Beginner

Adjustable Potentiometer Module with Arduino

Change a variable with a potentiometer module and Arduino

By Cherie Tan

Potentiometers, also known as variable resistors, can be found in many Arduino projects. You will be introduced to analog inputs using a potentiometer module. Learn to program it using the Arduino IDE. In this guide, you will learn to use a potentiometer to turn values up and down and provide variable resistance. These values are read into the Arduino board as an analog input. After completing this guide, you will be able to use potentiometers in your projects. Some other examples of what you could do with a potentiometer are to control servos.

Let's take a closer look at the adjustable potentiometer module that will be used in this guide. There are four pins here:

OUT: Output Pin

VCC : 'VCC' stands for Voltage Common Collector

GND: Ground Pin

View Markdown

Step 1 — The Adjustable Potentiometer Module

Step 2 — Connect GND to GND

Connect GND on the adjustable potentiometer module to GND on the Arduino

Step 3 — Connect 5V to VCC

Connect VCC on the adjustable potentiometer module to VCC on the Arduino

Step 4 — Connect OUT to Digital Pin 3

Connect OUT on the adjustable potentiometer module to A0 on the Arduino

Step 5 — Connect GND on LED to GND on Arduino

Insert a LED into the breadboard as shown. Connect a black jumper wire from the LED's cathode (where its polarity is -) to GND on the Arduino

Step 6 — Connect resistor to breadboard

Add a 220 ohm resistor to the breadboard.

Step 7 — Connect LED to Digital Pin 3

Connect the anode of the LED to Digital Pin 3 on the Arduino.

Step 8 — Code

int potPin = 0;    // Analog input pin that the potentiometer is attached to
int potValue = 0;  // value read from the pot
int led = 3;      // PWM pin that the LED is on.

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  potValue = analogRead(potPin); // read the pot value
  analogWrite(led, potValue/4);  // PWM the LED with the pot value (divided by 4 to fit in a byte)
  Serial.println(potValue);      // print the pot value back to the debugger pane
  delay(10);                     // wait 10 milliseconds before the next loop
}

Copy and paste this code into the Arduino IDE, and upload it to your board! Now try turning the potentiometer module. The light should go from dull to bright!