I am looking at the datasheet for the MCP4725 DAC and trying to find the minimum voltage the DAC will output. In other words, when my code tells the DAC to output 0v, what will the output be? There are two parameters listed in the datasheet that I think are related to what I am looking for. One is the Offset Error of the DAC, and the other is the Output Low Voltage. Anyone know which one is the parameter that tells me the minimum DAC output?
Here is the MCP4725's datasheet:
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/22039d.pdf
Best Answer
Output low voltage refers to the digital interface and is not relevant to the DAC output.
The offset error is the output voltage with code = 000 and will be greater than 0V since it's a single supply DAC (and output load is specified as a 5K resistor to ground).
Worst case is specified as 0.75% of Vdd and typical is 0.02% of Vdd (over 2.7 to 5.5V Vdd).
So with a 5V supply, typical should be 1mV and worst case 37.5mV. The typical curve Fig 2.8 shows typical about 1.6mV for a 5.5V supply and a bit over 1mV for a 2.7V supply.
But you should not count on the output getting closer than some tens of mV of either supply (depending on loading, unit-to-unit variations, temperature, supply voltage etc.).