Getting Started with MicroPython and the SparkFun Inventor's Kit for micro:bit

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Contributors: LightningHawk
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Experiment 3: Reading a Photoresistor

Introduction

In Experiment 2, you got to use a potentiometer, which varies resistance based on the twisting of a knob and, in turn, changes the voltage being read by the analog input pin. In this circuit you’ll be using a photoresistor, which changes resistance based on how much light the sensor receives. You will read the light value of the room and have an LED turn on if it is dark and turn off if it is bright. That's right; you are going to build a night-light!

Parts Needed

You will need the following parts:

  • 1x Breadboard
  • 1x micro:bit
  • 1X micro:bit Breakout with Headers
  • 1x micro-B USB Cable
  • 1x LED
  • 1x 100Ω Resistor
  • 7x Jumper Wires
  • 1x Photoresistor
  • 1x 10kΩ Resistor

Didn't Get the SIK for micro:bit?

If you are conducting this experiment and didn't get the Inventor's Kit, we suggest using these parts:

micro:bit v2 Board

micro:bit v2 Board

DEV-17287
$16.50
7
Breadboard - Self-Adhesive (White)

Breadboard - Self-Adhesive (White)

PRT-12002
$5.50
48
SparkFun Qwiic micro:bit Breakout (with Headers)

SparkFun Qwiic micro:bit Breakout (with Headers)

BOB-16446
$6.25
2
Jumper Wires - Connected 6" (M/M, 20 pack)

Jumper Wires - Connected 6" (M/M, 20 pack)

PRT-12795
$2.10
2
Mini Photocell

Mini Photocell

SEN-09088
$1.60
7
USB Micro-B Cable - 6 Foot

USB Micro-B Cable - 6 Foot

CAB-10215
$5.50
15
LED - Basic Red 5mm

LED - Basic Red 5mm

COM-09590
$0.45
Resistor 10K Ohm 1/6th Watt PTH - 20 pack

Resistor 10K Ohm 1/6th Watt PTH - 20 pack

COM-11508
$0.95
Resistor 100 Ohm 1/4 Watt PTH - 20 pack (Thick Leads)

Resistor 100 Ohm 1/4 Watt PTH - 20 pack (Thick Leads)

PRT-14493
$1.25

Suggested Reading

Before continuing with this experiment, we recommend you be familiar with the concepts in the following tutorial:

Resistors

April 1, 2013

A tutorial on all things resistors. What is a resistor, how do they behave in parallel/series, decoding the resistor color codes, and resistor applications.

Voltage Dividers

February 8, 2013

Turn a large voltage into a smaller one with voltage dividers. This tutorial covers: what a voltage divider circuit looks like and how it is used in the real world.

Introducing the Photoresistor

Photoresistor

The photoresistor changes its resistance based on the light to which it is exposed. To use this with the micro:bit, you will need to build a voltage divider with a 10k ohm resistor, as shown in the wiring diagram for this experiment. The micro:bit cannot read a change in resistance, only a change in voltage. A voltage divider allows you to translate a change in resistance to a corresponding voltage value.

The voltage divider enables the use of resistance-based sensors like the photoresistor in a voltage-based system. As you explore different sensors, you will find more resistance-based sensors that only have two pins like the photoresistor. To use them with your micro:bit, you will need to build a voltage divider like the one in this experiment. To learn more about resistors in general, check out our tutorial on resistors and also our tutorial on voltage dividers.

Note: Make sure you are using the 10k ohm resistor in your voltage divider with the sensors in this kit. Otherwise, you will get odd and inconsistent results.

Hardware Hookup

Ready to start hooking everything up? Check out the wiring diagram below to see how everything is connected.

Polarized Components Pay special attention to the component’s markings indicating how to place it on the breadboard. Polarized components can only be connected to a circuit in one direction.

Wiring Diagram for the Experiment

Fritzing Circuit Diagram

Having a hard time seeing the circuit? Click on the wiring diagram for a closer look.

Note: The full-sized breadboard power rails have a break down the middle. If you end up using the lower half of the power rail, you will need to jump between the upper end and lower end.

Running Your Script

Let's read a photoresistor and turn on an LED when it reaches a certain value. Type (or copy) the program into your Mu editor, or download all the programs from this GitHub Repository and open the Ex3_readLDR.py program. Save it, then click the Flash icon to program your micro:bit.

language:python
# SparkFun Electronics
# Experiment 3.0
# Reading a Photoresistor

from microbit import *

calibrationVal = pin0.read_analog()
sleep(1000)

while True:
    lightVal = pin0.read_analog()
    if lightVal < calibrationVal-50:
        pin16.write_digital(1)
    else:
        pin16.write_digital(0)

code for readLDR

Code to Note

if and else

If the light value variable that is constantly being updated in the forever loop is less than the calibration value minus 50, it is dark and the LED should turn on. The (-50) portion of the if statement is a sensitivity value. The higher the value, the less sensitive the circuit will be; the lower the value, the more sensitive it will be to lighting conditions.

The if and else statements are a simple way to set the control flow of your forever loop. If the logical statement tied to the if statement is True, then it will execute the code indented under the colon. If that statement is False, it will skip to the next statement, which is else. In this case, if the statement is True (the room is dark), then the micro:bit will turn on the LED on pin 16; else (if the room is bright), it will turn the LED off using a write_digital() command covered earlier.

calibrationval is a calibration variable. Your micro:bit takes a single reading of the light sensor before entering the forever loop and uses this value to compare against the lightVal variable in the forever loop. This value doesn't change in the forever loop, as it is set before entering the forver loop. To update this value, you can press the RESET button on the back of your micro:bit or power cycle the board.

What You Should See

When the micro:bit runs the program, it will take a single reading from the light sensor and use that as a calibration value of the "normal" state of the room. When you place your hand over the light sensor or turn the lights off, the LED will turn on. If you turn the lights back on or uncover the light sensor, the LED will turn off.

Exp 3 Final Assembly

Troubleshooting

LED Remains Dark

You may have been leaning over the light sensor when the code started. Make sure the light sensor is reading the normal light in the room at startup. Try resetting the micro:bit.

Still Not Quite Working

Double-check your wiring of the signal pin; sometimes you miss a breadboard connection by a row.