SparkFun ESP32 Thing Power Control Shield

• Enables the ESP32 Thing to switch up to 5A of a DC load
• Providing a wide variety of options to control your next project
• Power can be connected to this shield in one of two ways
• Supply voltage is regulated down to 5V

The SparkFun ESP32 Thing Power Control Shield enables the ESP32 Thing to switch up to 5A of a DC load, providing a wide variety of options to control your next project! With a default voltage range of 5–28VDC, power can be connected to this shield in one of two ways. The first is the barrel connector, but with a maximum current rating of 2.5A (designed for light loads). The second option is on the 3-pin screw terminal, which has connections for VCC, ground and a 5V output. The supply voltage is regulated down to 5V to power the ESP32 Thing, as well as a fan to keep the board cool under heavy loads.

At the heart of the board are three MC33926 motor drivers by NXP Semiconductors. While the board is theoretically capable of switching up to 30A total, the power traces in the board and connectors have only been tested up to 10A total across the six output pins. Along with switching DC loads on and off, the MC33926 has three built-in current sensors, which are connected to output pins 2, 4 and 6. Each of the current sensors is connected to an LMV358 operational amplifier to adjust the gain of each current measurement.