Monitoring systems are essential for various applications, from environmental monitoring to industrial automation. With Arduino, you can create a customizable and cost-effective monitoring system. This article will guide you through the process of setting up a basic monitoring system using Arduino.

Examples:

Example 1: Temperature and Humidity Monitoring

In this example, we will use a DHT11 sensor to monitor temperature and humidity levels. The data will be displayed on the Serial Monitor.

Components Needed:

• Arduino Uno
• DHT11 Sensor
• Breadboard
• Jumper wires

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Wiring the Components:

   • Connect the VCC pin of the DHT11 sensor to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the GND pin of the DHT11 sensor to the GND pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the DATA pin of the DHT11 sensor to digital pin 2 on the Arduino.

2. Installing the DHT Library:

   • Open the Arduino IDE.
   • Go to Sketch -> Include Library -> Manage Libraries...
   • Search for DHT sensor library and install it.

3. Writing the Code:

   #include "DHT.h"
   
   #define DHTPIN 2     // Digital pin connected to the DHT sensor
   #define DHTTYPE DHT11   // DHT 11
   
   DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);
   
   void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    dht.begin();
   }
   
   void loop() {
    delay(2000); // Wait a few seconds between measurements
   
    float h = dht.readHumidity();
    float t = dht.readTemperature();
   
    if (isnan(h) || isnan(t)) {
      Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
      return;
    }
   
    Serial.print("Humidity: ");
    Serial.print(h);
    Serial.print(" %\t");
    Serial.print("Temperature: ");
    Serial.print(t);
    Serial.println(" *C");
   }

4. Uploading the Code:

   • Connect your Arduino to your computer via USB.
   • Select the correct board and port from the Tools menu.
   • Click the upload button.

5. Viewing the Data:

   • Open the Serial Monitor from the Tools menu.
   • Set the baud rate to 9600.
   • You should see the temperature and humidity readings displayed.

Example 2: Light Intensity Monitoring

In this example, we will use an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) to monitor light intensity. The data will be displayed on the Serial Monitor.

Components Needed:

• Arduino Uno
• LDR
• 10kΩ Resistor
• Breadboard
• Jumper wires

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Wiring the Components:

   • Connect one end of the LDR to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the other end of the LDR to analog pin A0 on the Arduino.
   • Connect one end of the 10kΩ resistor to the GND pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the other end of the 10kΩ resistor to the junction between the LDR and A0.

2. Writing the Code:

   void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
   }
   
   void loop() {
    int lightLevel = analogRead(A0);
    Serial.print("Light Intensity: ");
    Serial.println(lightLevel);
    delay(1000);
   }

3. Uploading the Code:

   • Connect your Arduino to your computer via USB.
   • Select the correct board and port from the Tools menu.
   • Click the upload button.

4. Viewing the Data:

   • Open the Serial Monitor from the Tools menu.
   • Set the baud rate to 9600.
   • You should see the light intensity readings displayed.