TCS34725 RGB color sensor: specs and pinout
An I2C color light-to-digital converter chip (ams / TAOS TCS3472 family) that returns red, green, blue and clear light values, mounted on a module.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Supply voltage VDD (TCS34725) | 2.7 V to 3.6 V, 3 V nominal (abs. max 3.8 V) | source Recommended Operating Conditions and Absolute Maximum Ratings (p.3) |
| Interface | I2C fast mode, up to 400 kbit/s | source Features (p.1) |
| I2C address | 0x29 (TCS34725 and TCS34727) | source Available Options (p.3) |
| Supply current | 235 uA typical (330 uA max) active; 65 uA wait state; 2.5 uA typical (10 uA max) sleep (VDD 3 V) | source Operating Characteristics (p.4) |
| Operating temperature | -30 C to 70 C | source Recommended Operating Conditions (p.3) |
| INT output | Open drain, active low | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
| Channels | Red, green, blue and clear with IR blocking filter | source Features (p.1) |
Power
Chip pins
These are the pins of the chip on the module, from the chip datasheet. The module's own header may label or expose them differently.
These are the 6 pins of the FN-6 chip package. The module board (regulator, LED, header order, 5 V tolerance) is not covered by an official document.
| Pin | Function | Voltage | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VDD | 2.7 V to 3.6 V | Supply voltage | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
| 2 | SCL | VDD level | I2C serial clock input | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
| 3 | GND | 0 V | Power supply ground | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
| 4 | NC | No connect, do not connect | source Terminal Functions (p.3) | |
| 5 | INT | open drain | Interrupt, active low | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
| 6 | SDA | VDD level | I2C serial data I/O | source Terminal Functions (p.3) |
Build with it
Project ideas for the TCS34725 RGB color sensor. Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- Color reader with a display: The chip runs at 3 V, matching the ESP32's 3.3 V I2C bus.
- Paint swatch matcher: The ESP8266 board runs I2C at 3.3 V. Hold the sensor at a fixed distance for repeatable values.
- Color sorting flap: Power the servo from its own 5 V supply with grounds joined; the sensor stays on 3.3 V.
- Ambient light logger: The sheet describes the IR-blocking clear channel for ambient light sensing on page 1.
Common mistakes
- Do not power the bare chip from 5 V: VDD is 2.7 V to 3.6 V and 3.8 V is the absolute maximum. Check whether your module has a regulator before using a 5 V board (source: link, p.3).
- Fixed I2C address 0x29 for the TCS34725; only the TCS34721/23 use 0x39, so two TCS34725 cannot share one bus (source: link, Available Options, p.3).
- The INT pin is open drain, so it needs a pull-up if you use the interrupt (source: link, Terminal Functions, p.3).
Not covered by the official source
- Module board not documented by an official source.
Sources
- link (TCS3472 Color Light-to-Digital Converter with IR Filter, TAOS135 Aug 2012; ams/TAOS)