Arduino Reading data from analog sensors (temperature, humidity, light intensity, etc.)

Arduino boards can read data from a wide range of analog sensors, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light sensors, and more. Here’s an overview of how to read data from analog sensors:

1. Connect the sensor: Connect the analog sensor to one of the analog input pins on the Arduino board. Some sensors may require additional components, such as pull-up or pull-down resistors, to function properly.

2. Read the sensor value: To read the value of an analog sensor, use the analogRead() function. This function reads the voltage level on the analog input pin and returns a value between 0 and 1023, which corresponds to a voltage range of 0 to 5 volts.

3. Convert the sensor value to a meaningful unit: The sensor value returned by analogRead() is typically not calibrated to a meaningful unit, such as temperature or humidity. To convert the sensor value to a meaningful unit, you may need to use a formula or lookup table provided by the sensor manufacturer.

Here’s an example code to read the temperature from a TMP36 temperature sensor:

int sensorPin = A0;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize the serial communication
}

void loop() {
  int sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);
  float voltage = sensorValue * (5.0 / 1023.0); // Convert the sensor value to voltage
  float temperature = (voltage - 0.5) * 100.0; // Convert the voltage to temperature in Celsius
  Serial.print("Temperature: ");
  Serial.print(temperature);
  Serial.println(" C");
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
}

Here’s an example code to read the light intensity from a photoresistor:

int sensorPin = A0;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize the serial communication
}

void loop() {
  int sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);
  Serial.print("Light intensity: ");
  Serial.println(sensorValue);
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
}

Overall, reading data from analog sensors is a fundamental aspect of using Arduino boards, and enables a wide range of applications that involve sensing and measuring physical quantities.