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Sinking vs Sourcing Digital I/O Explained

This document discusses sinking and sourcing digital I/O. Sinking I/O provides a grounded connection to a load while sourcing I/O provides a voltage source. A circuit needs both a voltage source and ground, which can be provided by connecting a sourcing output to a sinking input or vice versa. The type of connection determines whether the load is pulled to ground or receives voltage.

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95 views2 pages

Sinking vs Sourcing Digital I/O Explained

This document discusses sinking and sourcing digital I/O. Sinking I/O provides a grounded connection to a load while sourcing I/O provides a voltage source. A circuit needs both a voltage source and ground, which can be provided by connecting a sourcing output to a sinking input or vice versa. The type of connection determines whether the load is pulled to ground or receives voltage.

Uploaded by

lee tjtj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SINKING AND SOURCING DIGITAL I/O

Sinking and Sourcing are terms used to define the control of direct current flow in a
load.

 Sinking digital I/O (input/output) provides a grounded connection to the load.


 Sourcing digital I/O provides a voltage source to the load.

Consider a simple circuit that consists of one digital input connected to a digital output.
The circuit needs a voltage source, a ground, and a load.
A sourcing digital I/O provides the voltage needed for the circuit.
A sinking digital I/O provides the ground needed in the circuit.
The digital input provides the load required for the circuit to work.

Figure 1 shows a sinking digital output that is connected to a sourcing digital input. In
this circuit, the load is pulled to ground because of the sinking digital input provided.

Figure 2 shows a sourcing digital output that is connected to a sinking digital input. In
this circuit, the load is pulled up to receive voltage because the sourcing digital input
has been provided.

Additional Information
Because both a voltage source and a ground reference are needed in order to create a
complete circuit, you must have a sourcing input or output connected to a sinking output
or input. If you wish to connect a sourcing input to a sourcing output or a sinking input to
a sinking output, you will need to add an additional resistor. For further information on
connecting two I/O of the same type, please refer to Connecting Two Sinking I/O or Two
Sourcing I/O Together.

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