ENS160 Multi-Gas Sensor
Measures equivalent CO2, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and provides an air quality index (AQI 1-5). Digital multi-gas MOX sensor.
Say it to PAL
“Tell me when the air quality gets worse.”
The code PAL writes
p.onSensorChange('qwiic-ens160', 'aqi', (aqi) => {
if (aqi >= 4) p.notify('Poor air quality! AQI: ' + aqi);
});
await p.waitUntilStopped();“Keep a log of how stuffy the air is.”
The code PAL writes
const co2 = await p.read('qwiic-ens160', 'eco2');
const tvoc = await p.read('qwiic-ens160', 'tvoc');
p.log(`eCO2: ${co2} ppm, TVOC: ${tvoc} ppb`);When to pick it
Use for general indoor air quality monitoring when you want eCO2, TVOC, and AQI from one sensor. Cheaper than true NDIR CO2 sensors. NOT a substitute for SCD30/SCD41 if you need precise CO2 measurement.
Good to know
- ECO2 is estimated from VOCs, not directly measured — can differ significantly from true CO2 (SCD30/SCD41).
- Needs ~15 minutes to warm up. Best baseline accuracy after 48 hours of conditioning.
- Temperature/humidity compensation improves accuracy — pair with a BME280 or SHT40.
- AQI index is the sensor's own 1-5 scale, not the US EPA AQI (0-500).
About it
The ScioSense ENS160 is a digital multi-gas sensor with four independent MOX elements. It provides eCO2 (equivalent CO2, 400-65000 ppm), TVOC (0-65000 ppb), and an AQI index (1=excellent to 5=unhealthy). Unlike NDIR sensors (SCD30/SCD41), this estimates CO2 from VOC correlation — good for general air quality but not precise CO2 measurement. Excellent for HVAC control, smart ventilation, and indoor air quality monitoring.
Where to buy
Facts
Tested
It is in our catalog, but nobody has checked it on a real board. It may not work yet. Its driver is written, but it has not been tested on hardware yet.
I2C address
The ENS160 Multi-Gas Sensor answers at I2C address 0x52. A jumper or pin moves it to 0x53.
Current
30 mA
The catalog lists a typical draw of 30 mA for the ENS160, copied from the maker’s description and not measured by Palpable.
Board size
25.4 × 25.4 mm
The ENS160 board measures 25.4 × 25.4 mm and stands 4.6 mm tall with its parts. It has 3 mounting holes. These dimensions are from the maker’s mechanical drawing.
Chip
ENS160
Its sensor is the ScioSense ENS160.
Free to reuse
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This record was last changed on October 6, 2026.