Introduction

In this article, I will explain about finding weather conditions using Rain Sensor with Arduino Mega 2560. It can be very easy to find the weather conditions at any place.
Parts Of List
  • Arduino Mega 2560
  • Rain sensor
  • Bread Board
Rain Sensor
Figure 1: Rain Sensor
  • The Raindrop Detection Sensor module is an easy-to-use and low cost drop recognition sensor.
  • The sensor works through a series of exposures.
  • Parallel traces on board produce electrical variations when drops or water volume changes.
  • By using microcontrollers or ADC ICs (Arduino and PIC) its fairly easy to convert the analog output from the sensor to digital values.
  • This can be directly read by an Arduino or a comparator circuit if you wish to use it as a rain detection alarm. It can be used to monitor a variety of weather conditions.
Connection
  • VCC: positive power supply (3-5V)
  • GND:power supply is negative
  • DO:TTL switching signal output
  • AO:analog signal output.
Programming
  1. /* Flame Sensor analog example.
  2. Code by Reichenstein7 (thejamerson.com)
  4. For use with a Rain Sensor with an analog out!
  6. To test view the output, point a serial monitor such as Putty at your Arduino.
  8. - If the Sensor Board is completely soaked;
  9. "case 0" will be activated and " Flood " will be sent to the serial monitor.
  10. - If the Sensor Board has water droplets on it;
  11. "case 1" will be activated and " Touched " will be sent to the serial monitor.
  12. - If the Sensor Board is dry;
  13. "case 2" will be activated and " Not Touched " will be sent to the serial monitor.
  15. */
  17. // lowest and highest sensor readings:
  18. const int sensorMin = 0;
  19. // sensor minimum
  20. const int sensorMax = 1024;
  21. // sensor maximum
  23. void setup()
  24. {
  25. // initialize serial communication @ 9600 baud:
  26. Serial.begin(9600);
  27. }
  28. void loop()
  29. {
  30. // read the sensor on analog A0:
  31. int sensorReading = analogRead(A0);
  32. // map the sensor range (four options):
  33. // ex: 'long int map(long int, long int, long int, long int, long int)'
  34. int range = map(sensorReading, sensorMin, sensorMax, 0, 3);
  35. // range value:
  36. switch (range)
  37. {
  38. case 0:
  39. // Sensor getting wet
  40. Serial.println("Flood");
  41. break;
  43. case 1:
  44. // Sensor getting wet
  45. Serial.println("Touched");
  46. break;
  48. case 2:
  49. // Sensor dry - To shut this up delete the " Serial.println("Not Raining");
  50. " below.
  51. Serial.println("Not touched");
  52. break;
  53. }
  54. delay(1);
  55. // delay between reads
  56. }
Explanation
  • If the Sensor Board is completely soaked; "case 0" will be activated and "Flood" will be sent to the serial monitor.
  • If the Sensor Board has water droplets on it; "case 1" will be activated and "Touched" will be sent to the serial monitor.
  • If the Sensor Board is dry; "case 2" will be activated and "Not touched" will be sent to the serial monitor.
  • The output in "case 2", "Not Raining" is just for this demonstration.
  • When I used this code in production I omitted the output for this case and just had the alert.
Output
Figure2:Output
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