Adafruit

Adafruit QMC5883P Triple-Axis Magnetometer

Name: Adafruit QMC5883P Triple-Axis Magnetometer
Brand: Adafruit
SKU: AF-6388
Price: 14.65 AUD
Availability: InStock

· MPN: ADA6388

Breakouts Magnetic & Compass Sensors Sensors Adafruit Sensors & Modules Arduino Sensors Raspberry Pi Sensors

$14.65 |

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This compact breakout makes it easy to measure magnetic fields in three axes for compass, navigation and orientation projects. It is built around the QMC5883...

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This compact breakout makes it easy to measure magnetic fields in three axes for compass, navigation and orientation projects. It is built around the QMC5883P, a magnetometer commonly used in quadcopter and robotics designs, and it can be paired with a 6-DoF accelerometer/gyroscope to help build a 9-DoF inertial measurement unit that uses Earth’s magnetic field for heading and orientation.

Communication is over I2C, so wiring is straightforward: connect SCL and SDA to your microcontroller and use the supplied software support to start reading magnetic field data. Adafruit provides Arduino drivers as well as CircuitPython/Python support, making it a handy fit for Feather, Raspberry Pi, Arduino and similar platforms.

The sensor can measure from +-2 Gauss (+- 200 uTesla) up to +-30 gauss (+- 3000 uT or 3.0 mT). With a 16-bit ADC plus over-sampling and down-sampling settings, you can tune the balance between range and precision to suit your application.

To simplify integration, the breakout includes support circuitry for both 3.3V and 5V logic levels and uses I2C throughout. It also includes SparkFun qwiic compatible STEMMA QT connectors for quick, solder-free connection to the I2C bus. The board comes fully assembled and tested, includes a strip of 0.1" header for breadboard or perfboard use, and has four 2.5mm (0.1") mounting holes for easy attachment. QT cable is not included.

Specifications:

Product Dimensions: 25.4mm x 17.6mm x 4.7mm / 1.0" x 0.7" x 0.2"
Product Weight: 1.7g / 0.1oz

A good choice for compasses, robots, quadcopters and other motion-aware builds that need an easy-to-use I2C magnetometer breakout.

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

3.3V and 5V logic levels: Logic level refers to the voltage a digital device uses to represent on and off signals, commonly 3.3V or 5V. When a board supports both 3.3V and 5V logic, it can connect more easily to common microcontrollers and single-board computers without extra level-shifting hardware.
ADC: An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.
breakout: A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny 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.
Gyroscope: A gyroscope measures rotation, such as how fast a board is turning around its X, Y, and Z axes. This matters for projects like gesture controls, balancing robots, and motion tracking where tilt or rotation changes need to be detected.
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.
magnetometer: A sensor that measures magnetic fields, often used to work out compass direction. It matters because nearby magnets, motors, or metal objects can affect readings and may require calibration.
microcontroller: A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
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 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.