How to Use a Piezo to Produce Tone : Basics

Hello everyone, In this instructable, We will be using a Piezo buzzer to produce tone.

What is a Piezo buzzer?

• A Piezo is a electronic device that can be used both to produce as well as detect sound.

Applications:

• You can use the same circuit to play a musical note by switching the Piezo on and off several times.
• The experience can be further improved by changing the loudness of the Buzzer using Arduino PWM pins.

We will be starting from basics and will produce a simple Beeping tone using Piezo.

For this project we will need:

1. An Arduino UNO
2. A 5V Piezo Buzzer
3. Jumper wires

Don't we need a resistor to limit the current through the buzzer?

No, if you are using a small 5V Piezo.

As it derives or uses very small amount of current so can be used without a resistor in series.

Hookup all the components according to the circuit shown above.

Polarity of the buzzer:

Before connecting the Piezo to Arduino, note that a Piezo buzzer has polarity.

1. The positive lead of the Piezo has Red wire.
2. But, If you have got a Breadboard mountable Piezo then the Positive terminal of the Piezo has a longer lead than negative terminal.

Once you have wired up everything, Upload the following to Arduino:

void setup()  { 

  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);        // declare pin 9 to be an output:
}

void loop(){

analogWrite(9, 20);       // Any value can be used except 0 and 255

delay(300);                   // wait for 3 ms

analogWrite(9, 0);         // turns it off

delay(300);                   // wait for 3 ms

}

Once done power the Arduino to hear the beep.

Troubleshooting:

No sound

• Check that the buzzer is connected to the arduino properly.

Have you inserted the buzzer to the correct pin?

• Pay attention on the Polarity of the Piezo buzzer. That is, Positive lead of the buzzer should go to PIN 9 and negative to GND on the Arduino respectively.

If you still can't hear Re-upload the sketch.

Or, Write in comments below.

Thanks for viewing.