Adafruit Push-button Power Switch Breakout

The Adafruit Push-button Power Switch is a compact and efficient design that allows you to control a DC power source with a simple tactile button. This breakout board utilizes a latching analog circuit triggered by a button press. Press once to turn the power on, and press again to turn it off. The circuit features a 3A P-FET to connect and disconnect the IN pin from the OUT pin. It operates from 3V to 14VDC, handling up to 3A (although continuous 3A draw may cause the FET to heat up), and has a very low quiescent current draw of just 0.5uA.

To use the board, connect the power source to Ground and IN, and connect the load from Ground to OUT. A 12mm tactile switch is included, but you can also solder your own switch if preferred. Press the button (or short the button pins) to toggle the power on and off. A red onboard LED lights up when active, providing a visual indication. Additionally, there's a KILL pin that allows you to turn off the load or keep it off even if the button is pressed. Applying 1 or more volts to the KILL pin will instantly turn off the FET, enabling your project to turn itself off.

The board comes fully assembled and tested, with a breadboard-friendly design and four mounting holes. It also includes a 12mm tactile button and 0.1" male header pins for easy soldering and breadboard integration.

Key notes:

• This power switch is suitable for 3-14V DC voltages.
• It's not a mechanical switch, so it doesn’t provide air-gap isolation.
• The pass FET includes a 'body diode,' which can allow current to flow back from the load if its voltage exceeds the input voltage.
• Built-in debouncing helps reduce switch bounce, though very bouncy switches can cause rapid toggling instead of proper latching.

Revision History:

• As of July 29th, 2024 – we've updated this PCB with Adafruit Pinguin to make a lovely and legible silkscreen - you may get the new PCB or the older version with vector fonts - both are identical other than the fancy silkscreen.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 20.51mm x 17.75mm x 2.66mm
• Height with Switch: 8.69mm
• Weight: 2.6g