Simple Lux Meter - DIY Light Intensity Meter

by RonFrtek in Circuits > Arduino

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Simple Lux Meter - DIY Light Intensity Meter

Simple Lux Meter - DIY Light Intensity Meter

Learn how to build a Simple Lux Meter to measure light intensity using a BH1750 sensor, Arduino UNO, and Visuino! This easy DIY project is perfect for beginners.


Watch the video!

What You Will Need

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GY-30 BH1750.jpg
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  1. Arduino UNO or any other Arduino board
  2. Breadboard
  3. LCD I2C 16
  4. BH1750 Ambient Light Sensor (I2C)
  5. Jumper wires
  6. Visuino software: Download here


The Circuit

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  1. Connect Light Sensor pin [SCL] to Arduino pin [SCL]
  2. Connect Light Sensor pin [SDA] to Arduino pin [SDA]
  3. Connect Light Sensor pin [VCC] to Arduino pin [5v]
  4. Connect Light Sensor pin [GND] to Arduino pin [GND]


  1. Connect LCD pin [SCL] to Arduino pin [SCL]
  2. Connect LCD Sensor pin [SDA] to Arduino pin [SDA]
  3. Connect LCD Sensor pin [VCC] to Arduino pin [5v]
  4. Connect LCD Sensor pin [GND] to Arduino pin [GND]


Start Visuino, and Select the Arduino UNO Board Type

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Visuino-Select-Board-UNO.jpg

The Visuino: https://www.visuino.com also needs to be installed. Download Free version or register for a Free Trial.

Start Visuino as shown in the first picture Click on the "Tools" button on the Arduino component (Picture 1) in Visuino When the dialog appears, select "Arduino UNO" as shown on Picture 2

In Visuino Add, Set & Connect Components

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  1. Add "ROHM BH1750 Ambient Light Sensor (I2C)" component
  2. Add "Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) - I2C" component


  1. Double click on the "LiquidCrystalDisplay1" and in the Elements window drag "Text Field" to the left side and in the properties window set "Column" to 2, "Initial Value" to LIGHT METER
  2. In the Elements window drag another "Text Field" to the left side and in the properties window set "Column" to 3, "Row" to 1, "Width" to 5
  3. In the Elements window drag another "Text Field" to the left side and in the properties window set "Column" to 9, "Row" to 1, "Width" to 8, "Initial Value" to LUX
  4. Close the Elements window


  1. Connect "LightSensor1" pin I2C Control to Arduino I2C In
  2. Connect "LiquidCrystalDisplay1" pin I2C Control to Arduino I2C In


Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

Visuino-Compile-UNO.jpg

In Visuino, at the bottom click on the "Build" Tab, make sure the correct port is selected, then click on the "Compile/Build and Upload" button.

Play

If you power the Arduino module, the LCD will start to show the Light Intensity value in LUX.

Congratulations! You have completed your project with Visuino. Also attached is the Visuino project, that I created for this Instructable, you can download it and open it in Visuino: https://www.visuino.com