 0.3VDD. |
| 6 | A0 | input | External I2C address selection bit. Tie to VSS or VDD to select one of two hardwired addresses (combined with the 3 factory-programmed address bits, up to eight MCP4725 devices can share the bus). VIH >= 0.8VDD, VIL <= 0.2VDD; input leakage +/-1 uA. |
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | 12-bit voltage-output DAC |
| Channels | 1 (buffered, rail-to-rail) |
| Interface | I2C (standard / fast / high-speed) |
| Non-volatile | EEPROM (stores code + config) |
| Output range | 0 to VDD |
| Supply voltage | 2.7-5.5 V |
| Package | SOT-23-6 |
| Body (L×W×H) | 2.9 × 1.6 × 1.1 mm |
Ordering variants
Same part, different packaging or reel option.
MCP4725A0T-E/CH (SOT-23-6, tape & reel)
CAD (KiCad official)
- Symbol:
Analog_DAC:MCP4725xxx-xCH - Footprint:
Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-6 - 3D model: SOT-23-6 (KiCad packages3D)
Provenance
Data extracted from the manufacturer datasheet, not a distributor listing:
- Datasheet: Microchip Technology datasheet (50 pp, sha256
746d95dfdaaf0a9d, retrieved 2026-08-17, tier: manufacturer) - Extractor:
ds2sf(Claude) — every pin and dimension is cited to a datasheet page; refuses to fabricate. - CAD: KiCad official libraries (CC-BY-SA 4.0).