A sophisticated and accurate colour and luminance sensor breakout from Pimoroni. The BH1745 detects RGB colour and light levels with features like 50/60Hz light noise rejection, a wide detection range, and two built-in illumination LEDs.

This type of sensor is found in phones, tablets, and laptops where it detects ambient light temperature and adjusts display colour accordingly. Designed for easy use with Raspberry Pi—solder the included right-angle header and connect directly to GPIO pins 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Also compatible with Breakout Garden.

Key Features

RGB + Luminance Detection – Measures red, green, blue, and overall light levels
Wide Detection Range – 0.005 to 40,000 lux
16-bit Data Output – High-resolution measurements
Light Noise Rejection – 50/60Hz flicker filtering
IR Cut Filter – Blocks infrared for accurate visible light readings
Dual Illumination LEDs – Built-in white LEDs for consistent lighting
I2C Interface – Address selectable via cuttable trace (0x38 or 0x39)
3.3V or 5V Compatible – Works with various microcontrollers
Reverse Polarity Protection – Guards against incorrect wiring

Specifications

Sensor: BH1745NUC
Interface: I2C (address 0x38 default, 0x39 optional)
Voltage: 3.3V or 5V
Detection Range: 0.005–40,000 lux
Resolution: 16-bit

Compatibility

Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 3B+, 3, 2, B+, A+, Zero, Zero W
Breakout Garden HAT
Arduino and other 3.3V/5V microcontrollers

Package Contents

1× BH1745 Luminance and Colour Sensor Breakout
1× 5-pin male header
1× 5-pin female right-angle header

Tip: Cut the ADDR trace to change the I2C address from 0x38 to 0x39, allowing two sensors on the same bus. Bridge the pads with solder to reset.

Resources

Python Library
Datasheet (PDF)

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