# How To Connect A Vibration Sensor Like LDT0-028K To MCU On PCB? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Guidance\ **Created:** [May 6, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918 "2026-05-06T16:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/1 "2026-05-06T16:27:54Z")
Good day all, I am designing a piezo energy harvesting board with some built-in features like a fuel gauge you can connect to a MCU to get readings on the battery. So, on particular application I can image this being used is: you have the module strapped to your leg (around the calf area) on one side then the battery on the other side or something like that. Then, there are leads that go into the shoe with the piezo cell like this [AB2063B-2](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/pui-audio-inc/AB2063B-2/22535091). The leads will also likely go to a vibration sensor like [LDT0-028K](https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/892/LDT0-028K.pdf). My thing now is how do I interface with this sensor to have connections to a MCU? I've seen articles like [this](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/piezo-vibration-sensor-hookup-guide/all) or [this](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/making-piezoelectric-sensor-ldt0-028k-more-sensitive-and-reliable-consistent/626712) arduino forum thread saying to use like a 1M - 50MΩ depending on frequency. From google, frequency of someone running or jogging is like 2 - 3 Hz? From the Arduino thread, that implies needing like 20MΩ for the load. But the commenter also mentioned using a force sense resistor if you want to measure pressure or bend ratio. So, I looked it up and the force sense resistors look like the vibration sensors or piezo sense transducers so I don't really understand where it is meant to go. Also, after the load resistor, what connections do you need for the MCU? An analog pin and GND? Does it matter which is which? ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/e/c/4/ec413d7f60ef6d3410a5b86dd627ce6f4233260e.png) ---
**Author:** ![gilshultz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/67e7ee/32.png) [@gilshultz](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/gilshultz)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/2 "2026-05-06T17:08:03Z")
Sorry but I do not work with "Like" real items matter. What MCU are you looking at, what type of input on the MCU? these are some of things needed. ---
**Author:** ![horace](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/horace/32/1014299_2.png) [@horace](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/horace)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/3 "2026-05-06T17:22:05Z")
the last time I implemented a wearable device I used a PIC24FJ256GA705 microcontroller with a LSM9DS1\_magnetometer to sense user movement and a BM71 BLE module to send results to a smartphone these days I would use a small [ESP32](https://www.espressif.com/en/products/socs/esp32) microcontroller - has plenty of memory (for a microcontroller) GPIO, ADC/DAC, SPI/I2C/Canbus interfaces, WiFi and BLE, e.g. [ESP32-S3 Super Mini](https://www.espboards.dev/esp32/esp32-s3-super-mini/) is supported by the [Arduino IDE](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/arduino-esp32/en/latest/getting_started.html) tell us more about the application? e.g. what you are attempting to measure, how results are reported. etc ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/4 "2026-05-06T17:33:59Z")
> [@iamnothere96](#): > > I've seen articles like [this](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/piezo-vibration-sensor-hookup-guide/all) or [this](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/making-piezoelectric-sensor-ldt0-028k-more-sensitive-and-reliable-consistent/626712) arduino forum thread saying to use like a 1M - 50MΩ depending on frequency That frequency is the natural resonant frequency of the piezo, not footsteps, etc. How are you harvesting the AC from the piezo? ---
**Author:** ![sonofcy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sonofcy/32/1283617_2.png) [@sonofcy](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sonofcy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/5 "2026-05-06T18:14:24Z")
The way the forum works is you post a hand drawn wiring diagram and link any non-common parts datasheet. You also post your Auto-formatted code in a \< CODE/ \> block. If it's a lot of code trim out code that does NOT change the erroneous behaviour. Also any output also posted in a code bock. ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/6 "2026-05-06T18:52:00Z")
Really common ones like esp32 or Arduino, operating at 3.3V or 5V. MCUs that’d have analog pins. ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/7 "2026-05-06T18:53:00Z")
There’s no code for this and I posted an example of the wiring that I think it might look like but ultimately, the wiring and connections and how to set it up is my question ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/8 "2026-05-06T18:54:54Z")
Oh thank you for that. I’m using LTC4070 as the medium to use piezo (converted to DC) to charge a li-ion battery. The ranges of resonant frequency I’ve seen for piezo cells on digikey are commonly about 6kHz - 30kHz. I’m not sure the exact cell a user would want to use ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/9 "2026-05-06T18:56:27Z")
So in my example, I’m thinking maybe the user attaches an sd card module to store data taken. I’m trying to capture the most common / useful measurements from someone walking or running or jogging or common situations one would use a piezo cell. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/10 "2026-05-06T19:50:14Z")
> [@iamnothere96](#): > > I am designing a piezo energy harvesting board Energy harvesting is storing the CURRENT produced by something, not the voltage produced. How much DC current will your project produce? ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/11 "2026-05-06T21:11:02Z")
I connected a buck-boost directly to the battery since the idea is to have the battery primarily powering the load and have the piezo trickle charge it. I’d anticipate max current to typically be 500mA, especially if the storage of measurements is through the air like WiFi or bluetooth ---
**Author:** ![Wawa](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/wawa/32/1211303_2.png) [@Wawa](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Wawa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/12 "2026-05-06T22:00:37Z")
> [@iamnothere96](#): > > I’m using LTC4070 as the medium to use piezo (converted to DC) to charge a li-ion battery. Not going to work with a 20mm piezo disk. You need hundreds of these disk to run an ESP32, hundreds more if you add a buck/boost. ---
**Author:** ![cedarlakeinstruments](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/cedarlakeinstruments/32/1128931_2.png) [@cedarlakeinstruments](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/cedarlakeinstruments)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/13 "2026-05-06T23:58:54Z")
I have a few of these sensors and I don't remember using a load resistor at all. I probably had a diode (1N914) reverse biased to Vcc to handle the overvoltage, though. Just get one and try it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/14 "2026-05-07T01:02:34Z")
> [@iamnothere96](#): > > have the piezo trickle charge it You would be very lucky to get a single micro-ampere from the piezo circuit! ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/15 "2026-05-07T01:44:31Z")
The piezo isn’t directly powering the load, it’s just charging the storage element as much as it can. ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/16 "2026-05-07T01:45:08Z")
I imagine one can string multiple piezo cells in parallel to get more current. ---
**Author:** ![Wawa](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/wawa/32/1211303_2.png) [@Wawa](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Wawa)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/17 "2026-05-07T02:03:41Z")
If they bend at the same rate and time, and if... the polarity is the same. My experience is that polarity can differ between two piezos of the same batch. For meaningful energy harvesting inside a shoe (piezos need to bend), expect to spend **[hundreds of dollars on much larger piezos](https://www.mouser.co.uk/c/embedded-solutions/energy-harvesting-modules/?m=Mide&series=PPA)**. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/18 "2026-05-07T02:33:40Z")
And the chemical makup and shape of the piezo as well as the mechanical coupling to the piezo will have to be experimentally determined. All piezo material is not the same. ---
**Author:** ![iamnothere96](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/iamnothere96/32/1220272_2.png) [@iamnothere96](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/iamnothere96)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/19 "2026-05-07T11:53:40Z")
The shoe is just an example I came up with, a user can use this for anything they choose. My main issue is I don't understand how to set up a vibration sensor to give outputs that you can connect to a MCU like arduino, y'all think I should add an accelerometer too? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918/20 "2026-05-07T14:18:07Z")
> [@iamnothere96](#): > > My main issue is I don't understand how to set up a vibration sensor to give outputs that you can connect to a MCU like arduino, The problem to solve is the sensor produces high voltage AC and the Arduino can only measure low voltage DC. Doesn't that tell you you need to begin by measuring the sensor output and then rectify that to a DC? Measure that and use resistors to make a voltage divider circuit to reduce the voltage to some value the Arduino can use. [Next page](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-connect-a-vibration-sensor-like-ldt0-028k-to-mcu-on-pcb/1442918.md?page=2)