Hello Sirs,
Are there any recommended sensors and actuators for the Arduino Due?
Ones that run on 3.3V logic. That's the key.
Okay, thanks!
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That is impossible to answer as there are thousands that would work. Picking the right sensor for your project involves considering several factors related to the sensor's purpose, environment, and integration requirements. Here's a preliminary guide:
You Need to Define Your Project Needs
• What are you measuring?
◦ Temperature, pressure, humidity, motion, light, distance, etc.
• What type of data do you need?
◦ Digital (e.g., ON/OFF, counts) or analog (e.g., continuous readings).
You need to know the Environment
• Physical Environment:
◦ Indoor or outdoor use?
◦ Exposure to dust, water, or extreme temperatures? Check for IP ratings.
• Noise Tolerance:
◦ Will the sensor face electrical or mechanical interference?
What Range and Accuracy
• What range of values do you need to measure? (e.g., 0–50°C for temperature).
• How precise or accurate does the sensor need to be?
Connection Integration Requirements
• Interface:
◦ Does it use I2C, SPI, UART, analog output, or another protocol? You must ensure compatibility with your microcontroller or system.
• Power Supply:
◦ Voltage requirements? (e.g., 3.3V or 5V).
◦ Are you going to need several voltages.
◦ How much current will you need for each voltage.
◦ If batteries how long do they need to last?
• Size and Form Factor:
◦ Does it fit within your device's physical constraints?
You Need to Consider the Sampling Rate
• How fast does the sensor need to provide readings?
◦ E.g., real-time applications require high sampling rates.
◦ Can your microprocessor work that fast?
Budget, is it Availability and Cost is OK
• Is the sensor readily available from reliable suppliers?
• Does the quality and accuracy you want fit your budget?
Get and Evaluate Documentation and Support First
• Look for sensors with good datasheets, example code, and libraries.
• Check for a community or manufacturer support in case you face issues.
• Download the documentation, it may not be available later.
• Get help on what you do not understand
Prototype and Test Before Making a Circuit Board
• Order a development board or breakout board for the sensor.
• Test it in your actual project environment to ensure it meets your needs.
An Idea for Sensor Selection:
If you need to measure temperature for an indoor IoT project:
1. Define Needs: Measure 0–50°C, ±0.5°C accuracy, digital output.
2. Environment: Indoor use with minimal dust or interference.
3. Integration: Use I2C protocol for easy communication with an Arduino.
4. Candidate Sensors: DHT22 (basic accuracy, humidity support), TMP117 (high accuracy), DS18B20 (1-wire protocol).
By following these steps, you can systematically select a sensor that matches your requirements.
You might have to use a transistor and resistor and maybe run external power to use 5V modules with the 3.3V Due, it's a form of voltage leveling. And then you can run whatever as long as you have pins and speed.
Don't limit yourself to plug and pray.