Ultimate Arduino Sensors & Modules Guide

This document contains explanations and example codes for over 40 commonly used
sensors and modules with Arduino. Each section provides a description of the component
along with a sample code to implement it.

LCD (16x2) Display

Displays text using a Liquid Crystal Display.

Example Code:

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12);

void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Hello, Arduino!");
}

void loop() {
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.print(millis() / 1000);
delay(1000);
}

OLED Display
Displays text and graphics using an OLED screen.

Example Code:

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128

#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, -1);

void setup() {
display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
display.clearDisplay();
 display.setTextSize(1);
display.setTextColor(WHITE);
display.setCursor(0, 10);
display.println("Hello OLED!");
display.display();
}

void loop() {}

Touch Screen (TFT Display)

A touchscreen display that allows user interaction.

Example Code:

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_TFTLCD.h>

#define LCD_CS A3
#define LCD_CD A2
#define LCD_WR A1
#define LCD_RD A0
#define LCD_RESET A4

Adafruit_TFTLCD tft(LCD_CS, LCD_CD, LCD_WR, LCD_RD, LCD_RESET);

void setup() {
tft.begin(0x9325);
tft.fillScreen(0x0000);
tft.setCursor(50, 50);
tft.setTextColor(0xFFFF);
tft.setTextSize(2);
tft.print("Hello, TFT!");
}

void loop() {}

Servo Motor
A servo motor allows precise angular control.

Example Code:
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myServo;

void setup() {
myServo.attach(9);
}

void loop() {
myServo.write(0);
delay(1000);
myServo.write(90);
delay(1000);
myServo.write(180);
delay(1000);
}

Stepper Motor
A stepper motor rotates in small steps for precise movement.

Example Code:

#include <Stepper.h>
#define STEPS 200

Stepper stepper(STEPS, 8, 9, 10, 11);

void setup() {
stepper.setSpeed(60);
}

void loop() {
stepper.step(200);
delay(1000);
stepper.step(-200);
delay(1000);
}

Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)

Measures distance using ultrasonic waves.

Example Code:
const int trigPin = 9;
const int echoPin = 10;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
}

void loop() {
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

long duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

int distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;
Serial.print("Distance: ");
Serial.print(distance);
Serial.println(" cm");
delay(500);
}

PIR Motion Sensor

Detects motion using infrared radiation.

Example Code:

int pirPin = 2; // PIR sensor input pin

int ledPin = 13; // LED output

void setup() {
pinMode(pirPin, INPUT);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int motionDetected = digitalRead(pirPin);
if (motionDetected) {
 digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
Serial.println("Motion detected!");
} else {
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
}
delay(500);
}

DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor

Measures temperature and humidity levels.

Example Code:

#include <DHT.h>
#define DHTPIN 2
#define DHTTYPE DHT11

DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
dht.begin();
}

void loop() {
float temp = dht.readTemperature();
float hum = dht.readHumidity();

Serial.print("Temperature: ");
Serial.print(temp);
Serial.println(" *C");

Serial.print("Humidity: ");
Serial.print(hum);
Serial.println(" %");

delay(2000);
}

Gas Sensor (MQ-2)

Detects gases like methane, LPG, and smoke.
Example Code:

int mq2Pin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int gasLevel = analogRead(mq2Pin);
Serial.print("Gas Level: ");
Serial.println(gasLevel);
delay(1000);
}

Relay Module
Controls high-power devices with Arduino.

Example Code:

int relayPin = 7;

void setup() {
pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH);
delay(5000);
digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW);
delay(5000);
}

Bluetooth Module (HC-05)

Allows wireless communication via Bluetooth.

Example Code:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial BT(10, 11);
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
BT.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
if (BT.available()) {
char data = BT.read();
Serial.write(data);
}
}

Soil Moisture Sensor

Measures soil moisture levels for smart irrigation.

Example Code:

int sensorPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int moisture = analogRead(sensorPin);
Serial.print("Soil Moisture: ");
Serial.println(moisture);
delay(1000);
}

Rain Sensor
Detects the presence of rain using a conductive plate.

Example Code:

int rainPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
int rainValue = analogRead(rainPin);
Serial.print("Rain Intensity: ");
Serial.println(rainValue);
delay(1000);
}

UV Sensor (GUVA-S12SD)
Measures ultraviolet light intensity.

Example Code:

int uvPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int uvValue = analogRead(uvPin);
Serial.print("UV Level: ");
Serial.println(uvValue);
delay(1000);
}

MPU6050 (Accelerometer & Gyroscope)

Measures acceleration and rotation.

Example Code:

#include <Wire.h>
#include <MPU6050.h>

MPU6050 mpu;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Wire.begin();
mpu.initialize();
}
void loop() {
int ax, ay, az;
mpu.getAcceleration(&ax, &ay, &az);
Serial.print("Accel: "); Serial.print(ax); Serial.print(", ");
Serial.print(ay); Serial.print(", "); Serial.println(az);
delay(500);
}

Sound Sensor
Detects ambient sound levels.

Example Code:

int soundPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int soundLevel = analogRead(soundPin);
Serial.print("Sound Level: ");
Serial.println(soundLevel);
delay(500);
}

Flame Sensor
Detects flame presence and alerts.

Example Code:

int flamePin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int flameDetected = analogRead(flamePin);
if (flameDetected < 500) {
 Serial.println("Flame Detected!");
}
delay(500);
}

RFID Module (MFRC522)

Reads RFID tags for identification.

Example Code:

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>

#define SS_PIN 10
#define RST_PIN 9
MFRC522 rfid(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
SPI.begin();
rfid.PCD_Init();
}

void loop() {
if (rfid.PICC_IsNewCardPresent() && rfid.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
Serial.print("RFID Tag: ");
for (byte i = 0; i < rfid.uid.size; i++) {
Serial.print(rfid.uid.uidByte[i], HEX);
}
Serial.println();
}
}

NFC Module
Reads NFC tags for data transfer and security.

Example Code:

#include <Wire.h>
#include <PN532_I2C.h>
#include <PN532.h>
PN532_I2C pn532_i2c(Wire);
PN532 nfc(pn532_i2c);

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
nfc.begin();
}

void loop() {
uint8_t success;
uint8_t uid[] = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0};
uint8_t uidLength;

success = nfc.readPassiveTargetID(PN532_MIFARE_ISO14443A, uid, &uidLength);

if (success) {
Serial.print("NFC Tag UID: ");
for (uint8_t i=0; i < uidLength; i++) {
Serial.print(uid[i], HEX);
}
Serial.println();
delay(1000);
}
}

ESP8266 WiFi Module

Allows Arduino to connect to WiFi for IoT applications.

Example Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>

const char* ssid = "your_SSID";

const char* password = "your_PASSWORD";

void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(500);
 Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("Connected!");
}

void loop() {}

GSM Module (SIM900)

Allows Arduino to send SMS and make calls.

Example Code:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial gsm(7, 8);

void setup() {
gsm.begin(9600);
Serial.begin(9600);
delay(1000);
gsm.println("AT");
delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
if (Serial.available()) {
gsm.write(Serial.read());
}
if (gsm.available()) {
Serial.write(gsm.read());
}
}

4x4 Capacitive Touchpad (16 Keys)

A capacitive touchpad with 16 keys for input.

Example Code:

#include <Wire.h>
#include "Adafruit_MPR121.h"
Adafruit_MPR121 touchpad = Adafruit_MPR121();

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
if (!touchpad.begin(0x5A)) {
Serial.println("Touchpad not found!");
while (1);
}
}

void loop() {
uint16_t touched = touchpad.touched();
for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
if (touched & (1 << i)) {
Serial.print("Key ");
Serial.print(i);
Serial.println(" Touched");
}
}
delay(200);
}

CO2 Sensor (MG811)

Measures carbon dioxide concentration in the air.

Example Code:

int co2Pin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int co2Level = analogRead(co2Pin);
Serial.print("CO2 Level: ");
Serial.println(co2Level);
delay(1000);
}
Water Level Sensor
Detects the level of water in a tank or container.

Example Code:

int waterLevelPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int level = analogRead(waterLevelPin);
Serial.print("Water Level: ");
Serial.println(level);
delay(1000);
}

Tilt Sensor
Detects tilt and movement.

Example Code:

int tiltPin = 2;

void setup() {
pinMode(tiltPin, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
if (digitalRead(tiltPin)) {
Serial.println("Tilt Detected!");
}
delay(500);
}

IR Line Follower Sensor

Detects black and white surfaces for robotics.

Example Code:
int irPin = 2;

void setup() {
pinMode(irPin, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
if (digitalRead(irPin)) {
Serial.println("White Surface Detected!");
} else {
Serial.println("Black Line Detected!");
}
delay(500);
}

Laser Sensor
Detects laser beams for security or distance measurement.

Example Code:

int laserPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int laserValue = analogRead(laserPin);
Serial.print("Laser Intensity: ");
Serial.println(laserValue);
delay(1000);
}

Magnetic Reed Switch

Detects the presence of a magnetic field.

Example Code:

int reedPin = 2;
void setup() {
pinMode(reedPin, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
if (digitalRead(reedPin)) {
Serial.println("Magnet Detected!");
}
delay(500);
}

Pulse Sensor (Heart Rate Monitor)

Measures heart rate using a pulse sensor.

Example Code:

int pulsePin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int pulse = analogRead(pulsePin);
Serial.print("Heart Rate: ");
Serial.println(pulse);
delay(1000);
}

Real-Time Clock (RTC DS3231)

Keeps track of real-world time and date.

Example Code:

#include <Wire.h>
#include "RTClib.h"

RTC_DS3231 rtc;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
rtc.begin();
}

void loop() {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
Serial.print(now.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.print(now.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(now.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(now.second(), DEC);
delay(1000);
}

GPS Module (NEO-6M)

Retrieves location coordinates using GPS.

Example Code:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(4, 3);

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
gpsSerial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
while (gpsSerial.available()) {
Serial.write(gpsSerial.read());
}
}
Air Quality Sensor (MQ-135)
Measures air pollution levels.

Example Code:

int airQualityPin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int airQuality = analogRead(airQualityPin);
Serial.print("Air Quality Level: ");
Serial.println(airQuality);
delay(1000);
}

pH Sensor
Measures the pH level of liquids.

Example Code:

int pHpin = A0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
int pHValue = analogRead(pHpin);
Serial.print("pH Level: ");
Serial.println(pHValue);
delay(1000);
}