Adafruit
Adafruit Capacitive Touch HAT for Raspberry Pi - Mini Kit [MPR121]
The Adafruit Capacitive Touch HAT adds 12 capacitive touch sensors to your Raspberry Pi using the MPR121 touch controller over I2C. Each sensor has a figure-...
The Adafruit Capacitive Touch HAT adds 12 capacitive touch sensors to your Raspberry Pi using the MPR121 touch controller over I2C. Each sensor has a figure-8 hole designed for alligator clip connections — attach clips to the HAT and the other end to anything conductive (metal, fruit, vegetables, or water-filled objects) to create touch-reactive projects.
The included Python library makes it straightforward to detect touches, convert them into keyboard keypresses, or trigger audio playback. No soldering is needed for the touch connections themselves — just clip and go. For permanent installations, solder pads are also available.
Key Features
- 12 Capacitive Touch Sensors – MPR121 controller with I2C interface
- Figure-8 Alligator Clip Holes – Easy grip connections for each sensor pad
- Python Library – Detect touches, generate keypresses, or play audio per sensor
- HAT Form Factor – Plugs directly onto the Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header
- Solder Pads – Available for permanent, slimmer connections
Compatibility
- Raspberry Pi Model A+, B+, Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi 4 (with included 2×20 header)
- Raspberry Pi Model A or B (requires a 2×13 extra-tall header, not included)
Ideal For
- Interactive touch installations
- Fruit and vegetable keyboards/drums
- Touch-activated audio players
- Educational projects and exhibits
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit Capacitive Touch HAT (MPR121)
- 1× 2×20 socket header (requires soldering to the HAT)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- alligator clip
- An alligator clip is a spring-loaded metal clip used to make temporary electrical connections to wires, terminals or test points. It is useful for quick bench testing, but it is less secure than a screw terminal or locking connector.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- 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.
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Raspberry Pi
Sensors & Input
