How to Use MCP4725 12 Bit Digital to Analog Converter Using Arduino

In this tutorial we will learn how to use MCP4725 12Bit Digital to Analog Converter with Arduino and Visuino to generate Square, Sine and Triangle waves.

Watch the Video!

Step 1: What You Will Need

 

  • Arduino UNO or ESP32 (Or any other Board)
  • MCP4725 module
  • To do the test experiment:
  • 1k ohm resistor
  • LED
  • Jumper wires
  • Breadboard
  • Oscilloscope (Optional)
  • Visuino program

Step 2: Brought by PCBWay

Thank you PCBWay for supporting this tutorial and helping users learn more about electronics.

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Step 3: The Circuit

 

  • Connect Arduino pin [5V] to breadboard positive pin [Red line]
  • Connect Arduino pin [GND] to breadboard negative pin [Black line]
  • Connect MCP4725 pin [Out] to 1K ohm Resistor on the breadboard
  • Connect other side of the Resistor to the LED pin [positive +]
  • Connect LED pin [negative – ] to the breadboard negative pin [Black line]
  • Connect MCP4725pin [SCL] to Arduino pin [SCL]
  • Connect MCP4725 pin [SDA] to Arduino pin [SDA]
  • Connect MCP4725pin [VCC] to breadboard positive pin [Red line]
  • Connect MCP4725pin [GND] to breadboard positive pin [Black line]
  • Connect Oscilloscope Signal probe to MCP4725 pin [Out]
  • Connect Oscilloscope Ground probe to breadboard positive pin [Black line]

Step 4: Start Visuino, and Select the Arduino UNO Board Type

The Visuino: https://www.visuino.com also needs to be installed. Download Free version or register for a Free Trial.

Start Visuino as shown in the first picture Click on the “Tools” button on the Arduino component (Picture 1) in Visuino When the dialog appears, select “Arduino UNO” as shown on Picture 2

Step 5: Generate Square Waves – in Visuino Add & Set Components

  • Add “Microchip I2C Digital To Analog Converter (DAC) – MCP4725” component
  • Add “Square Analog Generator” component
  • Connect “SquareAnalogGenerator1” pin [Out] to “DAC1” pin [In]
  • Connect “DAC1” pin I2C [Out] to the Arduino Board pin I2C [In]
  • Upload the Project to the Board, see the “Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code” Step on how to upload the project

Step 6: Generate Sine Waves – in Visuino Add & Set Components

  • Add “Microchip I2C Digital To Analog Converter (DAC) – MCP4725” component
  • Add “Sine Analog Generator” component
  • Set the “Frequency” in the Properties window to 0.2
  • Connect “SineAnalogGenerator1” pin [Out] to “DAC1” pin [In]
  • Connect “DAC1” pin I2C [Out] to the Arduino Board pin I2C [In]
  • Upload the Project to the Board, see the “Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code” Step on how to upload the project

Step 7: Generate Triangle Waves – in Visuino Add & Set Components

  • Add “Microchip I2C Digital To Analog Converter (DAC) – MCP4725” component
  • Add “Triangle Analog Generator” component
  • [Optional] Set the “Frequency” in the Properties window
  • Connect “TriangleAnalogGenerator1” pin [Out] to “DAC1” pin [In]
  • Connect “DAC1” pin I2C [Out] to the Arduino Board pin I2C [In]
  • Upload the Project to the Board, see the “Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code” Step on how to upload the project

Step 8: Generate Digital Pulses – in Visuino Add & Set Components

  • In this Example we are going to convert digital pulses from “Pulse Generator” component to Analog Signal using a “Digital To Analog” component
  • Add “Microchip I2C Digital To Analog Converter (DAC) – MCP4725” component
  • Add “Pulse Generator” component
  • [Optional] Set the “Frequency” in the Properties window
  • Add “Digital To Analog” component
  • [Optional] Set the “True” or “False” values in the Properties window
  • Connect “PulseGenerator1” pin [Out] to “DigitalToAnalog1” pin [In]
  • Connect “DigitalToAnalog1” pin [Out] to “DAC1” pin [In]
  • Connect “DAC1” pin I2C [Out] to the Arduino Board pin I2C [In]
  • Upload the Project to the Board, see the “Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code” Step on how to upload the project

Step 9: Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

 

In Visuino, at the bottom click on the “Build” Tab, make sure the correct port is selected, then click on the “Compile/Build and Upload” button.

Step 10: Play

If you power the Board LED will Blink and if you are using an oscilloscope you should see the signal from the MCP4725 module. There are many ways to use this module this was just a quick simple introduction to get started.

Congratulations! You have completed your project with Visuino. Also attached is the Visuino project, that I created for this Instructable, you can download it here and open it in Visuino

Download MCP4725.zip