# Cannot connect to BME280 **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [December 20, 2021, 11:30am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454 "2021-12-20T11:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dcleaver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dcleaver](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/dcleaver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 11:30am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/1 "2021-12-20T11:30:56Z")
I’m trying to connect to a Pimoroni BME280 module. I’ve hooked up the following directly to a RPI 3 B+: - Pin 1 → 2-6V - Pin 3 → SDA - Pin 5 → SCL - Pin 9 → GND I’ve got the following kernel modules loaded in (output from lsmod): ```auto i2c_bcm2835 16384 0 i2c_dev 20480 0 spidev 20480 0 spi_bcm2835 20480 0 ``` But I’m not getting any connection :( Here’s my output from i2cdetect: ```auto 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f 00: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ``` And “RuntimeError: Unable to find bme280 on 0x76, IOError” from Python when using the supplied Pimoroni modules. I’ve confirmed that 3.3V is reaching the module with a multimeter. One weird thing I’m seeing, is that the resistance between VCC and SDA is very low. (I’ll confirm the number later when I get a chance). Is my module DOA? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/2 "2021-12-20T12:09:28Z")
How is it wired up, jumpers, headers, any soldering in the mix? Have you run `sudo pip install pimoroni-bme280 smbus` or `sudo pip3 install pimoroni-bme280 smbus` ---
**Author:** ![dcleaver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dcleaver](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/dcleaver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 12:13pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/3 "2021-12-20T12:13:03Z")
Yeah, I’ve done both of those just to make sure. They’re already all “satisfied” requirements. It’s connected via the included header. I did have to unsolder and resolder a different header, as I stupidly soldered the wrong gendered pins for the cables I had :( Could the heat have killed the module? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/4 "2021-12-20T12:23:36Z")
Depends on how good you are at soldering? What iron (how many watts) etc. Make sur there aren’t any shorts between pins / contacts. If your SDA is shorted to 3.3v that pin will always be high. ---
**Author:** ![dcleaver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dcleaver](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/dcleaver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/5 "2021-12-20T13:18:32Z")
Just measured 10 KOhms between the 3.3v and SDA contacts. I wouldn’t say my soldering is great, but I think my desoldering leaves a lot to be desired! Just a thought… I don’t need to use a Breakout Garden do I? I can just wire those pins directly to the Pi? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/6 "2021-12-20T13:33:50Z")
10 K Ohms is OK, that’s the pullup resistor. No you don’t have to use the breakout garden hat etc. All that does is route those GPIO pins to sockets, to make using the breakouts easier. I have several setups with multiple breakouts wired to a Pi via jumper wires and Proto Hats. Your running `sudo i2cdetect -y 1` ? ---
**Author:** ![dcleaver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dcleaver](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/dcleaver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/7 "2021-12-20T13:37:01Z")
Yeah, that’s right. Also tried it with `sudo i2cdetect -y 2` ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/8 "2021-12-20T21:40:43Z")
Pictures of your soldering / wiring might help? I’m pretty sure its a hardware issue, not a software issue. ---
**Author:** ![dcleaver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dcleaver](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/dcleaver)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/9 "2021-12-21T16:53:36Z")
I’ve ordered another one with an extender kit to see if the module is faulty or I’m connecting it to the wrong pins. Should arrive tomorrow. Thanks for your help so far. I’ll keep you posted :) ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/cannot-connect-to-bme280/18454/10 "2021-12-21T19:41:59Z")
These come in handy as a compromise over ordering a Breakout Garden Hat etc. [I2C Breakout Extender (pack of 3) – Pimoroni](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/breakout-extender) Female to female jumpers to the GPIO, no soldering needed. Or plug them into a solderless bread board and use male jumpers. Lets you use them with Arduino, Micro Bit Pi etc.