pico-and-sensors

Regulating AC Current

Regulating AC current using TRIAC and optocouplers; and sending command using a remote control. I used PWM to regulate the current; this method should not be used for real-life appliances.

Range hints for output signal to optocoupler (from microcontroller to AC load), with respect to 220V:

• for 65w stand fan (GFC brand), range is: 101 - 140
• for 100w bulb, range is: 70 - 160
• for 0.5w dim led, range is: 86 - 180

Code file: ac_current_regulator_with_remote.py

Demos
Video: Regulating a fan with remote control (bonus- background scream of my kid)

Video: Regulating a bulb with remote control

Video: Regulating a bulb with potentiometer

Take reading of AC Current

Code file: ac_current_reading.py

This program monitors AC current and keep track of minimum and maximum reading.

Circuitry
I used rectifier bridge 2W10 and optocoupler 4N35.

Sample output:

min current: 128 max current: 65535 avg: 51398.02
Total 100000 reading taken in 4566 ms

Gas Sensor - MQ2

Gas sensors (the cheap one) needed to be calibrated after purchasing. I.e, after running the sensor, voltage output in clean air should be used to calibrate the sensor reading. Those sensors are not that accurate and should not be used for professional purpose.

For Gas (MQ2) sensor, use that code, written for Raspberry PI; so remove ADC (MCP3008) chip related code: https://github.com/tutRPi/Raspberry-Pi-Gas-Sensor-MQ/blob/master/mq.py

Also have a look, written for raspberry pi: https://github.com/filips123/GasDetection

Water (or rain) Drop Sensor

Initial (not raining) ADC value is the max int - 65535. The more the rain or water drops falls on the detector sheet, the lower the value becomes. For binary Pin input, neutral value is 1, if heavy drops are detected, value will be 0; so for light drops value will remain 0.

N.B.:

1. There's a nob in the sensor, probably to adjust the sensitivity.
2. The sheet needs to be connected with the sensor.

Line Tracking Sensor

This sensor can differentiate between while and black in front of it which is helpful to track a black line on white background or a white line on a black background. Digital (binary) values will be enough for detection. There's a potentiometer onb on the sensor to incread or decrease hte sensitivity fo the sendor. This sensor has IR sender and receiver which works as detector of white and black. A 1inch straigh and unambiguous line should be drawn to work with.

Sound Sensor

Probably too much analog (voltage) noise in my sensor (from HiPi). Value is always high.

Joystick

HiPi Joystick has 3 pins besides VCC and GND. X, Y pins will be in ADC; Bt (middle button) will be a binary pin. Neutral value for button is 1, 0 - when pressed. Neutral value for X or Y is around 65535/2. Value will increase or decrease according to the inclination towards a direction of the stick.
For Example, moving the stick UP will slowly decrease X value (this is odd, up/down should be connected to Y ware of the module).

Motion Sensor aka. Passive Infrared Receiver (PIR)

Motion sensor that I'm using HC-SR501, just detects motion without any level of movement, like the movement is small or big . So its output is binary.

All Demo Pictures and Videos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YCahwJrahAJGaoKj6