Pimoroni BH1745 Luminance and Colour Sensor Breakout

The Pimoroni BH1745 Luminance and Colour Sensor Breakout is a breakout board built around the BH1745 sensor, designed to detect red, green and blue colour components and overall luminance across a range of 0.005 to 40,000 lux.

Overview

The breakout measures RGB colour values and ambient light levels, making it suited to light-sensing projects. Integrated 50/60Hz light noise rejection supports stable readings under artificial lighting, while an infrared cut filter helps improve colour accuracy by minimising infrared light interference. The 16-bit data output provides precise measurements across diverse lighting environments.

Compatibility and Programming

The breakout is compatible with Pimoroni's Breakout Garden system, allowing a plug-and-play setup on Raspberry Pi boards. It uses a Raspberry Pi-compatible pinout on pins 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, and can be programmed using Python on a Raspberry Pi or C++ and MicroPython on a Raspberry Pi Pico.

Key Features

• Light and colour sensing across a 0.005 to 40,000 lux range
• Integrated 50/60Hz light noise rejection
• Infrared cut filter for improved colour accuracy
• 16-bit data output for precise measurement
• Compatible with both 3.3V and 5V systems
• I2C interface with an address selectable via a cuttable trace (0x38 or 0x39)
• Reverse polarity protection to help prevent damage from incorrect power connections

Package Contents and Dimensions

The breakout board is supplied with a male header and a female right-angle header, offering flexibility for prototyping and final assembly. The product measures 3.3 (width) by 1.5 (depth) by 4.3 (height) and weighs 4 g, making it a compact option for light-sensing builds.

Choose the Pimoroni BH1745 Luminance and Colour Sensor Breakout when you need an RGB and luminance sensing board that works with Raspberry Pi systems and supports both 3.3V and 5V power.