Sensors

MAX30102

Optical pulse oximetry and heart-rate sensor module used in wearable demos.

China-madeAnalog DevicesActiveModerate

Best For

Projects needing Heart rate and SpO2 with a commonly available sensors part.

Avoid If

You need production-grade certainty without checking the exact module vendor, pinout, and library maintenance status.

Quick Decision Notes

MAX30102 is indexed as a sensors part from Analog Devices. ChipScout tracks it by practical maker-facing dimensions: interfaces, library readiness, estimated price, field-level sources, and whether the page is strong enough for selection rather than only lookup.

Technical Specifications

MeasurementRed + IR optical sensingSource: Trinamic
InterfaceI2CSource: Trinamic
UseHeart rate / SpO2 demosSource: Trinamic
Working Voltage1.8V / 3.3V moduleSource: Trinamic

Common Use Cases

  • Maker prototypes
  • Low-cost modules
  • Educational hardware

Known Issues

  • Breakout boards may use different pin labels or regulator choices
  • Clone modules can differ from the original datasheet part

Interfaces and Library Support

Interfaces
I2C
Wireless
None
Voltage
3.3V
Libraries
Arduino verifiedMicroPython pending
Data Integrity78% confidence
Sourcehttps://www.analog.com/
Last verified2026-05-20
Core specsVerified
PinoutAvailable
Library supportChecked
Price rangePresent
Found a wrong spec?

Every field is meant to be source-backed. Corrections should include a datasheet URL, vendor page, module photo, or reproducible library test.

Submit correction

Source Resources

Pinout Table

VCC3.3VPower the module from a rail that matches the breakout board, not just the bare IC.
GNDCommon groundConnect ground between the controller, sensor/module, and external power supply.
SDAMCU I2C dataUse pull-ups appropriate for the board voltage; many modules already include them.
SCLMCU I2C clockKeep wiring short for breadboard prototypes and lower bus speed if unstable.

Pinout is not yet source-verified. Use the table as an integration checklist, then confirm exact pins against the module vendor page before wiring hardware.

Common Wiring

VCC

Power the module from a rail that matches the breakout board, not just the bare IC.

GND

Connect ground between the controller, sensor/module, and external power supply.

SDA

Use pull-ups appropriate for the board voltage; many modules already include them.

SCL

Keep wiring short for breadboard prototypes and lower bus speed if unstable.

Arduino Example

#include <Wire.h>

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Wire.begin();
  Serial.println("MAX30102 I2C wiring smoke test");
}

void loop() {
  // Replace this with the maintained MAX30102 library call.
  Serial.println("Check MAX30102 on the I2C bus, then read a sample.");
  delay(1000);
}

MicroPython Example

MicroPython support is pending. Treat community scripts as prototypes until a maintained driver is linked and tested on a known development board.

Recommended Development Boards

ESP32-C3 development board

Low-cost Wi-Fi/BLE board with enough interfaces for most sensors and modules.

Arduino Uno R4 / compatible

Good baseline for beginner wiring and library validation.

Raspberry Pi Pico W

Practical MicroPython target for I2C, SPI, UART, PWM, and ADC experiments.

Alternative Model Reasons

ACS712SensorsCompare this option when price or module availability is the deciding constraint.
ADXL345SensorsChoose this when MicroPython support is required for fast prototyping.
AHT10SensorsChoose this when MicroPython support is required for fast prototyping.
AHT20SensorsChoose this when MicroPython support is required for fast prototyping.

Common Questions

What is MAX30102 best used for?

Projects needing Heart rate and SpO2 with a commonly available sensors part.

Does MAX30102 support Arduino or MicroPython?

MAX30102 has verified Arduino support and MicroPython support pending verification.

What interfaces does MAX30102 use?

MAX30102 lists I2C; wireless support is no wireless protocol.

Compare MAX30102 vs ACS712

Alternatives and Related Parts