# MCP230xx GPIO Expander on the Raspberry Pi

## Overview

Danger: 

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/462/medium800/raspberry_pi__MG_0481.jpg?1396783360)

While the Raspberry Pi packs and awful lot of punch for the price, and it's fairly flexible where HW expandability is concerned, there are situations where you might want a bit more basic digital IO.  Thankfully, it's an easy problem to solve with an I2C-enabled device like the MCP23008 (for an extra 8 GPIO pins) or the MCP23017 (for an extra 16 GPIO pins).  This tutorial will show you how you can get up and running quickly with either of these chips.

# What You'll Need

- A [Raspberry Pi](http://adafruit.com/products/998) Model B
- A [Pi Cobbler Breakout](http://adafruit.com/products/914)
- An [MCP23017](http://adafruit.com/products/732) or [MCP23008](http://adafruit.com/products/593)
- And LED and a resistor to test with if you don't have a DMM or an oscilloscope
- If you're **not** using [Occidentalis](http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-raspberry-pi-educational-linux-distro/occidentalis-v0-dot-2), Adafruit's own Raspberry Pi distro, you'll also need to [make sure your Pi is configured for I2C](http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-raspberry-pi-lesson-4-gpio-setup/configuring-i2c) before running through this tutorial. (If you're using Occidentalis, I2C is already enabled, though, and you're ready to go!)

Danger: 

# MCP230xx GPIO Expander on the Raspberry Pi

## Hooking it all up

Danger: 

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/467/medium800/raspberry_pi_MCP23017_bb.jpg?1396783409)

The way that you hook the chip up to your breadboard will depend on the package you use (8-pin MCP23008 or 16-pin MCP23017). The pinouts are quite different between the two chips, so check the datasheet carefully first.  
  
The MCP23017 is shown above with two LEDs connected, on GPA0 and GPA1.

1. The yellow line is SDA
2. The green line is SCL
3. The three black lines on top are the address pins
4. The brown pin is RESET which must be pulled high for normal operation
5. Red is 3.3V
6. Black is GND.

Since these io expander chips use i2c to communiate, you _can_ theoretically power them from 5V while still connecting the i2c data lines to a 3.3V device like the pi. That's because the Pi has two i2c resistors that pull up SDA/SCL to 3.3V. Just make sure not to connect any resistors to SDA/SCL to 5V and you can power the chip from 5V (and have 5V input/output on the MCP chip). Its also fine of course to power the MCP chip from 3.3V but the 5V line on the Pi has more current capability so you might find its better to go that way.

**BUT** if your Pi power supply drifts a little higher than 5V, it might stop being able to register the 3.3V signal. So we recommend starting with 3.3V, and if you need 5V GPIO signalling on the MCP expander, try swapping the red wire to 5.0V  
  
You can compare the two pinouts below to figure out how the 8-pin package should be hooked up depending on the pin names:

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/464/medium800/raspberry_pi_DIP8.jpg?1396783391)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/466/medium800/raspberry_pi_MCP23017.jpg?1396783400)

You're free to hook anything you want up to the 8 or 16 GPIO pins, but LEDs are used here since most people have one or two laying around and it's an easy way to verify the pin outputs.  Be sure to connect a resistor in series to GND, though, to prevent the LED from burning out (if you don't know what value or the details of your LED try something large like 1K to start with).  
  
Here's a quick video of the setup I was using during testing and development.  An MCP23017 is used here, running out to a mixed-signal oscilloscope with an 8-channel logic analyzer (ergo the white clip-ons on all the GPIO pins).

http://youtu.be/DfnOYQY4AEI

# MCP230xx GPIO Expander on the Raspberry Pi

## Using the library

Danger: 

Never one to leave you with just a breakout board or an IC and a goodbye, Adafruit provides a library for the MCP23008 and MCP23017 in our [Pi repository on github](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-Raspberry-Pi-Python-Code/tree/legacy "Link: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-Raspberry-Pi-Python-Code").  The easiest way to use it is with our convenient [WebIDE](http://learn.adafruit.com/webide), which will automatically point to the Adafruit github repository.  
  
Once you've opened up the WebIDE in the browser, you simply need to click in the left-hand navigation on the following folders and filenames:

- Adafruit-Raspberry-Pi-Python-Code
- Adafruit\_MCP230xx
- Adafruit\_MCP230xx.py

This should give you something similar to the following:

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/468/medium800/raspberry_pi_WebIDE.jpg?1396783426)

```
# Use busnum = 0 for older Raspberry Pi's (256MB)
mcp = Adafruit_MCP230XX(busnum = 0, address = 0x20, num_gpios = 16)
# Use busnum = 1 for new Raspberry Pi's (512MB with mounting holes)
# mcp = Adafruit_MCP230XX(busnum = 1, address = 0x20, num_gpios = 16)

# Set pins 0, 1 and 2 to output (you can set pins 0..15 this way)
mcp.config(0, OUTPUT)
mcp.config(1, OUTPUT)
mcp.config(2, OUTPUT)

# Set pin 3 to input with the pullup resistor enabled
mcp.pullup(3, 1)
# Read pin 3 and display the results
print "%d: %x" % (3, mcp.input(3) >> 3)

# Python speed test on output 0 toggling at max speed
while (True):
  mcp.output(0, 1)  # Pin 0 High
  mcp.output(0, 0)  # Pin 1 Low
```

This file contains both the base MCP230xx class that makes it easy to use the chip, along with a very simple demo that will toggle a single pin as fast as possible.  The example code shows how you can set pins to both input and output:

# Instantiating an instance of Adafruit\_MCP230xx
To instantiate an instance of the wrapper class that allows you to access the MCP230xx, you need to uncomment one of the two lines at the top of the above code.  There are two options because earlier versions of the Pi Model B (pre 512MB SDRAM) used I2C0, whereas the latest Model B devices (with 512MB SDRAM) use I2C1.  
  
The address assumes you are using an MCP23017 with all three address pins set to GND.  If you are using a different address pin configuration, you can open up the datasheet to see how the address scheme works ([MCP23017 datasheet](http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/devicedoc/21952b.pdf) or .the [MCP23008 datasheet](http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/21919e.pdf).)  
  
```
# Use busnum = 0 for older Raspberry Pi's (pre 512MB)
mcp = Adafruit_MCP230XX(busnum = 0, address = 0x20, num_gpios = 16)
  
# Use busnum = 1 for new Raspberry Pi's (512MB)
# mcp = Adafruit_MCP230XX(busnum = 1, address = 0x20, num_gpios = 16)
```

# Pin Numbering
  
The MCP23008 has 8 pins - A0 thru A7. **A0** is called **0** in the library, and **A7** is called **7**   (the rest follow the same pattern)  
  
The MCP23017 has 16 pins - A0 thru A7 + B0 thru B7. **A0** is called **0** in the library, and **A7** is called **7** , then  **B0** continues from there as is called  **8** and finally  **B7** is pin **15** # Setting a pin as Input
You can enable or disable the internal pullup resistor and set the pins as input with the following lines of code: ```
# Set pin 3 to input with the pullup resistor enabled
mcp.pullup(3, 1)

# Read pin 3 and display the results
print "%d: %x" % (3, mcp.input(3) >> 3)
```

The second line reads pin 3, and shifts the value left 3 bits so that it will equal 0 or 1 depending on whether the pin is high or low when it is sampled.  This will results in output similar to the following: "3: 0" or "3: 1" (depending on the pin state).

# Setting a pin as Output
To set  a pin as output, you also need two lines of code: ```
# Set pin 0 to output (you can set pins 0..15 this way)
mcp.config(0, OUTPUT)

# Set pin 0 High
mcp.output(0, 1)  

# Set pin 0 Low
mcp.output(0, 0)
```

That's all there is to it!  The default sample code will toggle the GPIO pin as fast as possible, and if you hooked it up to an oscilloscope you'd end up with something similar to the following:

http://youtu.be/zBuMJ-R40N0

# Interrupts & Callbacks
  
As it currently stands, the library does not support any sort of interrupt or call back functionality (there is a hardware interrupt pin on the MCP but we don't use it in this code). Only polling is currently supported!  

## Featured Products

### MCP23017 - i2c 16 input/output port expander

[MCP23017 - i2c 16 input/output port expander](https://www.adafruit.com/product/732)
Add another 16 pins to your microcontroller using an MCP23017 port expander. The MCP23017 uses two i2c pins (these can be shared with other i2c devices), and in exchange gives you 16 general purpose pins. You can set each of 16 pins to be input, output, or input with a pullup. There's even...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/732)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/732/guides)
### MCP23008 - i2c 8 input/output port expander

[MCP23008 - i2c 8 input/output port expander](https://www.adafruit.com/product/593)
Add another 8 pins to your microcontroller using an MCP23008 port expander. The MCP23008 uses two i2c pins (these can be shared with other i2c devices), and in exchange gives you 8 general purpose pins. You can set each of 8 pins to be input, output, or input with a pullup. There's even...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/593)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/593/guides)
### Adafruit Assembled Pi Cobbler Breakout + Cable for Raspberry Pi

[Adafruit Assembled Pi Cobbler Breakout + Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/914)
Now that you've finally got your hands on a [Raspberry Pi® Model B](http://www.raspberrypi.org/), you're probably itching to make some fun embedded computer projects with it. What you need is an add on prototyping Pi Cobbler from Adafruit, which can break out all those...

No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/914)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/914/guides)

## Related Guides

- [Large Pi-based Thermometer and Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/large-pi-based-thermometer-and-clock.md)
- [Raspberry Pi LED Spectrum Analyzer](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-spectrum-analyzer-display-on-rgb-led-strip.md)
- [DHT Humidity Sensing on Raspberry Pi or Beaglebone Black with GDocs Logging](https://learn.adafruit.com/dht-humidity-sensing-on-raspberry-pi-with-gdocs-logging.md)
- [Embedded Linux Board Comparison](https://learn.adafruit.com/embedded-linux-board-comparison.md)
- [Instant Camera using Raspberry Pi and Thermal Printer](https://learn.adafruit.com/instant-camera-using-raspberry-pi-and-thermal-printer.md)
- [Raspberry Pi as an Ad Blocking Access Point](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-as-an-ad-blocking-access-point.md)
- [16x32 RGB Display with Raspberry Pi - part 2](https://learn.adafruit.com/16x32-rgb-display-with-raspberry-pi-part-2.md)
- [How we designed an injection-molded case](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-we-designed-an-injection-molded-case-for-raspberry-pi.md)
- [Programming Microcontrollers using OpenOCD on a Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/programming-microcontrollers-using-openocd-on-raspberry-pi.md)
- [FONA Tethering to Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black](https://learn.adafruit.com/fona-tethering-to-raspberry-pi-or-beaglebone-black.md)
- [Adafruit's Raspberry Pi Lesson 2. First Time Configuration](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-raspberry-pi-lesson-2-first-time-configuration.md)
- [Running OpenGL-based Games & Emulators on Adafruit PiTFT Displays](https://learn.adafruit.com/running-opengl-based-games-and-emulators-on-adafruit-pitft-displays.md)
- [Raspberry Pi Video Looper](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-video-looper.md)
- [SnapPiCam Raspberry Pi Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/snappicam-raspberry-pi-camera.md)
- [Set up and Blink - MATLAB and Simulink with Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-use-matlab-and-simulink-with-raspberry-pi.md)