Thermometers on one wire, on an Arduino Uno
Two DS18B20s on pin 2 and one 4k7 pull-up. The 1-Wire search finds both by their serial numbers, and each is then read by name. The whole build, an Arduino Uno and 3 more parts, runs here in your browser on the firmware below; open it in the editor to change the wiring or the code and run it again.
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The parts retail for about $34. On Mokxi they're free.
Step by step, with the wiring and the common mistakes: Arduino DS18B20 Temperature Sensor: Wiring and Code
What you'll learn
- The 1-Wire bus: many devices on one data pin
- Why a pull-up resistor is needed
- Unique device addresses
- Using the OneWire and DallasTemperature libraries
- Formatting a temperature with integer math
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Time: About 15 minutes
- Board: Arduino Uno R3
- Parts: 5
How it works
Two DS18B20 thermometers share a single data wire on pin 2. One 4.7k resistor pulls the wire up to 5V for both. Every DS18B20 has its own unique 64-bit address, so the Uno can find each one and talk to it by name.
At startup, the sketch searches the wire, counts the sensors and prints each address. Then it asks both to measure at once and prints each temperature in degrees Celsius with two decimals. A reading takes about 750 ms. If a sensor stops answering, its line says gone.
Parts list
5 parts, plus the jumper wires. They retail for about $34; on Mokxi they're free.
- 1 × Arduino Uno R3In Starter Kit, Claw Machine Kit, Vending Machine Kit.
- 1 × Half breadboard
- 2 × Temperature sensor, DS18B20
- 1 × Resistor, 4.7k ΩIn Starter Kit, Claw Machine Kit, Halloween Prop Kit.
Wiring table
Every connection, pin by pin, read from the circuit itself. Each row joins the pin on the left to the pin on the right, by a jumper wire or a breadboard strip.
| Part and pin | Connects to |
|---|---|
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (1) pin DQ | Arduino Uno R3 pin 2 |
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (2) pin DQ | Arduino Uno R3 pin 2 |
| Resistor, 4.7k Ω pin 1 | Arduino Uno R3 pin 2 |
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (1) pin VDD | Arduino Uno R3 pin 5V |
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (2) pin VDD | Arduino Uno R3 pin 5V |
| Resistor, 4.7k Ω pin 2 | Arduino Uno R3 pin 5V |
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (1) pin GND | Arduino Uno R3 pin GND |
| Temperature sensor, DS18B20 (2) pin GND | Arduino Uno R3 pin GND |
The code
The firmware exactly as the editor opens it. Change a line there and press Run: it compiles in the browser.
// Two DS18B20 thermometers on one wire.
//
// Both sensors share pin 2, with a single 4k7 pull-up to 5 V for the whole
// bus. Each has its own 64-bit ROM code, and the 1-Wire search finds them one
// by one: every sensor still in the search sends its next bit and then its
// complement, the open-drain wire ANDs them together, and where they disagree
// the master picks a branch and the sensors on the other one drop out.
//
// The sketch finds them once, keeps their addresses, and after that asks each
// one by name. Drag the sliders on the two sensors to warm or cool them.
//
// getTemp() is the reading as the library keeps it, a whole number of 1/128ths
// of a degree, and the sketch prints it with integer sums. getTempC() hands
// back a float instead, which prints just as well, but the float printing
// alone would take this example past the 8 KB an Uno example is allowed.
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <DallasTemperature.h>
OneWire oneWire(2);
DallasTemperature sensors(&oneWire);
DeviceAddress found[2];
int count = 0;
void printAddress(const uint8_t *address) {
for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
if (address[i] < 16) Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(address[i], HEX);
}
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
sensors.begin();
count = sensors.getDeviceCount();
if (count > 2) count = 2;
Serial.print(count);
Serial.println(" sensors on the wire");
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
sensors.getAddress(found[i], i);
Serial.print("sensor ");
Serial.print(i);
Serial.print(" is ");
printAddress(found[i]);
Serial.println();
}
}
void loop() {
// One CONVERT T for everybody: both sensors measure at once, 750 ms.
sensors.requestTemperatures();
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
long raw = sensors.getTemp(found[i]);
Serial.print("sensor ");
Serial.print(i);
Serial.print(": ");
if (raw == DEVICE_DISCONNECTED_RAW) {
Serial.print("gone");
} else {
// Hundredths of a degree, rounded, then the two halves either side of
// the point. A negative reading carries its own minus sign.
long hundredths = (raw * 100 + (raw < 0 ? -64 : 64)) / 128;
if (hundredths < 0) {
Serial.print('-');
hundredths = -hundredths;
}
Serial.print(hundredths / 100);
Serial.print('.');
if (hundredths % 100 < 10) Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(hundredths % 100);
Serial.print(" C");
}
Serial.print(i + 1 < count ? " " : "\n");
}
}
Code walkthrough
The key functions of the sketch, and what each one does.
printAddress sketch.ino
Prints an eight-byte address as hex. It adds a leading zero to bytes under 16, so every byte takes two characters and addresses line up.
void printAddress(const uint8_t *address) {
for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
if (address[i] < 16) Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(address[i], HEX);
}
}setup sketch.ino
Starts serial and the sensors, then asks for the device count and limits it to 2. For each one it saves the address in found with getAddress and prints it. After this, the sketch always asks sensors by address.
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
sensors.begin();
count = sensors.getDeviceCount();
if (count > 2) count = 2;
Serial.print(count);
Serial.println(" sensors on the wire");
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
sensors.getAddress(found[i], i);
Serial.print("sensor ");
Serial.print(i);
Serial.print(" is ");
printAddress(found[i]);
Serial.println();
}
}loop sketch.ino
Sends one requestTemperatures() so both sensors measure together. Then, for each saved sensor, it reads the raw value with getTemp, which is in 1/128ths of a degree, and prints gone if it is disconnected. Otherwise it rounds to hundredths and prints degrees with a decimal point.
void loop() {
// One CONVERT T for everybody: both sensors measure at once, 750 ms.
sensors.requestTemperatures();
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
long raw = sensors.getTemp(found[i]);
Serial.print("sensor ");
Serial.print(i);
Serial.print(": ");
if (raw == DEVICE_DISCONNECTED_RAW) {
Serial.print("gone");
} else {
// Hundredths of a degree, rounded, then the two halves either side of
// the point. A negative reading carries its own minus sign.
long hundredths = (raw * 100 + (raw < 0 ? -64 : 64)) / 128;
if (hundredths < 0) {
Serial.print('-');
hundredths = -hundredths;
}
Serial.print(hundredths / 100);
Serial.print('.');
if (hundredths % 100 < 10) Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(hundredths % 100);
Serial.print(" C");
}
Serial.print(i + 1 < count ? " " : "\n");
}
}Troubleshooting
The usual mistakes with this circuit, and the fix for each.
- The sketch reports 0 sensors on the wire. This project
Check the 4.7k resistor goes between DQ (pin 2) and 5V. Without a pull-up the bus cannot work. - Only one sensor is found. This project
Both sensors need VDD to 5V, GND to ground and DQ joined to pin 2. - The sensor reads -127 C or no device is found. Temperature sensor
Put a 4.7 k resistor between the data line and VCC. Check the pinout, since swapping VCC and GND can overheat the sensor. Then confirm the data pin matches your code. - It always shows 85 C. Temperature sensor
85 C is the power on value, meaning the conversion has not finished or the supply is weak. Wait for the conversion (up to 750 ms at 12 bit) before reading. - The LED is dim, burns out, or the pin reads wrong because the resistor value is off. Resistor
Read the color bands again. A 220 ohm to 330 ohm resistor suits a typical LED on 5 V. 10k is a common pull-up or pull-down value. Check with a multimeter if unsure. - A pull-up or pull-down resistor is missing, so the input floats and reads random values. Resistor
Tie the input to 5 V or ground through about 10k. Or use INPUT_PULLUP and wire the switch to ground. - Upload fails or nothing runs after wiring pins 0 and 1 to a module. Arduino Uno R3
Pins 0 and 1 are the USB serial port. Move the module to other pins, or unplug it while uploading. Also check the right board is selected. - Pins misbehave or the board resets when you power motors or servos from it. Arduino Uno R3
Each I/O pin gives about 20 mA, 40 mA max. Power motors and servos from their own supply and join its ground to the Uno's GND.
Change it and keep it
Open it in the editor, change the circuit or the code, and keep your version in a free account.