DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor with Arduino
Article Summary
- Introduction
- How DHT11 Sensor Works
- Connecting DHT11 Sensor to Arduino
- Coding with Arduino
- Conclusion
Introduction
The DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor is commonly used in Arduino projects to measure the ambient temperature and relative humidity. It is a low-cost sensor that provides accurate readings and is suitable for a variety of applications.
How DHT11 Sensor Works
The DHT11 sensor utilizes a digital signal output to measure temperature and humidity. It has a built-in thermistor and humidity sensing component. By sending an electrical signal to the sensor, it responds with a digital signal that can be interpreted by the Arduino.
- Digital Signal Conversion: The DHT11 sensor’s analog readings are converted into digital signals by the Arduino.
- Temperature Measurement: The digital signal from the sensor is decoded to obtain accurate temperature readings in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
- Humidity Measurement: The sensor also provides humidity readings as a percentage of relative humidity.
Connecting DHT11 Sensor to Arduino
The DHT11 sensor has four pins, namely VCC, GND, DATA, and NC (not connected). Connect the VCC pin to the 5V pin on the Arduino, the GND pin to the GND pin, and the DATA pin to any digital pin (e.g., D2).
Coding with Arduino
To read data from the DHT11 sensor, you need to install the DHT library in your Arduino IDE. Once installed, you can use the library functions to initialize the sensor, read temperature and humidity values, and display them on the serial monitor or an LCD display.
- Include the DHT library in your Arduino sketch.
- Define the pin to which the sensor is connected.
- Initialize the sensor.
- Read temperature and humidity values.
- Display the values on the desired output.
Conclusion
The DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor is a useful component in Arduino projects for measuring environmental conditions. By understanding how the sensor works and connecting it to an Arduino, you can easily incorporate temperature and humidity measurements into your projects. With the right code implementation, you can display the readings on a variety of output devices, making it a versatile sensor for various applications.
