This is the third post in a series detailing our experience over the past two years installing and operating a 305 kW array of 630 solar panels on our building in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the previous posts:

• Part 1: background starting in late 2022 and how we committed to the $650,000 project by the beginning of January 2023, with a target completion date of May 31, 2023.
• Part 2: installation from January 2023 through first day of operation on October 5, 2023.

I left off with our first look at the SolarEdge monitoring site on October 5, 2023. It’s nice to see nearly real-time generation results and status. The SolarEdge P1101 optimizers connect to pairs of solar panels, so that is the resolution we can see in the array. Here is a close-up as I write this at 10AM on October 31, 2024, with a section affected by the shadow from an air conditioner circled:

SolarEdge monitoring site solar panel array close-up at 10AM on October 31, 2024.

The 1.0.72 pair of panels and 1.0.19 pair of panels at around 130 Wh so far today have generated only about half as much as the nearby panels not affected by the shadows. Continued…

This is the second post in a series detailing our experience over the past two years installing and operating a 305 kW rooftop solar system on our building in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the first post, I covered some of the background starting in late 2022 and how we committed to the $650,000 project by the beginning of January 2023, with a target completion date of May 31, 2023. This post covers how the actual installation went. Continued…

We just released the new D45V1ExFx line of small voltage regulators that can efficiently deliver up to 100 mA from input voltages up to 65 V. The small size, high efficiency, and wide input voltage range make these especially worth considering for low-power projects involving wildly fluctuating sources such as solar panels (you can see from my post yesterday that I have had solar on my mind lately) and other energy harvesting technologies. You might also just want the peace of mind of having the extra input voltage margin on something like a 24 V project that might have occasional spikes from something electrically noisy also being supplied by the same line. Or you might just have a few of these around for their small size and high efficiency at low currents.

Typical efficiency of the Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1ExF5.

(The 70-90% efficiency by itself is not particularly notable, but that efficiency is maintained to output currents of a few mA, which is kind of special.)

We are offering basically the same regulator circuit in two form factors. The D45V1E1Fx family has components on both sides of the PCB and measures just 0.3″ × 0.5″, making them our smallest step-down regulators.

D45V1E1Fx step-down voltage regulator basic dimensions with US quarter for size reference.

The larger D45V1E2Fx versions take up twice the area at 0.5″ × 0.6″, but they are thinner and, more importantly, offer two extra pins, including a precision enable input that can be used to set a cutoff voltage.

D45V1E2Fx step-down voltage regulator pinout.

We have a 1 MΩ pull-up resistor on the enable input, which means that if you pull that line low, you will lose about 1 μA per volt on your input. At higher input voltages, this current is higher than the quiescent (no-load) current the regulator consumes, so if you are just powering a microcontroller with a low idle or sleep current, you might be better off just using those low-power states to save energy, but if your load continuously draws more current, the shutdown feature could help prevent over-discharging your battery.

As with our other electronics products, we make these at our Las Vegas, Nevada headquarters, so we can quickly customize them for other output voltages besides our stock versions of 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V (depending on the customization, we can usually do custom production runs for setup fees starting around $250).

Introductory special discount! Try some out for only $3.33 each using our introductory special coupon, D45V1EXINTRO (limit 3 per version)!

Related products

	12V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E2F12
	5V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E2F5
	3.3V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E2F3
	12V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E1F12
	5V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E1F5
	3.3V, 100mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D45V1E1F3

October 2024 marked one year of operation of our 305 kW rooftop solar power generation system. In this series of posts, I will reflect on our installation and operation experience over the past two years to try to assess whether it was worth it. This first post covers some background leading up to the project and the overall system design. I will detail the installation process, the first full year of operation, and the production and financial results in subsequent posts. Continued…

We are pleased to announce that Pololu is now an authorized Dobot distributor, and our first offering from their catalog is a robot arm that we are especially excited about: the Dobot MG400 Desktop Cobot Robotic Arm. The Dobot MG400 is a departure from products typically available from Pololu. While the 8 kg (17 lb) unit is small for the collaborative robot world, it is much larger than typical Pololu products, and the cost is correspondingly higher as well. However, the price is still very competitive for what the robot arm offers, as the high ±0.05 mm positional repeatability, collision detection, and drag-to-teach ability make this cobot a compelling option for serious automation applications. With a footprint of 19 cm (7.5 in) square, the small size and low cost also make the Dobot MG400 accessible to many education and research applications that need more than a toy or hobby product. The following video shows off some of the arm’s features:

The Dobot MG400 has a maximum reach of 44 cm and can rotate through 320°, and it can lift payloads up to 500 g (18 oz). Dobot makes a sliding track module that substantially expands the operating envelope of this robot and a vision system, which are also available through Pololu (product pages for those are coming soon).

Motion range of the Dobot MG400 Desktop Cobot Robotic Arm, profile view.

Motion range of the Dobot MG400 Desktop Cobot Robotic Arm, top view.

The picture below shows all of the accessories included with the MG400:

Accessories included with the Dobot MG400 Desktop Cobot Robotic Arm.

Please note that this arm does not include any grippers, but it does include a general-purpose flange for mounting end effectors that can be purchased separately from Dobot or other suppliers, or you can 3D print your own. A suction nozzle is included, but it requires an external air supply (compressor not included) to function.

The MG400 can be programmed a variety of ways, including through drag-to-teach positioning, a graphical programming interface, and Lua scripting. The controller in the base has plenty of I/O that makes it easy to integrate the robot into a bigger system.

The pictures below show example MG400 applications with custom 3D-printed electromagnet end effectors used to manipulate Micro Metal Gearmotors for packaging and testing.

Related products

Dobot MG400 Desktop Cobot Robotic Arm

We are excited to introduce our new series of stepper motor drivers based on the Allegro A5984 that offer an easy way to control bipolar stepper motors from supply voltages between 8 V and 40 V (absolute max). It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since we introduced the original A4983 stepper motor driver carrier in the small 16-pin form factor that would become ubiquitous for stepper motor drivers. We updated the product in 2011 when Allegro released the newer A4988, but since then we have released boards for stepper motor drivers from other semiconductor manufacturers, including Texas Instruments (most notably the DRV8825, and DRV8834, and more recently the DRV8434 series), Monolithic Power Systems (MP6500), STMicroelectronics (STSPIN820 and STSPIN220), and Toshiba (TB67S249FTG and TB67S279FTG). The new Allegro A5984 carriers, which can be used as drop-in replacements for the A4983/A4988 in many applications, bring us full circle with those original drivers, and with support from Allegro, we are able to offer them at extra low prices.

Minimal wiring diagram for connecting a microcontroller to an A4988 stepper motor driver carrier (full-step mode).

Minimal wiring diagram for connecting a microcontroller to an A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Adjustable Current, Blue Edition.

As with our other stepper driver products, we are offering the A5984 carriers with small trimmer potentiometers for setting the current limit. However, these can be a little fiddly to work with, so we are also offering several fixed-current versions for cases where you just want a particular set point without having to tune each board (for volume applications, we can do custom production runs with whatever set point you need). We also have two PCB options—a standard 2-layer version that is most economical for lower-current applications, and a 4-layer “Blue Edition” for maximum performance that can deliver up to 1.2 A continuous per phase (heat sinks and active air flow can bump that higher). The following table shows all the options:

	Adjustable Current, Blue Edition	Adjustable Current	Fixed 1.5A@5V / 1A@3.3V, Blue Edition	Fixed 1A@5V / 660mA@3.3V, Blue Edition	Fixed 750mA@5V / 500mA@3.3V	Fixed 500A@5V / 330mA@3.3V
Current limit (VDD = 5 V):	adjustable (potentiometer) 1.2 A max continuous 2 A peak*	adjustable (potentiometer) 1 A max continuous 2 A peak*	1.5 A*	1 A	750 mA	500 mA
Current limit (VDD = 3.3 V):			1 A	660 mA	500 mA	330 mA
Available versions:	no header pins headers soldered	no header pins headers soldered	no header pins headers soldered	no header pins headers soldered	no header pins headers soldered	no header pins headers soldered
PCB layers:	4	2	4	4	2	2
Price without header pins:	$3.97	$3.75	$3.75	$3.75	$3.49	$3.49
Price w/headers soldered:	$4.97	$4.75	$4.75	$4.75	$4.49	$4.49
* This current exceeds what the module can deliver continuously and is only achievable for short durations or with sufficient additional cooling (e.g. adding heat sinks or active air flow).

Compared to those original A4988s, the A5984 carriers offer a number of improvements, including a higher maximum operating voltage, more microstep options and higher-resistance current sense resistors for improved microstepping performance, a fault output for reporting over-current faults, and an adaptive decay current control algorithm that automatically adjust the amount of fast decay to optimize the motor current waveform.

Introductory special discount! To celebrate the release of the A5984 carriers, the first hundred customers to use coupon code A5984INTRO can 15% off up to five units of each!

The following tables show our full selection of 16-pin stepper motor drivers:

	STSPIN­220	DRV8834	A4988 (original)	A4988, Black Ed.	MP6500, Pot. CC	MP6500, Digital CC	A5984	A5984, Blue Ed.
Driver chip:	STMicro STSPIN­220	TI DRV8834	Allegro A4988		MPS MP6500		Allegro A5984
Min operating voltage:	1.8 V	2.5 V	8 V		4.5 V		8 V
Max operating voltage:	10 V	10.8 V	35 V		35 V		40 V
Max continuous current per phase:(1)	1.1 A	1.5 A	1 A	1.2 A	1.5 A		1 A	1.2 A
Peak current per phase:(2)	1.3 A	2 A	2 A		2.5 A	2 A	2 A
Microstepping down to:	1/256	1/32	1/16		1/8		1/32
Board layer count:	4	4	2	4	4		2	4
Special features:	low input voltage	low input voltage				digital current control	versions also available with fixed current limits
Available with headers soldered?:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1-piece price:	$7.95	$7.95	$4.49	$4.95	$6.95	$6.95	$3.75	$3.97
1 On Pololu carrier board, at room temperature, and without additional cooling. 2 Maximum theoretical current based on components on the board (additional cooling required).

	STSPIN­820	DRV8825	TB67S279­FTG	TB67S249­FTG	DRV8434	DRV8434A	DRV8434S, Pot. Max.	DRV8434S, 2A Max.
Driver chip:	STMicro STSPIN­820	TI DRV8825	Toshiba TB67S279­FTG	Toshiba TB67S249­FTG	TI DRV8434	TI DRV8434A	TI DRV8434S
Min operating voltage:	7 V	8.2 V	10 V	10 V	4.5 V	4.5 V	4.5 V
Max operating voltage:	45 V	45 V	47 V	47 V	48 V(3)	48 V(3)	48 V(3)
Max continuous current per phase:(1)	0.9 A	1.5 A	1.1 A	1.6 A	1.2 A	1.2 A	1.2 A
Peak current per phase:(2)	1.5 A	2.2 A	2 A	4.5 A	2 A	2 A	2 A
Microstepping down to:	1/256	1/32	1/32	1/32	1/256	1/256	1/256
Board layer count:	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Special features:			Auto Gain Control, ADMD	Auto Gain Control, ADMD	6 decay modes with 2 smart tune options	Stall detect, smart tune ripple control decay	SPI control, stall detect, 8 decay mode options
Available with headers soldered?:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1-piece price:	$14.95	$12.95	$10.75	$12.95	$9.95	$12.95	$12.95	$12.95
1 On Pololu carrier board, at room temperature, and without additional cooling. 2 Maximum theoretical current based on components on the board (additional cooling required). 3 Not recommended for use with 48V batteries, which can be well above nominal when fully charged.

Related products

	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Adjustable Current, Blue Edition
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Adjustable Current, Blue Edition (Soldered Header Pins)
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Adjustable Current
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Adjustable Current (Soldered Header Pins)
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 1.5A@5V / 1A@3.3V, Blue Edition
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 1.5A@5V / 1A@3.3V, Blue Edition (Soldered Header Pins)
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 1A@5V / 660mA@3.3V, Blue Edition
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 1A@5V / 660mA@3.3V, Blue Edition (Soldered Header Pins)
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 750mA@5V / 500mA@3.3V
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 750mA@5V / 500mA@3.3V (Soldered Header Pins)
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 500mA@5V / 330mA@3.3V
	A5984 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, Fixed 500mA@5V / 330mA@3.3V (Soldered Header Pins)

We are having a Labor Day sale through Tuesday, September 3! Check out the sale page for more information. Please note that we will be closed Monday, so orders placed after 2 PM Pacific Time Friday, August 30 will be shipped on Tuesday, September 3.

ACS71240 Current Sensor Carrier pinout.

We have released a ton of new current sensors! These boards, based on Allegro current-sensing ICs, have analog outputs with voltage proportional to the AC or DC current passing through the sensor while offering full electrical isolation of the current path from the sensor’s electronics. This isolation allows them to be inserted anywhere in the current path, including on the high side, and because the current path resistance is on the order of 1 mΩ or less, there is minimal effect on the rest of the system.

As with all our other carrier boards, we designed these current sensors to be usable in real-world applications rather than just as evaluation boards. To that end, we have released compact carriers for use in space-constrained systems and larger modules with more connection options available for higher-current applications. The large carriers offer better thermal dissipation thanks to their 6-layer PCBs and increased surface area, and the holes and slots for the current path connection points accommodate thicker wires along with a variety of high-current connectors (e.g. lugs, solderless ring terminals, and 4-pin terminal blocks).

We also want these modules to be usable as evaluation boards, so we have standardized our compact and large form factors, making it easier to swap among different boards to compare different sensor ICs. Additionally, having different form factors available for the same sensor IC makes it possible to evaluate how things like PCB area and the number of copper layers affects the sensor’s thermal performance.

ACS37220 Current Sensor Compact Carrier (top) and Large Carrier (bottom) size comparison.

ACS72981 Current Sensor Compact Carrier (top) and Large Carrier (bottom) size comparison.

CT432/CT433 TMR Current Sensor Compact Carrier (top) and Large Carrier (bottom) size comparison.

Here is a quick summary of the four new sensor families:

• ACS71240: low-cost measurement of bidirectional currents ranging from 10 A to 50 A, with dedicated versions for 3.3 V and 5 V systems. A unidirectional 50 A, 5 V version is also available.
• ACS37220: low-cost measurement of bidirectional currents ranging from 100 A to 200 A, with dedicated versions for 3.3 V and 5 V systems. These have extra-low 0.1 mΩ current paths through the sensor IC and user-configurable overcurrent fault thresholds.
• ACS72981: high-bandwidth (250 kHz) measurement of unidirectional or bidirectional currents from 50 A to 200 A, with dedicated versions available for 3.3 V and 5 V systems.
• CT432/CT433: extra high-bandwidth (1 MHz), low response time (300 ns) measurement of unidirectional or bidirectional currents from 20 A to 70 A, with dedicated versions available for 3.3 V and 5 V systems. Unlike the other Allegro sensor families we carry, which use Hall effect sensing, the CT432/CT433 sensors use tunneling magnetoresistance (which Allegro calls XtremeSense™ TMR) and are optimized for high dV/dt applications.

Here’s our full list of active and preferred current sensors:

	ACS711 Current Sensor Carriers	ACS71240 Current Sensor Carriers	ACS724 Current Sensor Carriers	ACS37220 Current Sensor Compact Carriers	ACS37220 Current Sensor Large Carriers	ACS72981 Current Sensor Compact Carriers	ACS72981 Current Sensor Large Carriers	CT432/CT433 TMR Current Sensor Compact Carriers	CT432/CT433 TMR Current Sensor Large Carriers
Sensor IC	Allegro ACS711KEXT	Allegro ACS71240	Allegro ACS724LLCTR	Allegro ACS37220		Allegro ACS72981xLR		Allegro CT432/CT433
Sensing technology	Hall effect	Hall effect	Hall effect	Hall effect		Hall effect		XtremeSense™ TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance)
Logic voltage range (V)	3.0–5.5	3.3V versions: 3.0–3.6 5V versions: 4.5–5.5	4.5–5.5	3.3V versions: 3.15–3.45 5V versions: 4.5–5.5		3.3V versions: 3.0–3.6 5V versions: 4.5–5.5		3.3V versions: 3.0–3.6 5V versions: 4.75–5.5
Current range / sensitivity	Bidirectional:(1) ±15.5 A / 90 mV/A ±31 A / 45 mV/A	3.3V Bidirectional: ±10 A / 132 mV/A ±30 A / 44 mV/A ±50 A / 26.4 mV/A 5V Bidirectional: ±10 A / 200 mV/A ±30 A / 66 mV/A ±50 A / 40 mV/A 5V Unidirectional: 0–⁠50 A / 80 mv/A	5V Bidirectional:(2) ±2.5 A / 800 mV/A ±5 A / 400 mV/A ±10 A / 200 mV/A ±20 A / 100 mV/A ±30 A / 66 mV/A ±50 A / 40 mV/A 5V Unidirectional:(2) 0–⁠5 A / 800 mv/A 0–⁠10 A / 400 mv/A 0–⁠20 A / 200 mv/A 0–⁠30 A / 133 mV/A	3.3V Bidirectional: ±100 A / 13.2 mV/A ±150 A / 8.8 mV/A 5V Bidirectional: ±100 A / 20 mV/A ±150 A / 13.3 mV/A ±200 A / 10 mV/A	3.3V Bidirectional: ±100 A / 13.2 mV/A ±150 A / 8.8 mV/A 5V Bidirectional: ±100 A / 20 mV/A ±150 A / 13.3 mV/A ±200 A / 10 mV/A	3.3V Bidirectional:(1) ±50 A / 26.4 mV/A ±100 A / 13.2 mV/A ±150 A / 8.8 mV/A 3.3V Unidirectional:(1) 0–⁠50 A / 52.8 mv/A 0–⁠100 A / 26.4 mv/A 0–⁠150 A / 17.6 mv/A 0–⁠200 A / 13.2 mv/A 5V Bidirectional:(2) ±50 A / 40 mV/A ±100 A / 20 mV/A ±150 A / 13.3 mV/A ±200 A / 10 mV/A 5V Unidirectional:(2) 0–⁠100 A / 40 mv/A 0–⁠150 A / 26.7 mv/A	3.3V Bidirectional:(1) ±50 A / 26.4 mV/A ±100 A / 13.2 mV/A ±150 A / 8.8 mV/A 3.3V Unidirectional:(1) 0–⁠50 A / 52.8 mv/A 0–⁠100 A / 26.4 mv/A 0–⁠150 A / 17.6 mv/A 0–⁠200 A / 13.2 mv/A 5V Bidirectional:(2) ±50 A / 40 mV/A ±100 A / 20 mV/A ±150 A / 13.3 mV/A ±200 A / 10 mV/A 5V Unidirectional:(2) 0–⁠100 A / 40 mv/A 0–⁠150 A / 26.7 mv/A	3.3V Bidirectional: ±20 A / 50 mV/A ±30 A / 33.3 mV/A ±50 A / 20 mV/A 3.3V Unidirectional: 0–⁠50 A / 40 mv/A 0–⁠65 A / 30.8 mv/A 5V Bidirectional: ±20 A / 100 mV/A ±30 A / 66.7 mV/A ±50 A / 40 mV/A ±65 A / 30.8 mV/A 5V Unidirectional: 0–⁠50 A / 80 mv/A 0–⁠70 A / 57.1 mv/A	3.3V Bidirectional: ±50 A / 20 mV/A 3.3V Unidirectional: 0–⁠50 A / 40 mv/A 0–⁠65 A / 30.8 mv/A 5V Bidirectional: ±50 A / 40 mV/A ±65 A / 30.8 mV/A 5V Unidirectional: 0–⁠50 A / 80 mv/A 0–⁠70 A / 57.1 mv/A
IC path resistance	0.6 mΩ	0.6 mΩ	0.6 mΩ	0.1 mΩ		0.2 mΩ		1 mΩ
PCB	2 layers, 2-oz copper	2 layers, 2-oz copper	2 layers, 2- or 4-oz copper(4)	2 layers, 2-oz copper	6 layers, 2-oz copper	6 layers, 2-oz copper	6 layers, 2-oz copper	2 or 4 layers(5), 2-oz copper	6 layers, 2-oz copper
Max bandwidth	100 kHz	120 kHz	120 kHz(3)	150 kHz		250 kHz		1 MHz
Size	0.7″ × 0.8″	0.7″ × 0.8″	0.7″ × 0.8″	0.7″ × 0.8″	1.4″ × 1.2″	0.7″ × 0.8″	1.4″ × 1.2″	0.8″ × 1.1″	1.4″ × 1.2″
Overcurrent fault output				User-configurable threshold
Common-mode field rejection
Non-ratiometric output
1-piece price	$3.49	$3.95	$6.95 – $7.49	$4.95	$7.95	$9.95	$12.95	$8.95	$12.95

⁽¹⁾ Sensitivity when Vcc = 3.3 V; sensitivity is ratiometric.
⁽²⁾ Sensitivity when Vcc = 5 V; sensitivity is ratiometric.
⁽³⁾ Bandwidth can be reduced by adding a filter capacitor.
⁽⁴⁾ ±50A version uses 4-oz copper PCB; all other versions use 2-oz copper.
⁽⁵⁾ 50A and higher versions use 4-layer PCB; all other versions use 2-layer PCB.

More sensors are coming, and we will be releasing them as they become available. Do you have a favorite current sensor? Let us know in the comments!

We’re excited to introduce our new 60V-max H2 High-Power Motor Driver 36v11 CS, which joins our lineup of high-power motor drivers as the new highest-voltage option. Like our other high-power motor drivers, this board is a discrete MOSFET H-bridge that is designed to drive large brushed DC motors. The H2 36v11 can supply a motor with continuous currents up to 11 A over a wide 5 V to 60 V (absolute maximum) operating range. The board also features reverse-voltage protection and an on-board bidirectional current sensor that provides a direct measurement of the motor current.

The H2 driver is designed to be a near drop-in replacement for its predecessor and for our lower-voltage G2 drivers, with an identical form factor and a similar pinout. Compared to its predecessor, the H2 version adds improvements such as reverse-voltage protection, current sensing, and compatibility with 3.3V systems (as well as 5V). Compared to the newer G2 drivers, the main differentiator is the wider operating voltage range, but the H2 36v11 CS also adds an on-board bidrectional current sensor that provides a direct measurement of the motor current, even when the driver isn’t actively driving. There are also differences in the pinout, control interface, and some aspects of the operation, so please see the H2 product page for more information on compatibility between it, its prececessor, and the G2 versions.

Introductory special discount! To celebrate the release of the H2 36v11 CS, the first hundred customers to use coupon code H236V11CSINTRO can get up to three units for just $34.95 each!

We are pleased to announce the release of our new low-cost time-of-flight distance sensor featuring ST’s VL53L4CD. The VL53L4CD has a detection range of 1 mm to 120 cm (4 ft) with a resolution of 1 mm and an update rate of up to 100 Hz. This distance sensor is notable for being able to accurately measure the distances to objects even as they are almost touching the sensor face.

One interesting feature of the VL53L4CD is its Ultra-Low Power mode, which allows it to act as a basic proximity detector with greatly reduced average current consumption (less than 100 μA in some cases). In this mode, the sensor does not output distance and other data as usual; it simply raises an interrupt when a target is detected. This functionality is enabled with ST’s VL53L4CD ULP API (application programming interface), and the ULP and standard drivers can be used together to let the VL53L4CD switch from low-power proximity detection to accurate ranging once it sees a target. (ULP drivers are now available from ST for the VL53L1X and VL53L3CX as well.)

Introductory special discount! With the release of the VL53L4CD carrier, we are also bringing back introductory special discounts, which was how we celebrated the release of new products prior to the pandemic and ensuing parts shortages. The first hundred customers to use coupon code VL53L4CDINTRO can get up to five units for just $8.88 each!

The VL53L4CD is the new lowest-cost member of the ST FlightSense ToF sensor family, which includes higher-performance alternatives with longer ranges and capable of multi-target detection:

	VL6180X carrier	VL53L4CD carrier	VL53L0X carrier	VL53L1X carrier	VL53L3CX carrier	VL53L5CX carrier	VL53L7CX carrier	VL53L8CX carrier
Maximum range:(1)	60 cm	120 cm	200 cm	400 cm	500 cm	400 cm	350 cm	400 cm
Minimum range:	~10 mm	1 mm	~30 mm	40 mm	10 mm	20 mm
Field of view:	25°	18°	25°	15° to 27° diagonal, program­mable	25°	65° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones	90° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones	65° diagonal, up to 8×8 zones
Other features:	ambient light sensing, low memory footprint(2)	low memory footprint(2), ultra-low power mode	low memory footprint(2)	low memory footprint(2), ultra-low power mode	multi-target detection, ultra-low power mode	multi-target detection	multi-target detection	multi-target detection, improved performance in ambient light
Maximum update rate:(1)	~150 Hz	100 Hz	50 Hz	100 Hz	125 Hz	60 Hz
Operating voltage range:	2.6 V to 5.5 V					2.5 V to 5.5 V		3.2 V to 5.5 V
Regulator voltage:	2.8 V					3.3 V		1.8 V and 3.3 V
Typical active-ranging supply current:	25 mA	25 mA	20 mA	20 mA	20 mA	100 mA
Peak supply current:	40 mA					150 mA
Interface:	I²C							I²C, SPI
Dimensions:	0.5″ × 0.7″							0.5″ × 0.9″
1-piece price:	$13.49	$12.95	$14.95	$18.95	$16.95	$19.95	$19.95	$24.95
1 Effective range and update rate depend on configuration, target, and environment. 2 Suitable for use with typical 8-bit MCUs.

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