Trying to build a spectrophotometer for my HS Chemistry class using RedBoard Plus, AS7343 and ASAS7331. Need programming help-nothing I have tried has worked

Sensors
1

Need programming help. I have tried several sources but each has at least one fatal error. The majority of high school equipment will not give you a wavelength, only a color spectrum. With single point lasers and diffraction grating, along with some math, I can get decent results. This method only works for single light, it red and/or green lasers. I am trying to get numbers for spectra from various sources. This is my first time using Arduino boards.

2

The AS7331 UV sensor is not suitable for a spectrophotometer, but the AS7343 would be a good place to start. It measures light intensities in 11 wavelength bands across the visible part of the light spectrum.

To get started, carefully follow the instructions in the “Hookup Guide”. Feel free to post again if you have questions.

3

Is there a “pre-made” sketch that I can load and run the breakout boards. The goal is to get both visible and UVa, UVb, and UVc, in the same spectra.

I am new to arduino and have also never programmed.

Thanks,

Dean Moore

4

Yes, study the Hookup Guides and carefully follow instructions.

5

Is there a different board for UVa, UVb, UVc, than the one I am using?

Thanks,
Dean Moore

6

Why do you ask? A number of different multiband light sensors are available.

The best approach is to start with one sensor at a time, get it working, understand how it works and decide if the resulting measurements are actually useful for the project you have in mind.

7

I have been trying to get the redboard plus connected using QWIIC to a AS7343. After multiple attempts, and with student help, I am getting “data” from the Spectral Sensor. (I have the white light on the board illuminated.)

The “issue” now is the “data” reported by the web monitor are boxes, nothing numeric.

Help

Thanks,
Dean Moore
Collegium High School
Chemistry (AP, Honors), Forensic Science, Human Anatomy & Physiology

8

Place a “color wheel” that is changed with a stepper motor. The color wheel can “tighten” up the spectrum from you light source. Use a “slit” to narrow the light beam width. Some “hot” incandescent lights (halogen, etc) produce a high heat with a very broad spectrum. Then you can also use a prism of some type to spread the lightbeam across a photo detector array.

Generally you need to calibrate the device using known materials that have known absorption spectrums.