How to set the address
The address is stored in the chip’s EEPROM and can be reprogrammed; 0x5A is the factory default.
Devices that use the same addresses
Two devices on the same bus can’t answer on the same address. These modules from our list also use 0x5A:
| Device | What it is | Shared address |
|---|---|---|
| CCS811 | eCO2 / TVOC gas sensor | 0x5A |
| MPR121 | 12-channel capacitive touch sensor controller | 0x5A |
| PCA9685 | 16-channel 12-bit PWM / servo driver | 0x5A |
If two of them end up on the same address, move one with its address pin, put one behind a TCA9548A multiplexer (0x70–0x77), or use a second I²C bus: the ESP32, ESP32-S3 and RP2040 have two I²C controllers (the ESP32-C3 has one).
Check your whole bus →Add the MLX90614 and your other modules: the checker finds conflicts, suggests free addresses and sizes the pull-ups.
7-bit and 8-bit address
I²C addresses are 7 bits long. Some datasheets and libraries write them as 8-bit numbers, with the read/write bit added on the right: that is why the same chip can appear as 0x5A or 0xB4. Arduino’s Wire library and ESPHome use the 7-bit form.
| 7-bit | Binary | 8-bit write | 8-bit read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0x5A | 1011010 | 0xB4 | 0xB5 |
Check that it answers
Upload this sketch with the MLX90614 wired to SDA and SCL: it tries every address the chip can use and prints the one that answers. On an ESP32 the default pins are GPIO21 (SDA) and GPIO22 (SCL); on an Arduino Uno, A4 and A5.
#include <Wire.h>
const byte ADDRS[] = {0x5A};
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
Wire.begin();
for (byte a : ADDRS) {
Wire.beginTransmission(a);
if (Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
Serial.print("MLX90614 answers at 0x");
if (a < 0x10) Serial.print('0');
Serial.println(a, HEX);
return;
}
}
Serial.println("No answer: check the wiring");
}
void loop() {}
In ESPHome the bus is scanned at boot (scan: true is the default): the log lists every address that answers.
i2c:
sda: GPIO21
scl: GPIO22
scan: true
Pull-up resistors
SDA and SCL need pull-up resistors to the supply. Many breakout boards already carry them, often 4.7 kΩ or 10 kΩ, and with several boards on the bus they add up in parallel. The I²C checker works out the allowed range for your bus voltage and speed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the I2C address of the MLX90614?
0x5A by default. The address is stored in the chip’s EEPROM and can be reprogrammed; 0x5A is the factory default.
Can I use more than one MLX90614 on the same bus?
Yes, once each one has its own address.
Why doesn’t the MLX90614 show up in an I2C scan?
Check, in this order: SDA and SCL not swapped; ground shared between the boards; pull-up resistors on SDA and SCL; the module powered at the voltage it is made for; and that your code uses the 7-bit address (0x5A), not the 8-bit one (0xB4).
Similar devices
Addresses checked against the MLX90614 datasheet.