Grid Eye Infrared/IR Array Thermal Camera Sensor AMG8833

Specifications

• Operating Voltage: 3.3V to 5.0V DC (Onboard 3.3V Low-Dropout Regulator)
• Current Consumption: 4.5mA (normal mode), 0.2mA (sleep mode)
• Temperature Detection Range: 0°C to 80°C (32°F to 176°F)
• Target Temperature Accuracy: ±2.5°C (±4.5°F)
• Thermal Sensor Array: 8 × 8 (64 pixels)
• Frame Rate: 10 Hz (10 frames per second) or 1 Hz selectable
• Viewing Angle / FOV: 60° diagonal (60° horizontal × 60° vertical)
• Human Detection Distance: Up to 7 meters (23 feet)
• Communication Interface: I2C (Standard / Fast Mode)
• I2C Address: 0x69 (default, configurable to 0x68 via PCB jumper)
• Interrupt Output Pin: Open-drain thermal interrupt pin
• Board Dimensions: 21mm × 21mm × 3.5mm

Minimum hardware

• Arduino Uno, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi  required to handle I2C communication, compute the 64-element temperature array, and render or process thermal data.
• 4× Female-to-Male Jumper Wires required to route power, ground, and I2C signal lines between the breakout board and your microcontroller.
• Breadboard  recommended for convenient pin breakout and mounting during initial prototype testing.

Safety & Handling Warnings

• Logic Level Alert: While the board features an onboard 3.3V regulator for VCC, the I2C signal lines (SDA/SCL) connect directly to the AMG8833 chip. When connecting to 5V microcontrollers (like the Arduino Uno), ensure your breakout revision includes onboard level shifting or use external 3.3V/5V logic level converters to prevent long-term degradation of the sensor IC.
• ESD Sensitivity: The Panasonic AMG8833 thermopile array is highly sensitive to static discharge. Always touch a grounded surface or wear an ESD wrist strap prior to handling the module.
• Direct Heat Exposure: Do not expose the optical window directly to heat sources exceeding 100°C or direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this can degrade sensor calibration.

Accessories Included in the Box

• 1× AMG8833 Grid-EYE 8x8 IR Thermal Camera Sensor Breakout Board
• 1× 6-Pin Male Header Strip (Unsoldered)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the AMG8833 Grid-EYE sensor compatible with Arduino Uno?
  Yes, the AMG8833 is fully compatible with Arduino Uno via standard I2C communication using dedicated libraries like the Adafruit AMG88xx library.
• Can I use the AMG8833 thermal sensor with an ESP32 or ESP8266?
  Yes, the sensor works seamlessly with ESP32 and ESP8266, making it ideal for streaming thermal grid data over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to web dashboards.
• Does this sensor support Raspberry Pi and Python?
  Yes, the AMG8833 communicates via I2C and is natively supported by Python libraries like Adafruit CircuitPython for Raspberry Pi thermal imaging projects.
• Can I connect multiple AMG8833 sensors to a single microcontroller?
  Yes, you can connect up to two AMG8833 sensors on the same I2C bus by pulling the AD0 pin HIGH on one module to change its address from 0x69 to 0x68.
• What voltage is required to power the AMG8833 breakout module?
  The breakout module operates on 3.3V to 5.0V DC thanks to its onboard 3.3V low-dropout voltage regulator.
• Can I power the AMG8833 directly from the 3.3V pin of an ESP32 or Raspberry Pi?
  Yes, you can supply 3.3V directly to the VCC pin of the module to power the internal Panasonic thermopile array safely.
• How much power does the AMG8833 thermal sensor consume during operation?
  The AMG8833 draws approximately 4.5mA during active sensing mode and drops down to 0.2mA in low-power sleep mode.
• How do I wire the AMG8833 module to an Arduino board?
  Connect VCC to 5V (or 3.3V), GND to GND, SDA to pin A4 (or I2C SDA), and SCL to pin A5 (or I2C SCL).
• Do I need external logic level shifters when connecting to 5V microcontrollers?
  While many breakout revisions include basic pull-up resistors, using external 3.3V/5V logic level converters is recommended for long-term reliability on 5V I2C buses.
• What is the function of the INT pin on the AMG8833 breakout board?
  The INT pin is an open-drain thermal interrupt line that triggers when any pixel reading exceeds or drops below a pre-configured temperature threshold.
• Why is my AMG8833 sensor returning all zero readings over I2C?
  This usually indicates an incorrect I2C address (check if AD0 is tied to GND for 0x69 or VCC for 0x68) or loose SDA/SCL wiring connections.
• Why are the temperature values from the sensor fluctuating rapidly?
  Ensure the sensor is isolated from strong physical air drafts or rapid ambient airflow, and verify that power line ripple is minimized with stable filtering.
• Why is the AMG8833 thermal camera not detecting human body heat beyond 5 meters?
  The optical field of view spans 60 degrees; as distance increases, a human target fills a smaller fraction of an individual pixel's field, averaging out the temperature response.
• What happens if a target temperature exceeds 80°C?
  Temperatures above 80°C will saturate the sensor's thermopile array, causing readings to cap out or report out-of-range sensor errors.