PCF8574A I²C address

How to set the address

Wire the address pins like this:

A2 A1 A0 → 0x38–0x3F

LCD backpacks with a PCF8574AT are often set to 0x3F, all address pins high.

Devices that use the same addresses

Two devices on the same bus can’t answer on the same address. These modules from our list use at least one of these addresses:

If two of them end up on the same address, move one with its address pin, put one behind a TCA9548A multiplexer (0x70–0x77), or use a second I²C bus: the ESP32, ESP32-S3 and RP2040 have two I²C controllers (the ESP32-C3 has one).

Check your whole bus →Add the PCF8574A and your other modules: the checker finds conflicts, suggests free addresses and sizes the pull-ups.

7-bit and 8-bit address

I²C addresses are 7 bits long. Some datasheets and libraries write them as 8-bit numbers, with the read/write bit added on the right: that is why the same chip can appear as 0x3F or 0x7E. Arduino’s Wire library and ESPHome use the 7-bit form.

Check that it answers

Upload this sketch with the PCF8574A wired to SDA and SCL: it tries every address the chip can use and prints the one that answers. On an ESP32 the default pins are GPIO21 (SDA) and GPIO22 (SCL); on an Arduino Uno, A4 and A5.

#include <Wire.h>

const byte ADDRS[] = {0x38, 0x39, 0x3A, 0x3B, 0x3C, 0x3D, 0x3E, 0x3F};

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Wire.begin();
  for (byte a : ADDRS) {
    Wire.beginTransmission(a);
    if (Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
      Serial.print("PCF8574A answers at 0x");
      if (a < 0x10) Serial.print('0');
      Serial.println(a, HEX);
      return;
    }
  }
  Serial.println("No answer: check the wiring");
}

void loop() {}

In ESPHome the bus is scanned at boot (scan: true is the default): the log lists every address that answers.

i2c:
  sda: GPIO21
  scl: GPIO22
  scan: true

Pull-up resistors

SDA and SCL need pull-up resistors to the supply. Many breakout boards already carry them, often 4.7 kΩ or 10 kΩ, and with several boards on the bus they add up in parallel. The I²C checker works out the allowed range for your bus voltage and speed.

Similar devices

MCP23008 MCP23017 PCA9685 PCF8574 PCF8575 SX1509 TCA9548A TCA9555

Addresses checked against the PCF8574A datasheet.