Adafruit
Adafruit BH1750 Light Sensor - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
The Adafruit BH1750 Light Sensor is a 16-bit ambient light sensor from Rohm that provides measurements directly in lux — the SI unit for illuminance. This ma...
The Adafruit BH1750 Light Sensor is a 16-bit ambient light sensor from Rohm that provides measurements directly in lux — the SI unit for illuminance. This makes it easy to compare readings against reference values or other sensors without manual calibration or conversion.
Packaged on a STEMMA QT breakout with a voltage regulator and level shifting, the BH1750 works with both 3.3V and 5V devices. STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors provide solderless I2C wiring, and all pins are also broken out to a standard 0.1" header for breadboard use.
Key Features
- 16-bit Lux Output – Direct digital readings in lux from 0 to 65,535+ lux (up to ~100,000 lux with advanced calibration)
- I2C Interface – Simple two-wire communication with selectable address
- 3.3V and 5V Compatible – Onboard voltage regulator and level shifting
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Solderless I2C connection, chainable with other devices
- Standard Header Breakout – 0.1" pitch pins for breadboard use
- Wide Platform Support – Arduino, CircuitPython, Python (Raspberry Pi), and MCP2221 compatible
Ideal For
- Automatic display brightness adjustment
- Light-following robots and solar trackers
- Day/night detection for automation
- Environmental monitoring and data logging
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit BH1750 Light Sensor Breakout (STEMMA QT)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Ambient light sensor
- A sensor that measures the general brightness of light falling on it, similar to how a device can adjust screen brightness automatically. It matters when you want a project to react to room lighting, daylight, shadows, or covered/uncovered conditions.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- lux
- Lux is the standard unit for measuring how much light falls on a surface, similar to how a light meter reports brightness. A sensor that outputs lux gives readings that are easier to compare between rooms, outdoor conditions, and different projects.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
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Sensors & Input
Related Tutorials
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