Adafruit
Analog UV Light Sensor Breakout - GUVA-S12SD
An analog UV light sensor breakout based on the GUVA-S12SD photodiode, detecting the 240–370nm range covering UVB and most of the UVA spectrum. An on-board o...
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An analog UV light sensor breakout based on the GUVA-S12SD photodiode, detecting the 240–370nm range covering UVB and most of the UVA spectrum. An on-board op-amp amplifies the tiny photodiode current to a readable voltage level, making it simple to connect to any microcontroller's analog input.
Unlike more complex I2C UV sensors, this module provides a straightforward analog voltage output — just power it, read the voltage, and convert to UV Index. Power the sensor with 2.7–5.5V DC and read the analog signal from the OUT pin.
Key Features
- True UV Photodiode – Detects 240–370nm (UVA and UVB)
- Analog Output – Simple voltage output, no I2C configuration needed
- On-Board Op-Amp – Amplifies nano-ampere photodiode current to readable voltage levels
- Wide Supply Range – 2.7V to 5.5V operation
- UV Index Conversion – Output voltage ÷ 0.1V = approximate UV Index
Specifications
- Sensor – GUVA-S12SD UV photodiode
- Detection Range – 240–370nm (UVA/UVB)
- Output – Analog voltage (Vo = 4.3 × diode current in µA)
- Supply Voltage – 2.7V to 5.5V
- UV Index Formula – UV Index ≈ Vout ÷ 0.1V
Ideal For
- UV exposure monitoring and sun safety projects
- Weather stations and environmental data logging
- UV curing and sterilisation monitoring
- Arduino and microcontroller sensor projects
Package Contents
- 1× GUVA-S12SD Analog UV Light Sensor Breakout
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- DC
- DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- Op-amp
- An op-amp, or operational amplifier, is a chip used to amplify, buffer, or compare analogue signals. Resistor values around an op-amp help set gain and input behaviour, so choosing the right resistance matters for stable circuit performance.
- photodiode
- A photodiode is a light-sensitive component that produces a small electrical signal, a current or voltage, when light falls on it. When a sensor uses several photodiodes, each can be tuned to a different part of the spectrum so the chip can measure several wavelength bands separately.
- UVA
- UVA is the longer-wavelength part of ultraviolet light, closest to visible violet light. Measuring it separately matters when you need to distinguish general UV exposure from the more energetic UVB and UVC bands.
- UVB
- UVB is a middle band of ultraviolet light that is more energetic than UVA and is important in sun exposure and plant-related UV monitoring. A sensor with a separate UVB channel lets you measure this band without it being mixed together with other UV light.
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