TCS34725 — i2c address & wiring
RGB plus clear colour sensor behind an IR-blocking filter, at a fixed 0x29.
Key facts
TCS34725 at a glance
| i2c address | 0x29 fixed address |
|---|---|
| Logic voltage | 2.7–3.6 V |
| Type | sensor |
| Part | ams TCS34725 |
| Ships with | Grove |
| Datasheet | ams TCS34725 — manufacturer documentation ↗ |
The chip
What the ams TCS34725 actually is
Colour light-to-digital converter with red, green, blue and clear photodiodes under an IR-blocking filter, so colour readings hold up under mixed lighting. Programmable gain and integration time cover dim to bright scenes. Supply runs 2.7–3.6 V.
Watch out: Check the exact part number. The TCS34725 and TCS34727 answer at 0x29, but the near-identical TCS34721 and TCS34723 in the same family answer at 0x39. And 0x29 is crowded — the VL53L0X and VL53L1X distance sensors live there too, and the TCS34725 can't move.
Wiring
How to connect the TCS34725
The TCS34725 talks i2c at address 0x29. It runs at 2.7–3.6 V, so match your host's logic level — if your host is 5 V and a board on the bus is 3.3 V-only, add a level shifter. Use the compatibility checker to confirm the exact cable for your setup.
The address is fixed, so two TCS34725s can't share a bus directly — the address-conflict guide covers the workarounds (multiplexer, second bus).
Wiring is the usual four: power, ground, SDA and SCL, plus pull-up resistors — almost always already fitted on the breakout. Nothing showing up? Run an i2c scanner first; if the bus is silent, the 7-step checklist finds it faster than guessing.
Ecosystems
Plug-together options for the TCS34725
TCS34725 breakouts ship with Grove — keyed 4-pin cables carrying power, ground, SDA and SCL, so there's nothing to solder and nothing to wire backwards. Chain it to the next board and keep going.
Running a mixed bench? Those ecosystems interoperate more than their marketing suggests — see every connector pairing for the cable or adapter you need, or the standards overview for how they compare.
Alternatives
Other light boards
Watch the bus
Boards that clash with the TCS34725
These want an address the TCS34725 also answers (0x29), so they can't share a bus with it untouched. If one is address-selectable, strap it elsewhere; if not, the conflict guide covers the multiplexer and second-bus routes, and the collision roundup explains why a scan won't warn you.
Get one
Questions
TCS34725 i2c FAQ
What is the TCS34725's i2c address?
The TCS34725 sits at a fixed address of 0x29. It can't be changed, so two of them can't share one bus without a multiplexer or a second bus.
What voltage does the TCS34725 run at?
The sensor runs from 2.7–3.6 V (the TCS34727 variant is made for a 1.8 V i2c bus). Many breakouts add a regulator and level shifting for 5 V hosts — check yours before wiring it to a 5 V Arduino.
Can I use two TCS34725s on one i2c bus?
Not directly — every TCS34725 answers to 0x29, so two on one bus would collide. Use a TCA9548A multiplexer to give each its own channel, or put the second one on a separate bus.
Does the TCS34725 work with Grove?
Yes — TCS34725 breakouts ship with Grove, so it plugs straight in with no soldering. Mixing ecosystems? The compatibility checker gives you the exact cable or adapter.
What should I watch out for with the TCS34725?
Check the exact part number. The TCS34725 and TCS34727 answer at 0x29, but the near-identical TCS34721 and TCS34723 in the same family answer at 0x39. And 0x29 is crowded — the VL53L0X and VL53L1X distance sensors live there too, and the TCS34725 can't move.