? run 5v device with Express

[hydrophyte]

I am no engineer and this is a very basic question.

I wish to control a 5-volt device (7-segment LED clock display) with this Circuit Playground Express, but the controller only has the 3.3V pinouts. I've read here and there that some 5V devices will run with 3.3V, but I guess this is specifically not the case for this clock display.

Is there a smart way to make this work?

[blnkjns]

Get a level-shifter, it does the work for you:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/757

[adafruit_support_bill]

You don't specify which display you are using. But a level shifter can probably take care of the voltage difference. If you are using one of our i2c display backpacks, then you would need a level shifter specifically designed to work with the i2c bus: https://www.adafruit.com/product/757

For non i2c devices, there are other options:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/395
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1787
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1875

[hydrophyte]

Thanks. That's a big help. I'll get one of those.

Yes, it's the Adafruit 1.2" display with backpack.

I'm building clocks.

15-IV-21-bark-clock-III.jpg (844.16 KiB) Viewed 330 times

[adafruit_support_bill]

Nice looking clock! Thanks for the photo.