SIK Experiment Guide for Arduino - V3.3

This Tutorial is Retired!

Please note that this tutorial is for the SparkFun Inventor's Kit version 3.3. If you have SIK version 4.0, check out the latest tutorial. Do you have the old v3.3 kit and want to upgrade to v4.0? Try getting the SIK bridge pack !

View the updated tutorial: SparkFun Inventor's Kit Experiment Guide - v4.0

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Contributors:

HelloTechie,

Toni_K

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Experiment 7: Reading a Temperature Sensor

Introduction

A temperature sensor is exactly what it sounds like – a sensor used to measure ambient temperature. This particular sensor has three pins – a positive, a ground, and a signal. This is a linear temperature sensor. A change in temperature of one degree centigrade is equal to a change of 10 millivolts at the sensor output.

The TMP36 sensor has a nominal 750 mV at 25°C (about room temperature). In this circuit, you’ll learn how to integrate the temperature sensor with your RedBoard or Arduino Uno R3, and use the Arduino IDE’s serial monitor to display the temperature.

Parts Needed

You will need the following parts:

1x RedBoard + USB mini-B Cable or Arduino Uno R3 + USB A-to-B Cable
1x Breadboard
5x Jumper Wires
1x Temperature Sensor

Hardware Hookup

Ready to start hooking everything up? Check out the Fritzing 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.

Please note: The temperature sensor can only be connected to a circuit in one direction. See below for the pin outs of the temperature sensor - TMP36

Fritzing Diagram for RedBoard

Having a hard time seeing the circuit? Click on the Fritzing diagram to see a bigger image.

Fritzing Diagram for Arduino

Having a hard time seeing the circuit? Click on the Fritzing diagram to see a bigger image.

Open the Sketch

Open Up the Arduino IDE software on your computer. Coding in the Arduino language will control your circuit. Open the code for Circuit 7 by accessing the “SIK Guide Code” you downloaded and placed into your “Examples” folder earlier.

To open the code go to: File > examples > SIK Guide Code > SIK_circuit07_tempSensor

You can also copy and paste the following code into the Arduino IDE. Hit upload, and see what happens!

language:cpp
/******************************************************************
 SparkFun Inventor's Kit
 Example sketch 07 - TEMPERATURE SENSOR
  Use the "serial monitor" window to read a temperature sensor.
  The TMP36 is an easy-to-use temperature sensor that outputs
  a voltage that's proportional to the ambient temperature.
  You can use it for all kinds of automation tasks where you'd
  like to know or control the temperature of something.
  More information on the sensor is available in the datasheet:
  http://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/Sensors/Temp/TMP35_36_37.pdf
  Even more exciting, we'll start using the Arduino's serial port
  to send data back to your main computer! Up until now, we've
  been limited to using simple LEDs for output. We'll see that
  the Arduino can also easily output all kinds of text and data.
This sketch was written by SparkFun Electronics,
with lots of help from the Arduino community.
This code is completely free for any use.
Visit http://learn.sparkfun.com/products/2 for SIK information.
Visit http://www.arduino.cc to learn about the Arduino.
Version 2.0 6/2012 MDG
******************************************************************/


// We'll use analog input 0 to measure the temperature sensor's
// signal pin.

const int temperaturePin = A0;


void setup()
{

    Serial.begin(9600); //Initialize serial port & set baud rate to 9600 bits per second (bps)
}


void loop()
{


    float voltage, degreesC, degreesF; //Declare 3 floating point variables

    voltage = getVoltage(temperaturePin); //Measure the voltage at the analog pin

    degreesC = (voltage - 0.5) * 100.0; // Convert the voltage to degrees Celsius

    degreesF = degreesC * (9.0 / 5.0) + 32.0; //Convert degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit

    //Now print to the Serial monitor. Remember the baud must be 9600 on your monitor!
    // These statements will print lines of data like this:
    // "voltage: 0.73 deg C: 22.75 deg F: 72.96"

    Serial.print("voltage: ");
    Serial.print(voltage);
    Serial.print("  deg C: ");
    Serial.print(degreesC);
    Serial.print("  deg F: ");
    Serial.println(degreesF);

    delay(1000); // repeat once per second (change as you wish!)
}


float getVoltage(int pin)   //Function to read and return
                            //floating-point value (true voltage)
                            //on analog pin 
{

    return (analogRead(pin) * 0.004882814); 
    // This equation converts the 0 to 1023 value that analogRead()
    // returns, into a 0.0 to 5.0 value that is the true voltage
    // being read at that pin.
}

// Other things to try with this code:

//   Turn on an LED if the temperature is above or below a value.

//   Read that threshold value from a potentiometer - now you've
//   created a thermostat!

Code To Note

Serial.begin(9600);

Before using the serial monitor, you must call Serial.begin() to initialize it. 9600 is the "baud rate", or communications speed. When two devices are communicating with each other, both must be set to the same speed.

Serial.print(degreesC);

The Serial.print() command is very smart. It can print out almost anything you can throw at it on the same line. This can include variables of all types, quoted text (AKA "strings"), etc. See http://arduino.cc/en/serial/print for more info.

Serial.println(degreesF);

The Serial.println() has the same functionality except any serial data being printed after this command will start on the next line. By using both of these commands together, you can create easy-to-read printouts of text and data.

What You Should See

You should be able to read the temperature your temperature sensor is detecting on the serial monitor in the Arduino IDE. If it isn't working, make sure you have assembled the circuit correctly and verified and uploaded the code to your board or see the troubleshooting section.

Example of what you should see in the Arduino IDE’s serial monitor: