ADXL 345 - Unusual numbers?

I’m trying to use a HiLetgo ADXL345, using the ADXL_d591 library, and getting numbers that I thought should be all 0’s. Instead I’m getting numbers like those shown below. The code follows, it’s from the ADXL_d591 library, specifically the adxl345_no_library.cpp file – so really I’m not using the library, just the code below.

I’ve connected GND, VCC, SDA and SCL (and for good measure, CS - but it doesn’t seem to make any difference if it’s connected or not).

Any ideas what I’m doing wrong? Or even what the units are??

Thanks for any help.

x: -3 y: 21 z: 120
x: -4 y: 21 z: 121
x: -3 y: 21 z: 120
x: -3 y: 20 z: 120
x: -3 y: 22 z: 121
x: -3 y: 22 z: 120
x: -4 y: 22 z: 121
x: -3 y: 21 z: 121
/*****************************************************************************************
 *                                                                                       *
 * ADXL345 Driver for Spark Core                                                         *
 * Original code from: https://github.com/jenschr/Arduino-libraries/tree/master/ADXL345  *
 *                                                                                       * 
 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify                  *
 * it under the terms of the GNU License.                                                *
 * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,                       *
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of                        *
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the                         *
 * GNU License V2 for more details.                                                      *
 *                                                                                       *
 * Bare bones ADXL345 i2c example for Arduino 1.0                                        *
 * by Jens C Brynildsen <http://www.flashgamer.com>                                      *
 * This version is not reliant of any external lib                                       *
 * (Adapted for Arduino 1.0 from http://code.google.com/p/adxl345driver)                 *
 *                                                                                       *
 * Demonstrates use of ADXL345 (using the Sparkfun ADXL345 breakout)                     *
 * with i2c communication. Datasheet:                                                    *
 * http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/Accelerometer/ADXL345.pdf                  *
 * If you need more advanced features such as freefall and tap                           *
 * detection, check out:                                                                 *
 * https://github.com/jenschr/Arduino-libraries                                          *
 *                                                                                       *
 * Updated on: 25 April 2014                                                             *
 ****************************************************************************************/

// Cabling for i2c using Sparkfun breakout with a Spar Core
// Spark Core <-> Breakout board
// Gnd         -  GND
// 3.3v        -  VCC
// 3.3v        -  CS
// Digital 0   -  SDA
// Digital 1   -  SCL


#define DEVICE (0x53) // Device address as specified in data sheet 
//#define DEVICE (0x1D)
byte _buff[6];

char POWER_CTL = 0x2D;	//Power Control Register
char DATA_FORMAT = 0x31;
char DATAX0 = 0x32;	//X-Axis Data 0
char DATAX1 = 0x33;	//X-Axis Data 1
char DATAY0 = 0x34;	//Y-Axis Data 0
char DATAY1 = 0x35;	//Y-Axis Data 1
char DATAZ0 = 0x36;	//Z-Axis Data 0
char DATAZ1 = 0x37;	//Z-Axis Data 1

void setup()
{
  Wire.begin();        // join i2c bus (address optional for master)
  Serial.begin(57000);  // start serial for output. Make sure you set your Serial Monitor to the same!
  Serial.print("init");
  
  //Put the ADXL345 into +/- 4G range by writing the value 0x01 to the DATA_FORMAT register.
  writeTo(DATA_FORMAT, 0x01);
  //Put the ADXL345 into Measurement Mode by writing 0x08 to the POWER_CTL register.
  writeTo(POWER_CTL, 0x08);
}

void loop()
{
  readAccel(); // read the x/y/z tilt
  delay(500); // only read every 0,5 seconds
}

void readAccel() {
  uint8_t howManyBytesToRead = 6;
  readFrom( DATAX0, howManyBytesToRead, _buff); //read the acceleration data from the ADXL345

  // each axis reading comes in 10 bit resolution, ie 2 bytes.  Least Significat Byte first!!
  // thus we are converting both bytes in to one int
  int16_t x = (((int)_buff[1]) << 8) | _buff[0];   
  int16_t y = (((int)_buff[3]) << 8) | _buff[2];
  int16_t z = (((int)_buff[5]) << 8) | _buff[4];
  Serial.print("x: ");
  Serial.print( x );
  Serial.print(" y: ");
  Serial.print( y );
  Serial.print(" z: ");
  Serial.println( z );
}

void writeTo(byte address, byte val) {
  Wire.beginTransmission(DEVICE); // start transmission to device 
  Wire.write(address);             // send register address
  Wire.write(val);                 // send value to write
  Wire.endTransmission();         // end transmission
}

// Reads num bytes starting from address register on device in to _buff array
void readFrom(byte address, int num, byte _buff[]) {
  Wire.beginTransmission(DEVICE); // start transmission to device 
  Wire.write(address);             // sends address to read from
  Wire.endTransmission();         // end transmission

  Wire.beginTransmission(DEVICE); // start transmission to device
  Wire.requestFrom(DEVICE, num);    // request 6 bytes from device

  int i = 0;
  while(Wire.available())         // device may send less than requested (abnormal)
  { 
    _buff[i] = Wire.read();    // receive a byte
    i++;
  }
  Wire.endTransmission();         // end transmission
}

Hi, I learned a lot from adafruit last time I used an accelerometer:

Perhaps you can take a look?
Basically, I suspect you will never see all zeroes on Earth since the sensor is measuring the acceleration of gravity.

EDIT: for the units, I could not find this info quickly, but it could be meters/seconds2 or g. Totally unsure:
g is the acceleration of gravity 9.8 (m/s2)

Cheers

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