For example, do I need a breakout board? I am very new here, thanks for any help!
What type of sensor are you refering to?
Some IR sensors could be connected directly to the Arduino - eg the type that decodes the 38KHz pulses used in TV remote controls.
I’m talking about an IR temp sensor. Also, A analog temp sensor…
Speaking in general terms, how do i know if it needs one?
It depends on the sensor. A breakout board simply provides an easy way to make connections to the device, it doesn’t do much more.
Leon
Ok good. Thanks!
If you post links to actual sensors you are considering, we could give more specific advice…
Oh sure. I want to have a temp probe and IR temp (water in a bag) that will store temps in a log. I am very new to all of this.
I’ve ordered the following
Kit:
http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ … ucts_id=68
Temp Sensor:
http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ … cts_id=165
And want to incorporate these.
IR Temp:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9570
Barometric Pressure
May I add, thank you all so much!
Also, what’s the difference between analog and digital temp sensors? Which do you recommend? I just want to capture temp readings and store them in a log.
All of those sensors should be pretty easy to interface to the Arduino. Check out the Comments in most of the links you sent, as there is information about interfacing to Arduino.
The main benefit of the digital temp sensors is that they can be used with microcontrollers that don’t have ADC inputs. Also, the 1-wire bus lets you connect a whole lot of sensors with only 1 wire.
Since the Arduino has analog, you could save yourself the extra cost of the digital sensor, as well as the hassle of writing code for the 1-wire bus (it’s not that bad, but it is a bit of a pain).
Thanks for the link to the IR temp sensor - looks like a nice unit!
Analog might be the easiest - you just have to scan the inputs and convert the value to the temp.
For digital, it might be easier to go all two-wire (aka I2C), especially if sparkfun releases the I2C version of the baro sensor on a breakout. All the sensors can go on the I2C bus.
I have this temp sensor:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9418
The IR sensor is also I2C.
With 2 wire, there are libraries for the AVR and I think the PIC making it easy to write - just set the states and send the commands.
With the 1 wire, you have to write things completely yourself. SPI is somewhere inbetween.