ElecFreaks
Octopus PM2.5 module
The Octopus PM2.5 module from ElecFreaks is a laser-based particulate matter sensor built around the ZH03B dust sensor. It measures PM2.5 concentration in th...
The Octopus PM2.5 module from ElecFreaks is a laser-based particulate matter sensor built around the ZH03B dust sensor. It measures PM2.5 concentration in the air with high consistency and real-time response, capable of detecting particles as small as 0.3 µm in diameter.
Part of the Octopus electronic brick series, it features both a 3-pin GVS interface (PWM output) and a 4-pin serial output, making it compatible with micro:bit, Arduino, and other 3.3 V or 5 V microcontrollers.
Key Features
- ZH03B Laser Dust Sensor – High-accuracy PM2.5 concentration measurement
- 0.3 µm Minimum Particle Size – Detects fine particulate matter
- Dual Output – 3-pin GVS (3.3 V PWM) and 4-pin serial (3.3 V UART)
- 3.3 V / 5 V Compatible – Works with micro:bit, Arduino, and similar boards
- Real-Time Response – Continuous air quality monitoring
Specifications
- Sensor – ZH03B laser dust sensor
- Measurement – PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³)
- Minimum Particle Size – 0.3 µm
- Interfaces – 3-pin GVS (PWM) and 4-pin serial (UART)
- Operating Voltage – 3.3–5 V
Ideal For
- Air quality monitoring stations
- Environmental science projects with micro:bit
- Indoor air quality sensing
- Arduino and microcontroller pollution monitoring
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Matter
- A smart home connectivity standard designed to let devices work across different ecosystems. It matters if you want a project to integrate more easily with platforms such as Apple Home, Google Home, or other Matter-compatible systems.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- particulate matter
- Particulate matter means tiny particles suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke, pollen, or pollution. A sensor that measures it is useful for air-quality projects because particle levels can affect comfort and health.
- PM2.5
- PM2.5 refers to airborne particles with a diameter of about 2.5 micrometres or smaller. It is a common air-quality measurement because these fine particles can be breathed deep into the lungs.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
Find this product in
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
