# Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/837/medium800thumb/adafruit_products_6477-00.jpg?1772725720) The ** Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout** is a multi-channel spectrometer, which is a special type of light sensor that is able to detect not only the amount of light present but also the amounts of light within different wavelengths. You can use it determining what color or colors of light is present much better than the human eye is capable of. ![Overhead shot of light sensor breakout.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/905/medium800/adafruit_products_as7343_front.jpg?1773258448 ) The AS7343 packs within its 3x2mm footprint 25 photodiodes that can detect 11 separate, overlapping bands of visible light, plus one near infrared, one clear and a flicker channel for 14 channels total. Compared to the AS7341, this sensor has 4 more light channels - but you'll need to use a new firmware driver since it's not backward-compatible. The multi-spectral color measuring capabilities of the AS7343 can be used to quantify the specific makeup of light, either emitted or reflective. It's kind of like a mini spectroscopy sensor. This is possible thanks to the impressive collection of sensors in the AS7343 being routed through a 16-bit 6-channel ADC that takes the raw measurements and converts them into digital values that can be read out over I2C. ![Back of sensor breakout with U.S. quarter for scale.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/906/medium800/adafruit_products_as7343_back.jpg?1773258502 ) 14 readable individual sensor elements (13 light channels plus flicker detection) don’t exactly fit through a 6-channel ADC all at once, so the chip includes a so-called Super MUX (SMUX) that allows you to route the signal from any sensor to any ADC channel. The sensor also has GPIO and interrupt pins that can allow it to communicate directly with other sensors, or the microcontroller itself. ![Close-up of 4-pin JST-SH connector on board.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/907/medium800/adafruit_products_as7343_stemma_end.jpg?1773258545 ) All of this capability is made accessible by mounting the sensor on a STEMMA QT form factor breakout board, complete with level shifting circuitry and [SparkFun Qwiic](https://www.sparkfun.com/qwiic) compatible [Stemma QT](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-adafruit-stemma-qt) connectors. This means that you can, without needing to solder, connect our AS7343 breakout into your 3.3V or 5V microcontroller of choice be it an Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, or one of the many [CircuitPython-compatible boards](https://circuitpython.org/downloads). While it certainly takes a bit of work to make all those different light sensors share their measurements, our Arduino and CircuitPython libraries take care of all of that hard work for you and even include example code to help get you started. [**QT Cable is not included** , but we have a variety in the shop](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=stemma+qt+cable&sort=BestMatch). # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Pinouts ![Adafruit AS7343 breakout seen from both top and bottom sides of the PCB.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/908/medium800/adafruit_products_pinouts_header.png?1773259006 ) The fixed I2C address is **0x39**. ## Power Pins - **VIN**  - this is the power pin. Since the sensor chip uses 3VDC, we have included a voltage regulator on board that will take 3-5VDC and safely convert it to 3VDC. To power the board, give it the same power as the logic level of your microcontroller - e.g. for a 5V micro like Arduino, use 5V. - **GND** - common ground for power and logic ![Adafruit AS7343 Multi Spectral Light Sensor breakout with power pins VIN, and GND highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/909/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_power.png?1773259294) ## I2C Data Pins - **SCL ** - the I2C clock pin, connect to your microcontroller's I2C clock line. - **SDA** - the I2C data pin, connect to your microcontroller's I2C data line. - **[STEMMA QT](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-adafruit-stemma-qt) -** These connectors allow you to connectors to dev boards with  **STEMMA QT** connectors or to other things with [various associated accessories](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=JST%20SH%204) ![Adafruit AS7343 Multi Spectral Light Sensor breakout with I2C data pins SCL and SDA, and the two STEMMA QT connectors highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/911/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_i2c.png?1773259651) ## Interrupt & GPIO Pins **INT** - the interrupt pin. It is an open-drain interrupt. To use, connect the pin to a GPIO pin on your microcontroller. **GPIO** - the GPIO pin on the breakout. It is an open-drain pin that can be used as an input or output.   ![Adafruit AS7343 Multi Spectral Light Sensor breakout with the interrupt and GPIO pins highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/912/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_int_gpio.png?1773259840) ![Wiring illustration showing the AS7343 breakout connected to a Feather RP2040 via STEMMA QT connection and the INT pin on the breakout connected to pin D9 on the feather via breadboard.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/913/medium640/adafruit_products_interrupt_wiring_bb.png?1773260290) ## White LED The AS7343 includes LED driver circuitry. This breakout has a white LED connected to the driver. It can be controlled using the CircuitPython or Arduino libraries. This can be used to shine white light onto an object and measure the colors in the light being reflected back from the object into the sensor. ![Adafruit AS7343 light sensor breakout with the built-in white LED at the top of the board highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/914/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_led.png?1773264633) ## Power LED & Jumper Above the left STEMMA QT connector there is a small green **ON** power indicator LED. When the breakout is powered this LED will turn on.  On the back of the AS7343 breakout there is a jumper with a small trace between two pads that can be cut to disable the **ON** power indicator LED on the board. If you do not want that indicator lit, carefully cut the trace. It can always be reconnected with a bit of solder. ![Adafruit AS7343 breakout with then ON power indicator LED highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/915/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_power_led.png?1773264875) ![Adafruit AS7343 breakout bottom side with the power indicator LED jumper highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/916/medium640/adafruit_products_as7343_pinouts_power_led_jumper.png?1773264902) # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## CircuitPython and Python It's easy to use the  **AS7343** with Python or CircuitPython, and the [Adafruit\_CircuitPython\_AS7343](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_AS7343) module. This module allows you to easily write Python code to read data from the sensor. You can use this driver with any CircuitPython microcontroller board or with a computer that has GPIO and Python [thanks to Adafruit\_Blinka, our CircuitPython-for-Python compatibility library](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-on-raspberrypi-linux). ## CircuitPython Microcontroller Wiring First wire up a AS7343 to your board exactly as shown below. Here's an example of wiring a Feather RP2040 to the sensor with I2C using one of the handy [**STEMMA QT**](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-adafruit-stemma-qt) connectors: - **Board STEMMA 3V** to  **sensor** **VIN (red wire)** - **Board STEMMA GND** to  **sensor** **GND (black wire)** - **Board STEMMA SCL** to  **sensor** **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Board STEMMA SDA** to  **sensor** **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing an Adafruit Feather RP2040 connected to the AS7343 breakout via STEMMA QT connector](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/927/medium640/adafruit_products_circuitpython_stemma_bb.png?1773326071) The following is the AS7343 wired to a Feather RP2040 using a solderless breadboard: - **Board 3V** to  **sensor** **VIN (red wire)** - **Board GND** to  **sensor** **GND (black wire)** - **Board SCL** to  **sensor** **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Board SDA** to  **sensor** **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing an Adafruit Feather PR2040 connected to the AS7343 breakout via 3V, GND, SCL, and SDA pins on a solderless breadboard ](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/928/medium640/adafruit_products_circuitpython_breadboard_bb.png?1773326127) ## Python Computer Wiring Since there are _dozens_ of Linux computers/boards you can use, we will show wiring for Raspberry Pi. For other platforms, [please visit the guide for CircuitPython on Linux to see whether your platform is supported](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-on-raspberrypi-linux). Here's the Raspberry Pi wired with I2C using the STEMMA connector: - **Pi 3V** to **sensor VIN (red wire)** - **Pi GND** to  **sensor** **GND (black wire)** - **Pi SCL** to  **sensor** **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Pi SDA** to  **sensor** **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing Adafruit AS7343 breakout connected to a Raspberry Pi via Stemma QT cable connected to 3V, SDA, SCL, and GND on the Pi.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/929/medium640/adafruit_products_raspi_stemma_bb.png?1773326176) Here's the Raspberry Pi wired with I2C using a solderless breadboard: - **Pi 3V** to **sensor VIN (red wire)** - **Pi GND** to  **sensor** **GND (black wire)** - **Pi SCL** to  **sensor** **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Pi SDA** to  **sensor** **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing the AS7343 breakout connected to a Raspberry Pi pins 3V, SDA, SCL, and GND via a solderless breadboard.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/930/medium640/adafruit_products_raspi_breadboard_bb.png?1773326216) ## Python Installation of AS7343 Library You'll need to install the **Adafruit\_Blinka** library that provides the CircuitPython support in Python. This may also require enabling I2C on your platform and verifying you are running Python 3. [Since each platform is a little different, and Linux changes often, please visit the CircuitPython on Linux guide to get your computer ready](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-on-raspberrypi-linux)! Once that's done, from your command line run the following command: - `pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-as7343` If your default Python is version 3 you may need to run 'pip' instead. Just make sure you aren't trying to use CircuitPython on Python 2.x, it isn't supported! ## CircuitPython Usage To use with CircuitPython, you need to first install the **Adafruit\_CircuitPython\_AS7343** library, and its dependencies, into the **lib** folder on your **CIRCUITPY** drive. Then you need to update **code.py** with the example script. Thankfully, we can do this in one go. In the example below, click the **Download Project Bundle** button below to download the necessary libraries and the **code.py** file in a zip file. Extract the contents of the zip file, and copy the **entire** **lib** **folder** and the **code.py** file to your **CIRCUITPY** drive. Your **CIRCUITPY/lib** folder should contain the following folders and files: - **adafruit\_bus\_device/** - **adafruit\_register/** - **adafruit\_as7343.mpy** ![CIRCUITPY drive screenshot showing required project files and libraries](https://adafruit.github.io/Adafruit_CircuitPython_Bundle/as7343_as7343_simpletest.py.png ) ## Python Usage Once you have the library `pip3` installed on your computer, copy or download the following example to your computer, and run the following, replacing **code.py** with whatever you named the file: `python3 code.py` ## Example Code **If running CircuitPython:** Once everything is saved to the **CIRCUITPY** drive, [connect to the serial console](https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpython/kattni-connecting-to-the-serial-console) to see the data printed out! **If running Python:** The console output will appear wherever you are running Python. https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_AS7343/blob/main/examples/as7343_simpletest.py First, the sensor gets initialized over I2C. In the main loop the spectral data is read from the sensor and the different channel values are printed to the serial console once per second. ![Serial console output from the CircuitPython AS7343 simpletest script showing sensor readings being printed](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/931/medium800/adafruit_products_circuitpython_example_output.png?1773326780 ) # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Python Docs # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Arduino Using the AS7343 breakout with Arduino involves wiring up the breakout to your Arduino-compatible microcontroller, installing the [Adafruit\_AS7343](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_AS7343) library, and running the provided example code. ## Wiring Wire as shown for a  **5V** board like an Uno. If you are using a **3V** board, like an Adafruit Feather, wire the board's 3V pin to the sensor **VIN**. Here is an Adafruit Metro wired up to the sensor using the STEMMA QT connector: - **Board 5V** to **breakout** **VIN (red wire)** - **Board GND** to **breakout**  **GND (black wire)** - **Board SCL** to **breakout**  **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Board SDA** to **breakout**  **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing Adafruit Metro wired to the AS7343 breakout via STEMMA QT connector to pins 5V, GND, SCL, and SDA](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/921/medium640/adafruit_products_arduino_stemma_bb.png?1773324285) Here is an Adafruit Metro wired up using a solderless breadboard: - **Board 5V** to **breakout** **VIN (red wire)** - **Board GND** to **breakout**  **GND (black wire)** - **Board SCL** to **breakout** **SCL (yellow wire)** - **Board SDA** to **breakout**  **SDA (blue wire)** ![Wiring illustration showing Adafruit Metro connected to the AS7343 breakout via solderless breadboard connected to pins 5V, GND, SCL, and SDA](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/922/medium640/adafruit_products_arduino_breadboard_bb.png?1773324408) ## Library Installation You can install the **Adafruit\_AS7343** library for Arduino using the Library Manager in the Arduino IDE. ![Arduino IDE showing the tools menu open with Manage Libraries highlighted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/923/medium800/adafruit_products_arduino_manage_libraries.png?1773324630 ) Click the **Manage Libraries ...** menu item, search for **Adafruit\_AS7343** , and select the **Adafruit\_AS7343**  library: ![Arduino IDE library manager open with "Adafruit_AS7343" in the search box and library in the results list.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/924/medium800/adafruit_products_arduino_install_as7343_lib.png?1773324847 ) If asked about dependencies, click "Install all". ![Arduino IDE pop up window asking to install dependencies for the AS7343 driver](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/925/medium800/adafruit_products_arduino_install_dependencies.png?1773324919 ) If the "Dependencies" window does not come up, then you already have the dependencies installed. Warning: If the dependencies are already installed, you must make sure you update them through the Arduino Library Manager before loading the example! ## Example Code https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_AS7343/blob/main/examples/basic_readings/basic_readings.ino Upload the sketch to your board and open up the Serial Monitor ( **Tools -\> Serial Monitor** ) at 115200 baud. You'll see the AS7343 recognized over I2C. Then, the spectral reading values of different channels will be printed out to the Serial Monitor. ![Arduino IDE serial monitor pane showing output from the AS7343 example code with spectral readings from various channels](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/926/medium800/adafruit_products_arduino_example_output.png?1773325511 ) # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Arduino Docs # Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout ## Downloads ## Files - [AS7343 Datasheet](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/840/original/AS7343_DS001046_6-00.pdf?1772726029) - [EagleCAD PCB files on GitHub](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-AS7343-14-Channel-Light-Color-Sensor-PCB) - [Fritzing object in the Adafruit Fritzing Library](https://github.com/adafruit/Fritzing-Library/blob/master/parts/Adafruit%20AS7343%2014%20Channel%20Light%20Color%20Sensor%20Breakout.fzpz) ## Schematic and Fab Print ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/838/medium800/adafruit_products_schem.png?1772725982) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/142/839/medium800/adafruit_products_fab.png?1772725994 dimensions are in inches) ## Primary Products ### Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout [Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/6477) The ** Adafruit AS7343 14-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout**  is a multi-channel spectrometer, which is a special type of light sensor that is able to detect not only the amount of light present but also the amounts of light within different wavelengths. This... 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