Posted on by tigoe

STP16C596 Shift Register

This tutorial will show how to control multiple LED outputs from a microcontroller using an STP16C596 shift register. The STP16C596 is similar to the popular 74HC595 shift register, but it’s nicer because it can sink a constant current to the LEDs it’s driving. It works slightly differently, however, so this code won’t work exactly for the ‘595.

This is a stub. More explanation will follow, but for now, here are schematics and code for Arduino.

Parts you’ll need:

  • STP16C596 shift register
  • Arduino microcontroller
  • LEDs
  • 1-kilohm resistor

The Circuit

ST16C596 shift register attached to an Arduino Diecimila

STP16C596 shift register attached to an Arduino Diecimila

The LED anodes go to 5V, the cathodes to the shift register's output pins
The LED anodes go to 5V, the cathodes to the shift register's output pins

The schematic
The schematic

The code

[include file="../../code/Arduino/multipleOutput/ST16C596_0001/ST16C596_0001.pde" clean="true"]