MPL3115A2 Pressure Sensor Hookup Guide
Contributors:
Nate
Nate MPL3115A2 Overview
The MPL3115A2 is a low-cost, low power, highly accurate barometric pressure sensor. Use this sensor to detect changes in barometric pressure (weather changes) or for altitude (UAV controllers and the like). The sensor is very sensitive and capable of detecting a change of only 0.05kPa which equates to a 0.3m change in altitude.
Things you should know about this sensor:
- Uses the I2C interface
- Only one sensor can reside on the I2C bus
- Uses the I2C repeated start condition. Arduino supports this, check if you're using a different microcontroller.
- Typical pressure accuracy of ±0.05kPa
- Typical altitude accuracy of ±0.3m
- Typical temperature accuracy of ±3C
- 3.3V sensor - use inline logic level converters or 330 ohm resistors to limit 5V signals
- Here’s the datasheet
- Here's the schematic for the breakout board
This sensor is ideal for environmental sensing, a weather station, or datalogging. It is a worthy replacement for the BMP085 and is more sensitive than the MPL115A1.
Suggested Reading
- Read about I2C!
- Using 3.3V sensors with 5V systems
- Installing an Arduino library
- What are pull-up resistors?
- Local Pressure vs Weather Station Pressure