Enter your Reference Voltage, Number of Bits, and Digital Input Code into the DAC Calculator to find your Output Voltage, along with the LSB Resolution, Maximum Output, and % of Full Scale — you can also drop in a Binary Input directly if that's what you're working with.
Output Voltage
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LSB Resolution
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Maximum Output
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Binary Input
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% of Full Scale
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A DAC converts digital binary codes into analog voltages. Each bit position represents a specific voltage level, with higher-order bits contributing larger voltages. The total output is the sum of all active bit contributions.
LSB (Least Significant Bit) resolution is the smallest voltage change the DAC can produce. It equals the reference voltage divided by 2^n, where n is the number of bits. Higher bit resolution means finer voltage control.
DAC output voltage = (Digital Input Code / Maximum Code) × Reference Voltage. For an n-bit DAC, the maximum code is 2^n - 1. The digital input code is the decimal equivalent of your binary input.
DAC accuracy depends on the reference voltage stability, number of bits (resolution), and internal circuit precision. More bits provide finer resolution, while a stable reference voltage ensures consistent output.
Yes, the calculator supports millivolts (mV), volts (V), and kilovolts (kV). Simply select your preferred unit and enter the reference voltage in that unit for accurate calculations.
Unipolar DACs output voltages from 0V to +Vref, while bipolar DACs can output both positive and negative voltages. This calculator assumes unipolar operation from 0V to the reference voltage.
Choose bits based on required precision. 8-bit provides 256 levels, 12-bit gives 4096 levels, and 16-bit offers 65536 levels. Higher resolution means more precise control but typically costs more and may be slower.