Weather Shield Hookup Guide

Contributors: Nate

Example Firmware - Basic

Using the Weather Shield example in the Arduino IDE relies on the HTU21D and MPL3115A2 libraries. As of Arduino v1.6.x you can download the libraries through the Arduino Library Manager. Search for and install "SparkFun MPL3115" and "SparkFun HTU21D". For more information see our tutorial on using the Arduino library manager. For all the latest Arduino Weather Shield code, check out the Github Repository:

Or copy and paste the code below into the Arduino IDE:

language:c
/*
 Weather Shield Example
 By: Nathan Seidle
 SparkFun Electronics
 Date: June 10th, 2016
 License: This code is public domain but you buy me a beer if you use this and we meet someday (Beerware license).

 This example prints the current humidity, air pressure, temperature and light levels.

 The weather shield is capable of a lot. Be sure to checkout the other more advanced examples for creating
 your own weather station.

 */

#include <Wire.h> //I2C needed for sensors
#include "SparkFunMPL3115A2.h" //Pressure sensor - Search "SparkFun MPL3115" and install from Library Manager
#include "SparkFunHTU21D.h" //Humidity sensor - Search "SparkFun HTU21D" and install from Library Manager

MPL3115A2 myPressure; //Create an instance of the pressure sensor
HTU21D myHumidity; //Create an instance of the humidity sensor

//Hardware pin definitions
//-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
const byte STAT_BLUE = 7;
const byte STAT_GREEN = 8;

const byte REFERENCE_3V3 = A3;
const byte LIGHT = A1;
const byte BATT = A2;

//Global Variables
//-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
long lastSecond; //The millis counter to see when a second rolls by

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Weather Shield Example");

  pinMode(STAT_BLUE, OUTPUT); //Status LED Blue
  pinMode(STAT_GREEN, OUTPUT); //Status LED Green

  pinMode(REFERENCE_3V3, INPUT);
  pinMode(LIGHT, INPUT);

  //Configure the pressure sensor
  myPressure.begin(); // Get sensor online
  myPressure.setModeBarometer(); // Measure pressure in Pascals from 20 to 110 kPa
  myPressure.setOversampleRate(7); // Set Oversample to the recommended 128
  myPressure.enableEventFlags(); // Enable all three pressure and temp event flags

  //Configure the humidity sensor
  myHumidity.begin();

  lastSecond = millis();

  Serial.println("Weather Shield online!");
}

void loop()
{
  //Print readings every second
  if (millis() - lastSecond >= 1000)
  {
    digitalWrite(STAT_BLUE, HIGH); //Blink stat LED

    lastSecond += 1000;

    //Check Humidity Sensor
    float humidity = myHumidity.readHumidity();

    if (humidity == 998) //Humidty sensor failed to respond
    {
      Serial.println("I2C communication to sensors is not working. Check solder connections.");

      //Try re-initializing the I2C comm and the sensors
      myPressure.begin(); 
      myPressure.setModeBarometer();
      myPressure.setOversampleRate(7);
      myPressure.enableEventFlags();
      myHumidity.begin();
    }
    else
    {
      Serial.print("Humidity = ");
      Serial.print(humidity);
      Serial.print("%,");
      float temp_h = myHumidity.readTemperature();
      Serial.print(" temp_h = ");
      Serial.print(temp_h, 2);
      Serial.print("C,");

      //Check Pressure Sensor
      float pressure = myPressure.readPressure();
      Serial.print(" Pressure = ");
      Serial.print(pressure);
      Serial.print("Pa,");

      //Check tempf from pressure sensor
      float tempf = myPressure.readTempF();
      Serial.print(" temp_p = ");
      Serial.print(tempf, 2);
      Serial.print("F,");

      //Check light sensor
      float light_lvl = get_light_level();
      Serial.print(" light_lvl = ");
      Serial.print(light_lvl);
      Serial.print("V,");

      //Check batt level
      float batt_lvl = get_battery_level();
      Serial.print(" VinPin = ");
      Serial.print(batt_lvl);
      Serial.print("V");

      Serial.println();
    }

    digitalWrite(STAT_BLUE, LOW); //Turn off stat LED
  }

  delay(100);
}

//Returns the voltage of the light sensor based on the 3.3V rail
//This allows us to ignore what VCC might be (an Arduino plugged into USB has VCC of 4.5 to 5.2V)
float get_light_level()
{
  float operatingVoltage = analogRead(REFERENCE_3V3);

  float lightSensor = analogRead(LIGHT);

  operatingVoltage = 3.3 / operatingVoltage; //The reference voltage is 3.3V

  lightSensor = operatingVoltage * lightSensor;

  return (lightSensor);
}

//Returns the voltage of the raw pin based on the 3.3V rail
//This allows us to ignore what VCC might be (an Arduino plugged into USB has VCC of 4.5 to 5.2V)
//Battery level is connected to the RAW pin on Arduino and is fed through two 5% resistors:
//3.9K on the high side (R1), and 1K on the low side (R2)
float get_battery_level()
{
  float operatingVoltage = analogRead(REFERENCE_3V3);

  float rawVoltage = analogRead(BATT);

  operatingVoltage = 3.30 / operatingVoltage; //The reference voltage is 3.3V

  rawVoltage = operatingVoltage * rawVoltage; //Convert the 0 to 1023 int to actual voltage on BATT pin

  rawVoltage *= 4.90; //(3.9k+1k)/1k - multiple BATT voltage by the voltage divider to get actual system voltage

  return (rawVoltage);
}

Open the Serial Monitor. You should see the following output:

Humidity = 28.12%, temp_h = 29.54C, Pressure = 84051.25Pa, temp_p = 82.85F, light_lvl = 0.96V, VinPin = 4.40V
Humidity = 28.36%, temp_h = 29.54C, Pressure = 84052.50Pa, temp_p = 82.96F, light_lvl = 0.96V, VinPin = 4.40V
Humidity = 28.46%, temp_h = 29.56C, Pressure = 84050.25Pa, temp_p = 82.96F, light_lvl = 0.96V, VinPin = 4.40V
Humidity = 28.24%, temp_h = 29.54C, Pressure = 84051.25Pa, temp_p = 82.96F, light_lvl = 0.96V, VinPin = 4.40V

Put your hand over the small clear device labeled 'Light' and watch the light level change to 0. Blow lightly on the humidity sensor and watch the humidity change.

Troubleshooting

If there is an error you will see:

I2C communication to sensors is not working. Check solder connections.

This message appears when the board is unable to get a response from the I2C sensors. This could be because of a faulty solder connection, or if there are other devices on the A5/A4 lines (which are also called SDA/SCL).