How to Build a LM34 Temperature Sensor Circuit

In this project, we will demonstrate how to build temperature sensor circuit using a LM34 sensor.

As a temperature sensor, the circuit will read the temperature of the surrounding environment and relay this temperature to us back in degrees fahrenheit.

The difference between an LM34 and a LM35 temperature sensor is the LM34 sensor gives out the temperature in degrees fahrenheit, while the LM35 sensor gives out the temperature in degrees celsius.

The IC we will use to measure the temperature in this circuit is the LM34 IC. We will integrate this with the arduino to measure the temperature. The arduino will then read this measured value from the LM34 and translate into degrees fahrenheit and celsius, which we will be able to read from the computer from the arduino serial monitor.

Components Needed

Arduino Board
LM34 Temperature Sensor IC
Computer
USB with type A and B connectors

We can use any type of arduino board.

The LM34 is a low voltage IC which uses approximately +5VDC of power. This is ideal because the arduino's power pin gives out 5V of power. The IC has just 3 pins, 2 for the power supply and one for the analog output.

The output pin provides an analog voltage output that is linearly proportional to the fahrenheit temperature. Pin 2 gives an output of 1 millivolt per 0.1°F (10mV per degree). So to get the degree value in fahrenheit, all that must be done is to take the voltage output and divide it by 10- this give out the value degrees in fahrenheit.

So, for example, if the output pin, pin 2, gives out a value of 785mV (0.785V), this is equivalent to a temperature of 78.5°F.

We can then easily convert this fahrenheit value into celsius by plugging in the appropriate conversion equation. All we must do is write this code and upload it to the arduino to convert this fahrenheit temperature into celsius. The code is shown below.

Below is the pinout of the LM34 IC:

Pin 1 receives positive DC voltage in order for the IC to work. This, again, is voltage approximately 5 volts. Pin 3 is the ground, so it receives the ground or negative terminal of the DC power supply. And Pin 2 is the output of the IC, outputting an analog voltage in porportion to the temperature it measures.

This is the datasheet of the LM34 IC: LM34 Temperature Sensor Datasheet.

The arduino, with suitable code, can then interpret this measured analog voltage and output to us the temperature in degrees celsius and fahrenheit.

Also to do this project we need a USB cable with a Type A connector on one end and a Type B connector on the other end. This is so that we can hook our arduino to a computer and send it code that it can run to display to us the temperature.

Temperature Sensor Circuit Schematic

The temperature sensor circuit we will build is shown below:

LM34 temperature sensor circuit

This translates into the circuit schematic:

Temperature sensor circuit schematic

So you circuit connections are:

Pin 1 of the LM34 goes into +5V of the arduino
Pin 2 of the LM34 goes into analog pin A0 of the arduino
Pin 3 of the LM34 goes into ground (GND) of the arduino

Now that we have this circuit setup, we now connect the USB cable from the arduino to the computer. The type B side of the connector goes into the arduino and the type A side into the USB port of the computer. Now the computer is connected to the arduino. We can now write code in the processing software to give instructions to the arduino.

Code for Temperature Sensor Circuit

//initializes/defines the output pin of the LM34 temperature sensor
int outputpin= 0;
//this sets the ground pin to LOW and the input voltage pin to high
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
}

//main loop
void loop()
{
int rawvoltage= analogRead(outputpin);
float millivolts= (rawvoltage/1024.0) * 5000;
float fahrenheit= millivolts/10;
Serial.print(fahrenheit);
Serial.println(" degrees Fahrenheit, ");

float celsius= (fahrenheit - 32) * 0.556;

Serial.print (celsius);
Serial.println(" degrees Celsius");
delay(1000);

}

The code will now be explained. Before we can get a celsius reading of the temperature, the analog output voltage must first be read. This will be the raw value divided by 1024 times 5000. It is divided by 1024 because a span of 1024 occupies 5V. We get the ratio of the raw value to the full span of 1024 and then multiply it by 5000 to get the millivolt value. Since the output pin can give out a maximum of 5 volts (1024), 1024 represents the possible range it can give out. The raw voltage over this 1024 (value) therefore represents the ratio of how much power the output pin is outputting against this full range. Once we have this ratio, we then multiply it by 5000 to give the millivolt value. This is because there is 5000 millvolts in 5 volts.

Once this analog voltage in millivolts is calculated, we then can find the temperature in celsius by the equation: ((fahrenheit - 32) * 0.556)

At the end of this program, we put a delay of 3000ms to take the temperature reading every 3 seconds. You can adjust this value to meet your personal preference or program needs.

To see this circuit in action, watch the following video below.

To see how to integrate this circuit to an LCD for an LCD readout instead of from the Serial Monitor, see How to Integrate a Temperature Sensor Circuit to an LCD.

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Learning about Electronics

How to Build a LM34 Temperature Sensor Circuit

Temperature Sensor Circuit Schematic

Code for Temperature Sensor Circuit