Simple Arduino Question about input from one pin turning other pin on/off

Using Arduino Programming Questions
1

Hello everyone,

I am currently working on a simply project, I believe.

I have a wind vane with a potentiometer that I am trying to get to work in conjunction with a solenoid. I have the wind vane set up on an analog pin at this point, with power going to it.

So, I want the solenoid to close if the wind direction is +/- 20 degrees from 180.
Right now, I can get the solenoid to loop open and close on a delay, but it needs to only be shut IF in the 40 degree range.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

2

Let's assume that analogRead() of the pot returns between 500 and 700 when the vane is in the required range then

int direction = analogRead(vanePotPin);
if (direction >= 500 && direction <= 700)
{
  //code here to close the solenoid.
}
else
{
  //code here to open the solenoid
}

Note that the code would be easier to understand if you used map() to convert the value from analogRead() into degrees, but I suggest that you use the raw value to start with and add map() later.

3

UKHeliBob:
Let's assume that analogRead() of the pot returns between 500 and 700 when the vane is in the required range then

int direction = analogRead(vanePotPin);

if (direction >= 500 && direction <= 700)
{
  //code here to close the solenoid.
}
else
{
  //code here to open the solenoid
}



Note that the code would be easier to understand if you used map() to convert the value from analogRead() into degrees, but I suggest that you use the raw value to start with and add map() later.

Thanks a ton, I may have a bad connection as well somewhere in the RJ11 cable that I am using. Guess I should check that as well.

I'm familiar with the map() function and will definitely try to incorporate that as well.

4

Okay, Heli...

I have checked connections and all.

I ran the typical blink code to see if the solenoid was OK and that seems to be fine when powered on through the relay.

The code that I have does not trip the solenoid when it reaches that 500-700 range even after map() function was used. Any Suggestions? It's using the Davis anemometer.

Sketch_vane.ino (307 Bytes)

5

What does:

Serial.println(direction);

tell you?

6

How exactly is the pot wired to the Arduino ?

7