Adequate way to connect sensors far away from arduino

Question

I have a simple setup when I have to read analog values from a light sensor, and I need to put it far away from the arduino (several meters away). I want to know how can I create a wired reliable connection from the arduino to the sensor.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Here is the function that activates the system:

void photoResistorActivation () { int photoResistor = 1024 - analogRead(PHOTO_RESISTOR_PIN); if (DEBUG) { Serial.println (photoResistor, DEC); } if (photoResistor >= LIGHT_THRESHOLD) { personDetected = false; } else { if (personDetected == false) { trigger = true; personDetected = true; } } }

Edit: I have received valuable feedback in the answers about how to avoid noise, but I want to clarify that I'm asking about physical connection (cables, connectors and so on). What kind of cables should I use? Jumper cables?

Thank you

Answer 1

I would consider using some capacitors, clamping diodes, and output resistors very close to the arduino.

The long wires will have capactive and inductive loads. Bumps to the wire will create noise spikes.

• The output resistors (input to the arduino) will limit the spike based on the current surge (should be low, 10k resistor should be fine).
• The capacitor will stabilize the voltage, select the capacitor value based on a low pass filter RC equation and the expected frequency of the light changing (f = 1/2*piRC). If it's just ambient light in a room go with 10uF or whatever is available, if its a strobing diode, calculate the filter value.
• For the clamping diode, pick a fast response time diode that clamps at a little over 5V so the noise spikes, and ESD, from tapping the wire doesn't kill the input pin on your arduino. The P6KE6V8CA should do the trick.

Answer 2

Your question is a bit vague.

The best solution would be to put an ADC behind the sensor, since digital transmission is a lot more resitant against distortion. If this is possible you might want to transmit it even differentially (invert the signal and output either plus and minus your high level or 0).

If this is not possible you want at least a twisted pair cable or a shielded cable to reduce the distortion. The best connection should be a BNC connector on the board and a coax cable.

Also if you can't put an ADC behind the sensor, you might still want to amplify your analogue signal depending on what the sensor outputs.