BME680 Sensor Board - Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, and Air Quality Monitoring for IoT Projects
The BME680 sensor board is a compact environmental sensing module based on the Bosch BME680, combining temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and gas/VOC sensing in one small breakout. It is well suited for indoor air-quality experiments, weather-station prototypes, HVAC monitoring, smart-home dashboards, classroom IoT labs, and portable environmental data loggers.
Compared with basic temperature and humidity modules, the BME680 adds a gas sensor that can be used to estimate indoor air-quality trends when paired with suitable software libraries. The board works naturally with microcontroller platforms such as the ELAB Nano V3, compact MicroPython hosts like the Raspberry Pi Pico W, and breadboard prototypes built around an MB 102 Breadboard Kit. For projects focused specifically on gas detection, it can also complement sensors such as the Waveshare MQ-135 Gas Sensor.
The current OpenELAB listing identifies this board as a CJMCU-680 BME680 sensor board with a pin header included. For exact sensor-level limits, calibration behavior, and measurement modes, refer to the official Bosch BME680 datasheet. In practical designs, use the board with a compatible I2C or SPI host, keep the sensing opening exposed to airflow, and allow warm-up time when evaluating gas and air-quality readings.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | TB-BME680 |
| Model | CJMCU-680 BME680 sensor board |
| Sensor IC | Bosch BME680 |
| Measured Parameters | Temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, gas/VOC trend |
| Digital Interfaces | I2C and SPI supported by BME680 sensor IC |
| Sensor Supply Range | 1.71V-3.6V at sensor IC level; confirm breakout-board supply pins before wiring |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C |
| Humidity Range | 0% RH to 100% RH |
| Pressure Range | 300hPa to 1100hPa |
| Gas Sensor | Metal-oxide gas sensor for VOC/air-quality trend estimation |
| Typical I2C Addresses | 0x76 or 0x77, depending on board configuration |
| Current Listing Weight | Approx. 5g |
| Included Accessory | Pin header |
| Software Support | Arduino, CircuitPython, MicroPython, Raspberry Pi Python libraries |
| Typical Applications | IoT air-quality nodes, weather stations, smart-home monitoring, altitude estimation |
Board Layout & Label Guide
- VIN / VCC - Power input for the breakout board. Confirm the exact board labeling and supported voltage before connecting.
- GND - Ground reference shared with the host microcontroller or single-board computer.
- SCL / SCK - I2C clock line, or SPI clock line when the board is used in SPI mode.
- SDA / SDI - I2C data line, or SPI data input depending on the selected communication mode.
- SDO - SPI data output, and often also used to select the I2C address on BME680 breakout boards.
- CS - SPI chip-select pin. Leave or strap according to the breakout-board design when using I2C.
- BME680 Package - Main sensing IC; keep this area exposed to ambient air for better humidity and gas-response behavior.
- Pin Header - The listing includes a pin header for breadboard or soldered integration.
- Airflow Note - Avoid enclosing the sensor tightly beside heat sources, regulators, or high-current devices.
- Logic-Level Note - Use pull-ups and signal levels that match both the breakout and the host controller.
Application Scenarios
1. Arduino Environmental Readout over I2C
This Arduino example uses the Adafruit BME680 library to print temperature, humidity, pressure, and gas-resistance readings to the serial monitor.
2. Raspberry Pi Python Air-Quality Logger
This Python script records readings to a CSV file on a Raspberry Pi or Linux SBC using the Adafruit CircuitPython BME680 library.
3. MicroPython I2C Address Scanner
Before writing a full sensor application, this MicroPython snippet helps confirm whether the BME680 board appears at 0x76 or 0x77.
4. Simple Comfort Alert with Arduino
Use the BME680 as a local room-monitoring sensor and trigger an alert LED when humidity rises above a chosen threshold.
5. Altitude Estimation from Pressure
This Arduino example calculates approximate altitude from pressure, useful for basic weather-station and indoor floor-change experiments.
6. MQTT Environmental Node Concept
For IoT dashboards, the BME680 can feed temperature, humidity, pressure, and gas data to an MQTT broker from a Python-capable host.
Packing List
- 1 x BME680 Sensor Board
- 1 x Pin Header
FAQ
Q: What does TB-BME680 measure?
A: It measures temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and gas/VOC trends for environmental monitoring projects.
Q: Is the gas reading the same as a calibrated CO2 sensor?
A: No. The BME680 gas sensor is useful for VOC and air-quality trend estimation, but it is not a direct calibrated CO2 sensor.
Q: Which interface should I use?
A: I2C is usually the easiest option for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Pico projects, while SPI is useful when you need a dedicated bus or higher integration control.
Q: What I2C address should I try first?
A: Try 0x76 first, then 0x77 if the sensor is not detected. The actual address depends on the breakout configuration.
Q: Can I use it with a 5V Arduino?
A: Check the exact breakout-board power and logic-level design first. The BME680 sensor IC itself is a low-voltage device, so level compatibility matters.
Q: Why do gas readings change slowly after power-up?
A: Gas sensing requires heater operation and stabilization time, so readings often need warm-up and baseline tracking before they become meaningful.
Q: Can this board estimate altitude?
A: Yes. Altitude can be estimated from barometric pressure when you provide an appropriate sea-level pressure reference.
Q: What should I check if the board is not detected?
A: Verify VCC, GND, SDA, SCL, pull-ups, I2C address, library installation, and whether the host GPIO voltage is compatible with the breakout.