DFRobot Gravity ENS160 Air Quality Sensor
🔍 What this sensor is
The DFRobot Gravity ENS160 Air Quality Sensor is an advanced indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor that measures:
🌫️ TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds)
🫁 eCO₂ (equivalent CO₂)
📊 AQI (Air Quality Index)
👉 It’s a smart gas sensor with built-in processing, so you get ready-to-use air quality data
🧠 Core Concept (VERY IMPORTANT)
👉 This sensor does NOT measure real CO₂ directly
Instead:
Estimates eCO₂ from VOC gases
➡️ So:
✅ Good for air quality monitoring
❌ Not for precise CO₂ measurement (use SCD40 for that)
⚙️ Key Specifications
Sensor IC: ENS160 (ScioSense)
Interface: I²C
Operating Voltage: 3.3V – 5.5V
Current Consumption: ~29 mA
Warm-up Time: < 3 minutes
eCO₂ Range: 400 – 65,000 ppm
TVOC Range: 0 – 65,000 ppb
I2C Address: 0x52 / 0x53
⚡ Working Principle
Uses MOX (Metal Oxide) gas sensing
Gas exposure → resistance change
Internal algorithm converts it into:
AQI
TVOC
eCO₂
👉 Uses TrueVOC™ technology for better accuracy and stability
🔌 Pinout (Gravity Interface)
VCC (+) → 3.3V / 5V
GND (-) → Ground
SCL (C) → I2C Clock
SDA (D) → I2C Data
👉 Plug-and-play with DFRobot Gravity connectors
🧠 Key Features
✔️ Multiple outputs (AQI + TVOC + eCO₂)
✔️ Built-in smart algorithm (no complex math)
✔️ Fast response (<3 min warm-up)
✔️ Auto baseline correction (long-term stability)
✔️ High anti-interference performance
💡 Applications
🏠 Smart home air monitoring
🌬️ Air purifiers
🏢 HVAC & ventilation systems
📊 Indoor pollution monitoring
🤖 IoT environmental systems
⚠️ Important Notes (VERY IMPORTANT)
❗ 1. Warm-up + stabilization
First reading: ~3 minutes
Full stable readings: longer usage
❗ 2. Needs temperature & humidity compensation
👉 For best accuracy:
Use with:
SHT40 / SHT41
➡️ Improves VOC accuracy significantly
❗ 3. Indoor use only
Not designed for outdoor harsh environments
❗ 4. Sensor heating effect
Internal heater can slightly raise temperature
👉 Keep away from temp sensor
🆚 ENS160 vs SGP40
| Feature | ENS160 | SGP40 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | AQI + eCO₂ + TVOC | VOC Index |
| Processing | Built-in | Needs algorithm |
| Ease of use | ⭐ Easy | Medium |
| Accuracy | Higher | Good |
👍 When to use this
Use DFRobot ENS160 if you want:
Ready-to-use AQI data
Smart indoor air monitoring
IoT air quality projects
Better alternative to MQ sensors
👎 When NOT to use
Avoid if:
You need true CO₂ measurement
Outdoor environmental monitoring
Industrial gas detection
🧠 Final Understanding
👉 This sensor = “smart indoor air quality analyzer”
👉 One of the best VOC-based air sensors for IoT projects
