How to Read an Analog Sensor with Zerynth (Python for IoT)

In this tutorial, we'll see how to read data from a light analog sensor and print them to the serial monitor in a visual way.

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour1,470

How to Read an Analog Sensor with Zerynth (Python for IoT)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Adafruit ALS-PT19 Analog Light Sensor

Espressif ESP32S

Software apps and online services

Zerynth Studio

Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wwk9FB5Ir4

Zerynth

In this tutorial, we'll see how to read data from a light analog sensor and print them to the serial monitor in a visual way.

We’ll use Zerynth Studio to program the microcontroller-based board in Python.

Zerynth simplifies and speeds up IoT development allowing programming in Python or hybrid C/Python the most popular 32-bit microcontrollers and connecting them to the leading Cloud Infrastructures like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, IBM Watson, Ubidots, and many more.

Required Material

First of all, you need a board. You can select one of the 32-bit microcontroller devices supported by Zerynth. We’ve chosen the ESP32-DevkitC by Espressif (read Zerynth documentation here).

You also need an Analog LightSensor: we’ve chosen the ALS-PT19 by Adafruit.

Last but not least, you need:

Zerynth Studio, a powerful IDE for embedded programming in Python that enables the IoT. You can download it here.

Assembling

Connect the analog light sensor to the ESP32-DevkitC as follows:

Sensor '-' pin to board GND

Sensor '+' pin to board 3V3

Sensor 'out' pin to board A4

Check the circuit schematics below for further details!

Programming

Once you have installed Zerynth Studio and created a Zerynth user, you have to register and virtualize the board.

Clone and uplink the Zerynth example "Analog to Digital Voltage Conversion" as shown in the video. If you want to view the data in a visual way, you can clone and uplink the Zerynth example "Oscilloscope".

Place your hand on the analog sensor to see the brightness data changing and enjoy!

Code

################################################################################
# Analog Read to Voltage
#
# Created by Zerynth Team 2015 CC
# Authors: G. Baldi, D. Mazzei
################################################################################

import streams
import adc      # import the adc module  

#create a serial port stream with default parameters
streams.serial()

#define the analog pin for reading the value 
inputAnalog = A0

#set the pin as input with INPUT_ANALOG,
pinMode(inputAnalog,INPUT_ANALOG)

while True:
       
    #read the input on analog pin 0
    sensorValue = adc.read(inputAnalog)
    
    #convert the analog reading (which goes from 0 - 4095.0) to a voltage (0 - 3.3V):
    voltage = sensorValue * (3.3 / 4095.0)
    
    #print out the raw and converted values:
    print("sensor raw value:", sensorValue,"Voltage:",voltage)
    
    sleep(300)