Can I connect an external sensor?
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Yes. You can choose a connection to suit the sensor’s interface and voltage.
| Connection | Typical use |
|---|---|
| AX02B 29-pin | Break out the 29 Leafony Bus signals to 2.54mm-pitch pads for wiring |
| AX06 Grove&5V | Connect I2C, UART, analog, or digital signals using Grove connectors |
| J1 on AI05 Env Sensors | Connect an external 3.3V I2C sensor to GND, 3.3V, SDA, and SCL |
These four points help you choose a suitable combination:
- Supply voltage and current: Can your power source supply the sensor?
- Signal levels: Do the MCU and sensor use compatible levels? A sensor’s 5V supply requirement is separate from its signal voltage. AX02B has no voltage conversion, so add level shifting where needed.
- Pins and I2C addresses: Are there conflicts with other leaves? For example, the AI05 accelerometer and AX06 I/O expander both use 0x18.
- Software: Is there a driver or library for your MCU and development environment?
For Grove sensors, checking voltage and signals alongside the connector type helps you choose a compatible device. See Combining leaves and choosing power for details.
A sequence for your first test
- Check the sensor datasheet for its interface, supply, and signal voltage, then choose a connection from the table above. For I2C, also check the address map for conflicts with existing leaves.
- Disconnect all power before wiring. Start with the MCU, power source, required connection leaves, and one external sensor.
- Run a minimal sensor-reading example compatible with your MCU and check readings through serial output or a similar display.
- Once readings work, add other leaves and processing one at a time. If an I2C sensor stops responding after an addition, see I2C address and connection checks.
