#322

Browsing through my collection of sensors, I found quite a few which deal with measuring of light. Today we will have a look at these sensors, bring them in some order, and test them. In the end, you should be able to decide which sensor is best to use for your project.
Today’s selection covers the following areas:
- RGB sensors
- Lux sensors
- UV sensors
- IR Sensors
- Proximity/gesture sensors
I am a proud Patreon of GreatScott!, Electroboom, Electronoobs, EEVblog, and others.
Links:
Color Sensors:
TCS3200:
TCS3414: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dUa...
TCS34725: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6f...
ISL29125: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTL...
Illuminance / Lux Sensors
BH1750: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dSR...
TSL2561: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dT3...
TSL2591: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d81...
LDR: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dT1...
Phototransistor: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7I...
UV-Sensor:
ML8511: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dU9...
Proximity / Gesture Sensors
APDS-9960: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVG...
AP3216C: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dW5...
TOF Sensor
VL53L0X: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTN...
VL53L1X (Long Range) : s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6T...
Sketches: github.com/SensorsIot/Light-S...
Table of content:
01:17 : Episode 269 (2019-05-19): "#269 Infrared Light: Raspberry IR Camera
and cheap Spectrometer (i-Phos)"
youtube DOT com/watch?v=sttQAL4r4TQ
01:58 : Start of RGB (colour) sensors part
03:36 : Second peak in the infrared for the colour sensor
05:36 : White LEDs emit more in the blue part of the spectrum
05:49 : Start of colour sensors TCS3414/TCS34725 part (I²C interface)
en DOT wikipedia DOT org/wiki/I%C2%B2C
07:19 : Example of usefulness of 3D printing
07:33 : Start of the Lux / illuminance sensors part (BH1750, TSL2561, TSL2591,
noname LDR, and noname phototransistor)
08:18 : Wife joke
08:50 : Start of the BH1750 part
09:45 : Start of the TSL2561 part
10:27 : Start of the LDR part
11:04 : Start of the phototransistor part
11:10 : 220 kΩ series resistor (collector)
11:23 : Application of an LDR for monitoring a system's status LED.
11:41 : Start of the UV sensor part (ML8511)
en DOT wikipedia DOT org/wiki/Ultraviolet
13:00 : Start of the infrared (IR) sensors part
13:18 : IR sensor TSOP1838 (only output for modulated light at 38 kHz)
13:46 : Start of the proximity sensors, etc. part (APDS-9960 and AP3216C)
15:32 : Start of the AP3216C part
15:53 : Roundup
The links above usually are affiliate links which support the channel (no additional cost for you).
Supporting Material and Blog Page: www.sensorsiot.org
Github: www.github.com/sensorsiot
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[@bm830810]

Hi, the text at 4:00 is too small, and thanks for the great content

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the feedback. I started to use OBS and did not get everything right. Next time I will change it.

[@TheHellis]

@@AndreasSpiess you can just crop the view in your video editing software.

[@gg-gn3re]

@@TheHellisYea but in OBS he can just drag it to be bigger part of the screen which is easier than editing software.

[@pandoracrab]

Timely recording for me. I was trying to get UV readings with a VEML6075. Reads nicely but discovered it is very directional. I'd need a solar tracker for it to measure solar UV consistently.

[@martin.pokorny]

I like your videos, Andreas. They have a good "signal/noise ratio"

[@AndreasSpiess]

Cool, thanks

[@userou-ig1ze]

i.e. concise

[@benmeadors6799]

These sensor / board comparison videos are my favorite. They're always informative and help me out in my projects.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@zrxav]

I want to thank you for your work. You've been so helpful, every time I want to buy a new sensor for a project there's a video of you trying the most common available and making a thoroughly made review about it. So, thank you you've made much lighter the work otherwise I've had to make in order to choose the right sensor for my project

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome. Glad my channel is helpful for you!

[@ramoncomellas4245]

Thanks again for a great video. I specially enjoy these compilation videos which compare similar devices and helps us followers save a lot of time searching for the info you kindly bring us in the usual well structured and easy to follow videos

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it! These compilations help me too ;-)

[@martinsauerteig4882]

Congrats: You hit the 200.000!! And again a great Video. Thanks for that and stay healthy. Have great easter holidays.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you. As an engineer I think in dB. So the next important step is 1 mio ;-) Happy Easter, too!

[@engr.arslanhashmi2733]

Yes he deserve for it

[@acpck]

Thanks for dedicating your time to another great video! :) Right now we are developing a project that needs a light sensor and after a close examination we've went fo the same IC TCS34725.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Very cool!

[@NullPointer]

This video arrived in the perfect time for me, today I was researching the detection of gamma and beta radiation using photodiodes as a replacement for Geiger-Müller tubes, so this video was very handy! Congrats for the 200k! :D

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you! And good luck with your project.

[@christosmoutevelis4896]

Happy Easter, Andreas! Thanks for another great video!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@aruns349]

Thanks for a lovely video on light sensors! Really appreciate your work and dedication.

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@AjinkyaMahajan]

You have covered all sensors in my treasure. Nice explanation. Thanks !!! ✨✨✌

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure 😊

[@MIsam-fv9kb]

hi Andreas i like those videos when you talk about different sensors and compare them keep up the good work , i think your channel will become the reference in sensors boards for arduino and MCUs

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you like them!

[@erikschatz348]

Thanks, Andreas! That will help me for an advanced line following modul. See you next UKW conference hopefully!

[@AndreasSpiess]

We will see if hte borders are open till then ;-)

[@asiw]

Very comprehensive as usual and a superb reference for the future.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you think so!

[@dirk-janfaber]

Thanks for the informative video. I made a rgb sensing setup yesterday using the AS7262 chip. Though expensive, it is easy to work with and accurate.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I looked at the sensor in the past, but was driven away by the high price. Now I ordered one. Thanks for the tip!

[@yoginiprabhu8048]

superb explanation of content and inclusion of initial targets and end results for complete understanding! God bless you this video came as ray of hope for my works!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrmx2k]

Congrats Andreas!! Your videos should be within a Public Electronic Wikipedia as a reference! Greetings from Spain!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Maybe one day ;-) Thank you

[@mr.anonymous298]

Thanks for such a nice sensors comparison video.

[@PALTUBABY]

As always very informative and useful. Thank you Andreas :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@juanrivera4938]

Worked so hard trying to fix the APDS9960 with no luck, thank you!!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@3xAudio]

Always interesting ideas to get inspiration in the Arduino community thanks for sharing.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@meinsda5983]

Great Work Andreas!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks a lot!

[@Beeblzaphod]

Bloody hell, what a great video :-) Thanks a 1 000 000 for the content, very interesting and illuminating informations.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@avejst]

Great test as always Thanks for sharing 👍😁

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@andrewbeasley]

Well that video brightened a dull day (sorry). Learnt a lot - never realised the sensors where so different. I’ll be following up the gesture sensor, thank you for publishing your code for that. One thing to note - a significant amount of ‘white’ paper is actually blue to give a clean cold look rather than a warm tint.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are right for teh paper (AFAIK not in all countries equally). But here I measured the spectrum of the diodes without paper. So both effects would add up :-(

[@et752]

Very comprehensive review.. .quite helpful to have for future reference

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you liked it

[@marcdraco2189]

I love the way Andreas shares his own mistakes and that self-deprecating humour is wonderful!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you. We all make mistakes. The difference is how we deal with it...

[@marcdraco2189]

​@@AndreasSpiess your method (I use a similar one) allows us to demonstrate to our peers and students that's to "err" is not just natural but part of a healthy learning process. By brushing our mistakes under the carpet or worse, denying them, we create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear that only hampers learning. Honestly Andreas, I wish there were more KZbin instructors (and teachers in general) like you out there. Humanity would be far less self-destructive if there were.

[@molitovv]

This video is right up my alley

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good to know! Thanks.

[@Inertia888]

In my current project I am designing a sensor for determining distance with a red 5mW laser diode. I would like to be able to use these readings to control the response of a small dc stepper motor for controlling an X/Y axis small milling table. I have a lot to learn and I am sure this information will set me in the right direction. I started thinking about this project only earlier today, so this video came out with perfect timing for my needs. Thank You for all of your help over the past few years that I have been developing my understanding of these concepts.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Maybe you look also at the TOF and Lidar sensors.

[@sbmuthuraman]

Hi Andreas, video with lot of tehnical details and extensive comparison of different sensor available on the market. I feel bad that I did not find your video for this long time.. Once again Thank you so much.. I see a German accent in your explanation. Danke schön.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for your nice words!

[@bf945]

Very glad to have found this channel and this video. Would like to have seen more info on UV sensors, particularly for a weather station to detect the UV level outdoors.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You can find other UV sensors. Just make sure that the protection does not block UV (e.g. Glas blocks UV)

[@electronic7979]

a useful and educational video. liked it very much. The information you provided useful very well for me.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad to hear that! Have a nice Sunday!

[@tonmommers7942]

Very usefull these overviews of sensors.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@ManishMoorjmalani]

great work Andres

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@juancarlossoto3748]

Sure, Maaaaan. I like your form to explaint the sensors that I use, thank you very much

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@aminzayani6556]

Thank you very much for this video! I found it very useful :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad to hear that!

[@juancarlosnarvaez3875]

Good video Andreas. Greetings from Ensenada Mexico

[@AndreasSpiess]

Hello there! Thank you

[@lottery248]

congrats on 200k

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@matneu27]

Thank you for another interesting video in a series that will hopefully be continued 👍 At last no sensor or web based service can replace the wifes skills and predictions 😁

[@AndreasSpiess]

You bet!

[@r1273m]

Very interesting video, many of these devices I have never used. Things have certainly come a long way since the OCP71 (or OC71 with the paint scratched off!). I have a WEMOS which monitors the temperature and humidity in my loft, I think I will add a light sensor to warn if the loft lights are left on when the hatch is closed. Bob

[@AndreasSpiess]

Yea, the world became simpler and better in this respect.

[@klassichd10]

Thank you for your effort and time spent on this Topic. Regarding your awning: What also could be helpful for you is the cloudage. I am measuring far IR Temp with a Melexis MLX90614 and environmental Temp with an BM280 or SHT35 (you would prefere the Swiss one). Then I calculate (or rather more guess) the cloudage.

[@AndreasSpiess]

This is a very interesting concept! Maybe I add a few additional sensors to my Lux meter and compare their readings...

[@lohikarhu734]

@@AndreasSpiess him gokd sir...i, too was thinking about suggesting an IR sensor, as the luxmeter will not 'see' the IR that is heating your home...still, if it sees overall brightness, it would give a 'useful' correlation to insolation...

[@stefankuhnen6305]

I would love to see a Video on different sensor types and comparing the usefulness for this scenario.

[@manu808]

Great video! Thank you

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@bassome3000ify]

awesome as always

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@GhVost]

Frohe Ostern, Andreas!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Danke. Ebenfalls!

[@Mr0neShotAway]

Great video, thank you :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you liked it!

[@BenjaminEggerstedt]

Frohe Ostern, Andreas und vielen Dank für die tollen Videos. Ich freue mich, dass du die 200.000 Abonnenten erreicht hast - ein großartiger Meilenstein: Gratulation! Bleib gesund in dieser schwierigen Zeit! Vielleicht brauchen wir jetzt eine Definition von dBs(ubscriber), dann wünsche ich alsbald +3dBs ;)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Ich bin etwas spät für Osterwünsche. Dankeschön! Betreffend 200'000: Da denke ich in 10 dB und konzentriere mich auf die Million ;-)

[@FF7824]

Well done. (again) Thanks.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@niklasjohansson6195]

Thanks for a great video! I use VEML7700 or VEML6030 mostly for it's low sleep current. Not at Aliexpress but at Adafruit as a module.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for sharing!

[@daves3819]

Thanks for the video. I've been using the GY-49 / MAX44009 module for measuring lux in my greenhouse (to calculate the total moles of light the plants receive). It claims to have a range up to 188,000 lux.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the tip!

[@flibustieros]

Gz with 200k subscribers. Go to 500k!

[@AndreasSpiess]

1 million is my next goal ;-)

[@McTroyd]

You know the wife is paying attention when she starts mocking your engineering choices. :D Thanks for the comparison -- I hadn't even heard of half of these. Time for another shopping round...

[@AndreasSpiess]

No hurry. Logistics anyway does not work properly for the moment. I am waiting and waiting...

[@JohanSchmidt85]

Hi Andreas, thanks for another great video. I just want to mention that LEDs can also be used as light sensor for some applications. I am using an array of 3 LEDs for an ultra low cost 3-channel spectrometer.

[@JohanSchmidt85]

Here is a link wiki.analog.com/university/courses/electronics/electronics-lab-led-sensor

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for the link!

[@engr.arslanhashmi2733]

Awesome video keep it up .

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks, will do!

[@dave_dennis]

Hello Andreas, I have worked for TAOs since long before we were purchased by AMS. You are correct the TCS3200 is outdated. Also the TCS3414 as well. Neither of these have IR filters because when they were designed the technology to deposit the filter directly on the chip was new and very expensive. You are right the TCS34725 is the only AMS part you had that is not obsolete. BTW the Avago part is really an AMS part. TCS3223 I believe. AMS now has a TIme of Flight device you should try. This is very interesting part. Oh, and that TSL2561 was used as the Ambient Light Sensor by Apple in the very first iPhone. Those have a very wide dynamic range because you have an analog gain setting and you can also set the integration time from 2.7ms all the way up to 65535 x 2.7ms. Great video! DE N5BOC

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thankl oyu for the info. I still struggle with both sensors out in the sunlight. As far as I see TCS34725 is saturated and the TSL 2561 sometimes provides strange values. I have to investigate further and also ordered some ND filters to reduce the light energy.

[@BerndFelsche]

An LED will also work as an ambient light detection sensor. First used IIRC by HP in calculators, measuring the voltage of 7-segment displays where the LED segment was off, to determine the current to drive the display segments, according to ambient light. So you wouldn't suffer retinal damage in the lab from a display readable in outdoor daylight.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I assume they use the same effect as the phototransistors. But I di not know that they are very sensitive.

[@jonnyenglisch1026]

Frohe Ostern Andreas!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Danke. Leider bin ich für ein "Ebenfalls" zu spät :-(

[@PhG1961]

Nice video. Btw, don't worry, my wife also laughs with my experiments quite often.... so you're not alone ;-)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good to hear! Not really dangerous for usi, I think ;-)

[@andresbenitez77]

I really like the last sensor

[@AndreasSpiess]

Me too ;-)

[@typxxilps]

really great and extraordinary content ... but have just a view sensors you already mentioned.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

Man I love your vids.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

@@AndreasSpiess I'd love to spend a week with you in your lab. Trying to learn all this stuff is hard. I'm a great grunt worker .... I sweep a mean floor

[@MultiPowerLoRd]

Andreas thank you for your vídeo. Excelent. I used APDS 9960 for a project wich needs to get light colour temperature (Kelvin) it is an excelent sensor.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@tablatronix]

wow , I thought I had alot of light sensor modules to test, wow Some of these I have never seen.

[@AndreasSpiess]

And during cleanup I found two additional ones ;-)

[@gustavoenriquejimenez8098]

I worked in lighting for 10 years. The best light sensor in lux, in my humble opinion, is the Texas Instrument OPT3001. I scanned across the entire visible spectrum, from 380nm to 780nm in 20nm steps, and the sensor actually fits almost perfectly the CIE-defined eye sensitivity curve. It is the best light sensor I could measure. In addition to adjusting to the sensitivity of the human eye, it can measure from 0.1 lux to 100,000 lux. This dynamic range of measurement is amazing.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for the tip. I ordered one.

[@visperaschristopheremmanuel513]

It is helpful for my quantum photonics research.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad to help!

[@visperaschristopheremmanuel513]

@@AndreasSpiess. God bless Sir.

[@daromee]

Thanks in advance for your comments

[@morpheusde]

Danke für das wieder sehr informative Video, Andreas es sind die Sätze wie, meine Frau machte Witze über meine Fähigkeiten die mich jedes mal schmunzeln lassen und ich sozusagen eine tiefe Verbundenheit verspüre, mir geht es ja genauso. Oder so Sätze wie in deinem LoRaWAN Video als es darum ging die Pins vom Draginoboard einzutragen "Otherwise you scratch your head an nothing goes" (Video 117) soooooo genial :-) Hey schöne Ostern und bleibt gesund!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Ich bin leider etwas spät für Osterwünsche. Danke! Ja, auf diesem Kanal sind viele ähnlich Interessierte Leute anzutreffen. Ich finde das sehr schön. KZbin sei dank können wir uns so finden und etwas vernünftiges unternehmen...

[@abelsorolla5321]

great video, very usefull

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad it was helpful!

[@redstone51]

EXCELLENT POST!!!🙏👌

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@meteor8076]

very interesting !

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you think so!

[@DuongST]

Thanks !

[@AndreasSpiess]

Welcome!

[@christopherlawes9286]

Great vid Andreas! I would really love instructional on how to make a colorimeter with ESP32.

[@AndreasSpiess]

This is a very special area, so the chance I will cover it is small.

[@christopherlawes9286]

@@AndreasSpiess Sad to hear but, thanks for the reply and thanks for your great videos.

[@PranavSharma2504]

@andreas If you use a lux sensor for your awning you'll need to keep adjusting it every winter for when you want to sit out in the sun. It might be better to use a temperature sensor instead. Or maybe mix both (lux and temperature) and make some Node-RED flow for it! Sounds like a project! 😉

[@AndreasSpiess]

node red should be able to do some simple if-then-else to avoid wrong extractions...

[@g.s.3389]

very interesting video ;)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the visit

[@vadimzhdan3293]

Very good!)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@nonicnik]

For proximity and lux sensors there also is the SI114X series. I'm waiting for an SI1145 which can even approximate the UV Index by combining the IR and Visible Light sensors. Frohe Ostern

[@AndreasSpiess]

Interesting sensor! Ordered ;-) Thank you

[@arshaver]

At 10:19 you're talking about the TSL2591 as not recommended, but the red box on the left doesn't include that sensor. Looking at the AMS website, it actually says "Industry leading dynamic range which drives both ultra low light sensitivity and bright sunlight operation" about that sensor.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I just read the content of this website. It is more for professional use in products

[@paede81]

Yes there is another one which I prefer: The TEMT6000. I also use it to measure sunlight and control my sun roof

[@AndreasSpiess]

Another viewer in the comments below reported that this one maxes out quite early. Do you have a trick?

[@paede81]

@@AndreasSpiess yes you are right, I checked my setup (weather station) again and it's an SI1145 which I use outdoor. I use the TEMT6000 as indoor sensor

[@maxtester8824]

Happy Easter, Andreas! Great video! I wonder wether one of the proximity sensors would be accurate enough to use in a 3D printer for auto bed leveling?

[@111chicane]

Those are nowhere near accurate enough. You may look at some TOF sensors

[@maxtester8824]

D Stanoev thanks for the feedback!

[@111chicane]

@@maxtester8824 Welcome!

[@milkfridge]

Hi Andreas, great content as usual and very helpful for a project I have always wanted to try: I would like to read the outside color temperature using one of my arduinos, then integrate it via mqtt into my node-red to adapt the Philips Hue Lights in a room with a tiny window to the same color temperature (doing this manually gives a much better perceived light atmosphere, but with changing lights outside (cloudy->sunny->cloudy) this is also irritating). Maybe some expert here has an idea: would it be sufficient to convert RGB values to Kelvin for that matter or would I need other values to analyze light intensity? Congratulatitons on 200k! :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Interesting project. Color management is not an easy thing because always the whole spectrum is important.. Hopefully you find an expert for that matter

[@theScottishAlien]

Grüezi from Zurich! I have a project currently based heavily on home sensors for monitoring house plants. Light is obviously an important variable to monitor so have been prototyping with lots of different breakout boards. Currently developing the design on a PCB and I've found that a lot of the lux sensors are hard to source when building yourself. Currently, I'm working with the BH1715 (poor results), VEML6030 (excellent I2C), and the TEMT6000 (analog, quite primitive). Would love to experiment with the UV as this is also an important aspect of plant health so will try to integrate a few extra sensors into the next version!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good project. A lot to learn, I think.

[@theScottishAlien]

@@AndreasSpiess So much, always. Just finished up the design this weekend and have the VEML6075 UV sensor onboard :D. Once i'm at a point where it's worth seeing, I'll send you one for your mailbag!

[@dimgwolukze140]

I recently use VEML6030/VEML7700 ALS sensor with perfect human eye response. Also have a look about VEML6040 RGB sensor. All from Vishay. Nice packaging, but a little bad interface

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@raymondtwm]

Thanks! This video useful for me.I wonder how to create a strobe lux meter

[@AndreasSpiess]

I assume you need a sample and hold circuit used in ADCs to hold the maximum voltage of a sensor.

[@raymondtwm]

@@AndreasSpiess Thx

[@LeifNelandDk]

Have you considered putting sensors in solar garden lights? You get a solar panel, a battery and an enclosure for a relatively cheap price. For instance temperature and moisture measurements in the greenhouse. You probably need a buck-converter to get the 3.3v needed from a 1.2NiCd or 3.2LiOn, but still. If the ESP went into deep sleep, and only sends occasionally, I guess most lamps could supply the power.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good idea. I started to build a combination of a Lux, an UV, and an RGB sensor. In addition it communicates via 2.4GHz LoRa. The MPU is an Arduino Mini which Igels it’s Takt from an RTC Module. Still a lot of LEDs, so I do not know the current consumption. But it needs some space.

[@Pixel_K]

Hello, I use the MAX44009 lux sensor from Maxim integrated, widely available from Aliexpress. I use it to adapt the brightness of my displays

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the info!

[@SimonCoates]

I use the same sensor on a GY-49.breakout board. However every Arduino library for the MAX44009 I downloaded had the same mistake in reading lux levels correctly. Looks like everyone copied the same error from the original library 😁 It's an excellent lux level sensor with a huge 22 bit dynamic range, ultra low current and IR/UV blocking filters.

[@Pixel_K]

here is the code I use, is it okay ? #define DATA_LUX_HIGH 0x03 #define DATA_LUX_LOW 0x04 float MAX44009::getLux(void) { int luxHigh = readI2CAddr(DATA_LUX_HIGH); int luxLow = readI2CAddr(DATA_LUX_LOW); int exponent = ( luxHigh & 0xf0 ) >>4; int mant = ( luxHigh & 0x0f )

[@SimonCoates]

// Request 2 bytes of data Wire.requestFrom(0x4A, 1); // Read 2 bytes of data luminance msb, luminance lsb if (Wire.available() == 1) { data[1] = Wire.read(); } // Convert the data to lux int exponent = (data[0] & 0xF0) >> 4; int mantissa = ((data[0] & 0x0F)

[@Willy_Tepes]

You can get filters for most wavelengths which is handy in some projects to filter out other types of light you are not interested in measuring and which can interfere with your results.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are right. We live in a very good time.

[@goofycker]

Welcome to the game of sensors...

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@hoegge]

Great video. What can one use to detect rapidly changing / digital light signals?

[@AndreasSpiess]

I assume phototransistors would be ok. Depends on the frequency, of course. The datasheets are your friends.

[@nbsneakersbln]

There has to be this intuitive bond. I am currently working on a project in which I measure the UV-A and UV-B radiation, and if the brightness is exceeded, the shutters on the windows are to be automatically shut down until the UV-A and UV-B levels are again a comfortable level in the room reached. 🤗😘 In my Project I desire to use GY-6075 Light Sensor Modul and BMP280 for Weather Control with a Node MCU ESP32 Dev Board and a 433 MHz RF Transmitter to control the Somfy Window automation.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I try to add aslo a UV sensor to my Lux sensor to compare the readings...

[@connecticutaggie]

I had an interesting idea for your awning sky sensor. I was wondering if the light spectrum changes depending on a clear or cloudy sky. You could use you light spectrometer to check. If it does, then you might be able to use what you learned about the different sensor spectrums to design a sensor that can tell the difference.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good idea. I started witrh my light sensor and included also a RGB sensor. I will see what the results are. But first I have to add some ND filters because it is maxed out in sunlight.

[@connecticutaggie]

@@AndreasSpiess Could you use your spectrometer (probably with a ND) to sample a cloudy, sunny, and rainy day to see if anything jumps out. It would seem that a blue sky might be the obvious guess; but, IR or UV could be a better indicator.

[@kanapkazpasztetem]

The uni-t lux sensor has a white plastic lens, I wonder if it does affect readings in any significant way? Since if we were "to deploy" a device with a light sensor it should be covered with something to protect it imho. Btw. I'm running like 2 years now a LDR to do stuff on sunset/sunrise and after fine tuning of sensitivity levels in software it works fine. The program also checks the time so the trigger runs only these 2 times a day.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I assume they took the color of the plastic into account when they built the device. So far I do not yet know how to protect the sensors. I tend to use glas, but currently all shops are loched down :-(

[@TheHellis]

I followed your advice on 11:14 . First I subscribed, then I unsubscribed again at 11:17. Good advice!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not understand, unfortunately :-(

[@AkosLukacs42]

Hi Andreas, can you recommend a material, or maybe a ready product for outdoor UV sensor housing? AFAIK even regular glass blocks some of UV radiation. So just gluing together some glass may not be the best idea. Or could just measure the decrease of measured values behind the cover, and try to compensate for that?

[@AndreasSpiess]

Even glas blocks some UV the readings still should be ok if the attenuation is constant. I have no calibrated UV meter, so calibration will anyway not be possible for teh moment.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Hope this amount will buy you are beer during your vacation! Enjoy your summer :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Yes, for sure. Thank you! I too hope you will have a pleasant summer

[@ligius3]

Clear 10mm LED, two digital pins = very good detection of sunlight levels. In a nutshell, the LED is capacitively charged by feeding a reverse voltage into it (pins set to OUTPUT), then the decay of that voltage is measured as it slowly leaks into the (now) INPUT pins of the MCU. The more light there is, the faster it discharges. I've used it successfully for quite a few projects, no ADC needed.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Good idea. Thanks!

[@marcelachternaam9249]

Do you have an example of this?

[@ligius3]

@@marcelachternaam9249 Search for "LED as light sensor". The sparkfun article explains how it works, the instructable article shows a sketch, the stackoverflow describes the principle, pasting the text here: Set Port A output high set Port B output low // this makes sure the led is discharged wait 1mS set Port A output low set Port B output high // reverse bias and charge wait 1mS set Port B as input // Port B is high impedance input time how long for Port B to read low

[@PetrusJansen7]

Hi Andreas, fantastic video like always! Do you have a sensor you can recommend as the best option for measuring LUX and PAR for plants under a grow light?

[@AndreasSpiess]

There are many Lux meters around. I do not know which is best. All are relative and have to be calibrated...

[@PetrusJansen7]

@@AndreasSpiess thanks Andreas. Was hoping to find some good information of a comparison test on the internet for lux sensors pair d with Arduino to measure "grow lights" but cannot find a good source. Plants require different light intensity at different stages and it would be great to be able to measure this accurately and automate :)

[@AndreasSpiess]

I once made a video about a spectrometer. Maybe this helps ?

[@lohikarhu734]

Quite a nice presentation! It looks like to could provide a lot of useful info and guidance to many of your viewers...i did not see if you showed the V-lambda human eye curve, as I had to respond to a "Frauen IRQ" ;-)

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are right. I did not show this curve.

[@lohikarhu734]

@@AndreasSpiess not a big deal, ;-) , just that illumination and light measurement were a big part of my Beruf ... first phototransistor used in 1969, with a small parabolic reflector, it could detect a 60 W incandescent bulb about 75 m away... first red LED in 1970-ish; it cost 1% of my monthly salary, and made a light 'dot' like a Bleistift point ;-) But, light! I have been doing this for a while :-)

[@renatodioses3680]

excellent video, what would be the best sensor to measure the color of a liquid inside a test tube?

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not know :-(

[@AleOnNet]

Hi Andreas great job. Have you done a similar job on energy meters for esp32? Specially three phase ones Please do it!

[@AndreasSpiess]

No, (not yet)

[@billxby]

Hi, thanks for the video! Do you know where I can get an IR filter for the TCS3200?

[@AndreasSpiess]

No, I never had to buy one.

[@syaduinotech3681]

Good sharing sir.. appreciate if you can teach us about: 1) how to calibrate with the commercial lux meter. Tq sir

[@AndreasSpiess]

I do not know. But I am sure Google knows. You probably need a particular bulb with a defined spectrum plus a calibrated instrument.