3.0 Simple Photocell Project

This project will demonstrate using the Arduino to sense light and dark using a photocell.

Connect your components as follows:

The resisters in series create a Voltage Divider. Our project is going to use Analog pin A0 to read the voltage.

Create an Arduino sketch with the following Code:

/*NAME
Photocell Project
Engineering Period 1
DATE

Revision History
DATE  |    NAME    |     Changes Made
------|------------|------------------------------
TODAY |  My Name   |  Initial Implementation
*/

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset or apply power:
void setup() {
  // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  //Set pin A0 For Input - Allow us to read the value
  pinMode(A0, INPUT);

}

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
 
 // read the input on analog pin 0:
 int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);

 //Send the output to the Serial Port
 Serial.println(sensorValue);

}

After you have written your code, compile and upload the code to the Arduino. Once the code has been uploaded to the Arduino, from the tools menu select serial monitor.

  • What values are you seeing?
  • What happens when you cover the photocell?

analogRead() Documentation