I’m working with an Arduino Giga as a drop-in replacement for an Arduino Mega. In order to manage the new 3.3V architecture, I am using several Level Translator Breakout - PCA9306 (SKU: BOB-15439) boards to handle logic level conversions to 5V for signals. This works for 90% of my use cases without issue. However, when I connect these boards to a stepper motor driver (34MD series from AA), the output voltage drops from the expected 5v to 3.09V.
The 34MD input is an opto-diode, requiring 1.0mA to be sourced or sinked to enable. I have configured it to source. The datasheet recommends putting 3.5V+ across the +/- terminals. When I read with a multimeter, it seems the driver is getting exactly 1mA of current, but the voltage is dropping to 3.09V.
Is there any reason the level translator would be unable to source 1mA of current at 5V? The datasheet specs seem to say that 1mA is well under any maximum current, but it could depend on the setup of the breakout board.
In case it helps, I do believe the level translator - stepper driver interaction is at fault, because when I unplug the stepper and read signals at the connector they read 5V as expected.