SparkFun MPL3115A2 Altitude/Pressure Sensor Breakout Board

SparkFun MPL3115A2 Altitude/Pressure Sensor Breakout Board is a compact pressure sensor breakout offering 20-bit altitude and 20-bit pressure measurement, plus 12-bit temperature measurement, for embedded environmental sensing.

Overview

This breakout board features the MPL3115A2 MEMS sensor. Its output is digitised by a high-resolution ADC and transmitted via I2C, allowing straightforward integration with microcontrollers. The sensor provides resolution down to 30 cm (1 ft) for altitude and fractions of a Pascal for pressure, supporting accurate environmental monitoring. An onboard low-dropout regulator (LDO) supports a supply voltage range of 1.95V to 3.6V and a digital interface voltage of 1.6V to 3.6V, which suits low-power and battery-operated projects.

Key Features

• Autonomous data acquisition mode
• 32-sample FIFO buffer capable of logging data for up to 12 days
• Configurable sample rate from 1 second to 9 hours
• I2C interface operating up to 400kHz for fast and reliable communication with minimal wiring
• All pins exposed via a 0.1-inch pitch header for quick prototyping

Specifications

• Sensor Type: MEMS pressure/altitude sensor
• Measurement Resolution: 20-bit (altitude and pressure), 12-bit (temperature)
• Supply Voltage: 1.95V to 3.6V (LDO-regulated)
• Interface Voltage: 1.6V to 3.6V, I2C-compatible
• Header Pitch: 0.1-inch (2.54mm)
• Dimensions: 33 (width) x 15 (depth) x 43 (height)
• Weight: 900 gm

Applications

Ideal for weather stations, drones, IoT projects, and altitude-sensitive applications, this breakout board combines high accuracy with low power consumption, making it a practical choice for sensing projects that require altitude or pressure data.