Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640

This module enables galvanically isolated (electrically isolated), bidirectional communication between two I²C devices. This isolation means current cannot flow from one side to the other, and incorrect connections or bad voltages on one side cannot propagate through to damage the device connected to other side. The module is based on the TI ISO1640B, which supports bidirectional data transfer up to 1.7 MHz. See the ISO1640BDR datasheet for more information.

Pololu I²C Isolator with Connectors, ISO1640, connected with 4-pin JST SH-style cables (not included).

Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640, on a breadboard (version without connectors shown, headers not included).

This module is available with JST SH-style 4-pin connectors that are compatible with Qwiic and Stemma QT or without connectors, as shown on the right above, for more compact installations (cables and male headers are not included).

Details for item #5390

This is the version without connectors; connections are made via through-holes that are spaced with a 0.1″ (2.54 mm) pitch and compatible with 0.1″ male headers and solderless breadboards.

Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640.

Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640, with dimensions and a US quarter for size reference (version without connectors shown).

Using the module

Pinout of the Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640 (top and bottom views of version without connectors).

Each side must be powered separately: 3 V to 5.5 V should be supplied across VCC1 and GND1, and 2.25 V to 5.5 V should be supplied across VCC2 and GND2. The two sides are galvanically isolated (GND1 is NOT connected to GND2).

SDA1 and SCL1 connect to the I²C data and clock signals of one device while SDA2 and SCL2 connect to the I²C data and clock signals of the other. Both the SDA and SCL connections are bidirectional, which allows for clock stretching. There are 10k pull-up resistors from SDA1 and SCL1 to VCC1 and from SDA2 and SCL2 to VCC2; for high-speed communication, external pull-up resistors can be added in parallel as necessary to make the pull-ups stronger.

Schematic diagram of the Pololu I²C Isolator, ISO1640.

Note: The two sides of the ISO1640 have different logic thresholds. In particular, SDA1 and SCL1 will only drive as low as 0.5 V to 0.7 V when the corresponding SDA2 or SCL2 are driven low, so it is important to ensure that the device connected to side 1 will recognize 0.7 V as low. In the other direction, SDA2 and SCL2 will drive to between 0 V and 0.4 V when SDA1 and SCL1 are driven low. See the ISO1640 datasheet for more information.

Isolation/clearance considerations

Although the ISO1640 IC has an isolation rating of up to 3 kV_RMS, please note that the board is made to be compact, and the tightest clearance (2 mm) is smaller than the 4 mm clearance of the IC package. The picture below shows the regions of tightest clearance (the larger pads are just structural pads for the connectors and are not electrically connected to anything):

The tightest clearance on the Pololu I²C Isolator ISO1640 is between these sets of pads, which are 2 mm apart.