In this mode of operation, when trigger pin of the timer is made low (0V) by sending an active low pulse from pin 9, output of the timer (from pin 3) goes high (+5V) for a certain period of time, which is determined by the values of R1 and Cx. Time period (T) for which the timer’s output remains high is given as:
T = 1.1×R1×Cx
Output of the timer is connected to pin 2 of Arduino, which is a hardware interrupt pin (called Interrupt 0). The source code (capacitance2.ino) uploaded to Arduino uses an interrupt-within-an-interrupt handler, that is, a two-level nested interrupt sub-routine (ISR).
The first interrupt-handler gets executed whenever the timer output makes low-to-high transition, and the second ISR is called from within the first when timer output makes high-to-low transition. Thus, time for which the output of the timer remains high is obtained by calculating the time difference between two such consecutive interrupts, which is equal to T.
Thus, value of Cx is given as:
Cx = T/(1.1×R1)
Measured value of Cx (in µF) is then displayed on a 16×2-character LCD and serial monitor of Arduino IDE.
NE555 timer
NE555 timer IC1 operates in monostable multivibrator mode, where time for the output goes high, after applying high-low-high pulse from pin 9 of Arduino, which is controlled by R1 and Cx connected externally to the IC.
Output of timer pin 3 is connected to interrupt pin (pin 2) of Arduino. Pins 4 and 8 of the IC1 are connected to +5V connector of Board 1. R1 of 100k is connected between pins 8 and 7. IC1 shares the same ground with Arduino board. The authors’ designed breakout board for the timer is shown in Fig. 6.
Software
The code (capacitance2.ino) written in Arduino programming language uses LiquidCrystal.h header file provided by Arduino library for working with the LCD.
attachInterrupt(0,analyze1,RISING) function calls the interrupt handler named analyze1 whenever output of IC1 connected to interrupt 0 pin (pin 2) of Arduino makes low-to-high, that is, rising-edge transition.
attachInterrupt(0,analyze2,FALLING) function calls the interrupt handler named analyze2 whenever output of IC1 connected to pin 2 of Arduino makes high-to-low, that is, falling-edge transition.
The high-low-high trigger pulse applied to pin 2 of IC1 is generated by pin 9 of Arduino using the following code within void loop() function. Refer source code for the same.
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void loop ( ){
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delay(10);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
while (1);
}
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Note. To test a new capacitor (Cx), connect the capacitor and press Reset on Arduino Uno board.
Download source code
Can we measure unpolarised capacitor values using this method???
Yes, you can measure the values of polarised and unpolarised capacitors.
what is the measuring range ….. can i measure any capacitor ??
Please read the article. It is clearly mentioned that this circuit can measure capacitance in the range of 1 micro Farad to 1 milli Farad
i want to do a school project on Arduino based digital capacitance meter with NE555 timer in astable mode, but didn’t understand it
I have built the circuit, downloaded the code for capacitance 1 and uploaded it to Arduino and run it The lcd displays Capacitance: 0.000uF even with a 10uf capacitor used as Cx. I don’t know how to solve it . it may be the code. I have double checked the circuit Arduino to LCD display and the 555 but nothing wrong. Perhaps you can help?