BETAPIN 1 · Serial controls
InputDIN
Function
Accepts serial data on each rising CLK edge.
How to connect
Connect to a 5 V host MOSI output.
Electrical note
A guaranteed HIGH requires at least 3.5 V; use level translation with a 3.3 V host.
Eight-digit serial LED driver
MAX7219 Pinout
Explore MAX7219 pins, signal names, electrical functions and connection guidance for each package.
Package view
24Physical pins
MAX7219ENG+PDIP-24
Manufacturer-referencedAnalog Devices
Pin diagram
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MAX7219PDIP-24Top view
MAX7219SOIC-24Top view
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PIN 2 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG0
Function
Selects digit 0 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 0.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 3 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG4
Function
Selects digit 4 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 4.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 4 · Ground
GroundGND
Function
Supply and LED-current return.
How to connect
Connect both ground pins to the common return.
PIN 5 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG6
Function
Selects digit 6 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 6.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 6 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG2
Function
Selects digit 2 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 2.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 7 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG3
Function
Selects digit 3 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 3.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 8 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG7
Function
Selects digit 7 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 7.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 9 · Ground
GroundGND
Function
Supply and LED-current return.
How to connect
Connect both ground pins to the common return.
PIN 10 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG5
Function
Selects digit 5 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 5.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 11 · Digit cathodes
Current sinkDIG1
Function
Selects digit 1 by sinking its common-cathode current.
How to connect
Connect to the common cathode of display digit 1.
Electrical note
Inactive digit outputs are driven HIGH on MAX7219, not high impedance.
PIN 12 · Serial controls
InputLOAD
Function
A rising edge transfers the last 16 serial bits to the selected register.
How to connect
Hold LOW during each 16-bit transfer, then pulse HIGH.
Electrical note
CLK still shifts the MAX7219 while LOAD is HIGH; this differs from MAX7221 chip-select behavior.
PIN 13 · Serial controls
InputCLK
Function
Serial clock: DIN shifts on rising edges and DOUT changes after falling edges.
How to connect
Connect to host clock; maximum serial clock is 10 MHz.
PIN 14 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG A
Function
Supplies the A segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the A anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 15 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG F
Function
Supplies the F segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the F anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 16 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG B
Function
Supplies the B segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the B anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 17 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG G
Function
Supplies the G segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the G anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 18 · Current setting
Analog referenceISET
Function
Sets the peak segment current through an external resistor.
How to connect
Connect RSET to V+; the example uses 64.9 kΩ for a low-current red display.
Electrical note
Choose RSET from the manufacturer table using LED forward voltage; do not leave it unconnected.
PIN 19 · Supply
SupplyV+
Function
Powers the serial logic, memory and display drivers.
How to connect
Use 5 V with 100 nF ceramic and 10 µF bulk bypass near the IC.
Electrical note
Operating supply range: 4.0–5.5 V.
PIN 20 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG C
Function
Supplies the C segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the C anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 21 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG E
Function
Supplies the E segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the E anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 22 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG DP
Function
Supplies the decimal point segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the DP anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 23 · Segment anodes
Current sourceSEG D
Function
Supplies the D segment anodes.
How to connect
Join the D anodes across all eight common-cathode digits.
Electrical note
Peak current is set by RSET; digit multiplexing and intensity PWM determine average current.
PIN 24 · Serial controls
OutputDOUT
Function
Serial data output for daisy-chaining another driver.
How to connect
Connect to the next DIN, or leave open for one IC.
Electrical note
Never high impedance; do not connect directly to a shared MISO bus.