Followed directions from this forum post to make smbus work with python3
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3-dev
sudo apt-get install libi2c-dev i2c-tools
Follow these directions to unblacklist your I2C bus
Then, to install
python3 setup.py build
sudo python3 setup.py install
README: py-smbus
To build: $ python setup.py build On most GNU/Linux distributions, you'll need to install the python-devel package for the build to succeed.
To install (will also build if necessary): $ python setup.py install
For general build/install help: $ python setup.py --help-commands
Frequently Answered Question:
Q: It's throwing exceptions, nothing works, what's wrong?
A1: You need write permissions to the i2c-dev devices. Try running as root.
A2: Addresses in Linux/I2C are the most-sig 7 bits, right-justified. E.g. if your device uses address 0xc0 to write and 0xc1 to read, then use address 0x60 with this module.
A3: Some other kernel driver has claimed that I2C address. Unload it first.