RCWL-0516 Microwave Proximity Sensor - With & Without Arduino

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RCWL-0516 Microwave Proximity Sensor - With & Without Arduino

Рет қаралды 290,166

Күн бұрын

The RCWL-0516 is an inexpensive proximity sensor that works using microwaves and Doppler Radar. It can be used on its own or with an Arduino, I will show you both ways.
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Today we will look at another proximity sensor, the RCWL-0516. This device works using microwaves and the Doppler Effect to detect the presence of humans (and other creatures) in a room. It is inexpensive and can be used by itself or in conjunction with an Arduino.
Don’t be concerned about the microwave aspect, this device emits a very low level of microwave radiation at 3.18 GHz, which is on the low-end of the microwave spectrum. It is perfectly safe to experiment with and to use in your projects.
The device is very inexpensive and can be obtained on eBay, Amazon, and probably at your local electronics shop (which is where I got mine) for around 2-3 US dollars.
The RCWL-0516 operates using the “Doppler Effect”, a phenomenon discovered in 1842 by Austrian physicist Christian Doppler. The Doppler Effect describes a change in frequency observed by a stationary observer when the source of the frequency is moving.
If you have ever heard the sound of a train as it races towards and then away from you, or an ambulance as it races down the road, you will have heard the siren frequency changing as the object approaches, passes, and moves away from you. That is the Doppler Effect in action.
In the RCWL-0515 microwaves are sent out and reflected back. Any moving object in the area will change the frequency of the reflected waves, thus triggering the device.
I will show you how to use the RCWL-0516 on its own, both by itself and with an optional light sensor. You'll see that because it uses microwaves it is still operational even when encased in a plastic enclosure.
Then we will use an Arduino with the RCWL-0516. I’ll show you how to make the device “latch”, great for an intruder alarm or automatic light switch. Then I will show you how I built a remote sensor using an RCWL-0516 and two Arduino's.
Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:
00:00 - Introduction
03:12 - The RCWL-0516 & Doppler Effect
09:33 - Basic Hookup & Demo
12:35 - Light Sensor Hookup & Demo
15:14 - Arduino Latching Device Hookup & Code
20:31 - Arduino Latching Device Demo
23:44 - Arduino Remote - Transmitter Hookup & Code
29:02 - Arduino Remote - Receiver Hookup & Code
32:19 - Arduino Remote Demo
As always there is an article with more details and all the Arduino code, you will find it at dbot.ws/rcwl0516.
I hope you enjoy the video and the article.
I have a lot of changes to the DroneBot Workshop that you will be seeing very soon, at the beginning of March actually. If you’d like to know more please subscribe to my newsletter.
And while you are here please subscribe to the KZfaq channel!

Пікірлер: 340

@ho7026 4 жыл бұрын

This entire channel is gold.

@nms9352 2 жыл бұрын

I hate it🤭 - cost me a lot of money😏

@vineeshkumar4637 5 ай бұрын

Can i mine it 🌝

@jacobdavis000 5 жыл бұрын

Just watched your tutorial and set up a new rcwl-0516 as I watched. I bought 20 and the 1st one I tested works very well. It's set up in front of the TV pointing back at me and it is very responsive and stable behavior too. Great channel and tutorial. Thanks!

@jacobdavis000 5 жыл бұрын

BTW: I didn't mean pointing back at me. Maybe it's radiating in all directions.

@MadLabZ 5 жыл бұрын

Always the best from DroneBot Workshop!!! I just received five RCWL-0516 modules from aliexpress with intentions of setting up security zones for my property , with this very helpful video I think this will be the start of something very interesting, thanks for the upload.

@TonySwitzerland Жыл бұрын

Excellent tutorial and because of the clear language 100% understandable by non-native-speakers! Thank you so much.

@vanomso 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this lesson. Works very good for me, I invest 35 minutes in watching your video and I remember it forever!

@KatorNia 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video, with lots of info & well delivered. I wonder how this channel flew under my radar (pun intended) for so long. Subscribed! 👍🏻 Now, I have a couple of things I'd like to point out if I may. 8:07 The circular thingy serves as a capacitor for the oscillator (high-frequency NPN transistor), not an antenna. The antenna is at the other side, & it's a common transmit/receive antenna. 10:44 Although the LED pins are correct (anode = longer), the internal electrodes are wrong (anode = smaller, not bigger). I'm pointing this out because I believe one should look at the internal electrodes to figure out polarity, instead of the external ones, since the latter can be cut. & if people learn it wrong from this video, they may run into problems in the future. 20:02 I'd pull the button Pin to LOW, instead of HIGH, for two reasons. - If you pull it HIGH, you're constantly sinking 0.5mA, regardless of the button's state. Yes, that current is negligible in this circuit, but I believe it's important to adopt "good habits" anyway. In the case of microcontrollers, taking their limited power capabilities into consideration is one of them. - It feels more intuitive to "send a signal" to the Pin when the button is pressed, instead of "disrupting a signal". I believe it's easier for less experienced tinkerers to understand too. From what I've read (I haven't tried them myself, yet), those sensors don't interfere with other GHz devices (routers etc). Apparently they don't interfere with each other either! So using BT shields should work well too.

@TonySwitzerland 4 жыл бұрын

Perfectly explained! Thank you. I connected the sensor without Arduino to a "remote doorbell button". Battery operated, small size, can be placed wherever it suits. The bell then rings (or just the LED flashes) when someone enters the controlled zone. Works through walls and doors!

@jurgenpurps9720 4 жыл бұрын

Wie immer ein Top-Video.Super und ausführlich erklärt - so sollte es sein.

@fsiserir 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your very clear explanation of RCWL-0521 and its application for the detection of the moving object.

@yanntwelve 4 жыл бұрын

Hello !! I'm about to prepare myself in making an alarm for my workshop and garage, your video has been more than useful to my future project. Nice explainations and many details. Good Job, keep on instructing us !! Long life to your channel

@acadman4322 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Bill, I am impressed with your clear and professional presentation.

@jnkmal9519 Жыл бұрын

Me 30 minutes ago: What the heck is a RCWL-0516? Me after watching the video: I'm sure I could work with a RCWL-0516 and I now understand the Doppler effect. Awesome! :)

@ravindrabelsare6215 4 жыл бұрын

Many thanks ! After watching couple of your earlier workshops, I am practically hooked to it. Every day at least one workshop on my agenda

@dineshmehta3688 4 жыл бұрын

Sir You are Very good teacher & have very good Knowledge. Thanks you very much for explaining in simple manner. Keep up teaching and good works.

@satishbalodi4576 3 жыл бұрын

Sir I am happy to see your tools set is kept. Neet and tidy. Very nice sir.

@SohaylTalebi Жыл бұрын

Dear Sir. I would like to thank you for your detailed video. Kind Regards.

@sebastienochart 3 жыл бұрын

Extremely well explained and demonstrated. Very high quality content. Thanks a lot.

@nassernasser5292 5 жыл бұрын

Always the best explanation

@mohitnayyer 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for explaining everything in detail and for demonstrating the connections.

@RouenEchecs 4 жыл бұрын

Vos vidéos sont très intéressantes et vos explications très claires, avec un réel souci de pédagogie. En vous suivant, je m'améliore. Je vous remercie très sincèrement pour ce partage.

@dfxmonkeyhead Жыл бұрын

Always learn so much from your videos... Thank you!

@activ8me3 2 жыл бұрын

Your teaching style is superb. Thank you.

@NewportNomad 5 жыл бұрын

Sensational. Your video was really clearly explained with great diagrams and code too. Many thanks.

@ShedOfDreams 5 жыл бұрын

So useful I bought some! Thank you. A good, concise video. I attached the output signal to an optocoupler relay module and the relay switches, so that's good! I've also found that if you keep moving around, the sensor is always active so the relay stays on E.G. running a light bulb, alarm etc. turns off once movement stops. would be good for a self contained alarm/light/ device on its own without needing an Arduino (or Picaxe in my case) so saving a few quid!!!! thank you again, You"ve got a new subscriber :-)

@andreamitchell4758 Жыл бұрын

so I assume you had to use a high level trigger relay correct? sadly all I have are low level triggered relays

@anythingunderthesun9930 4 жыл бұрын

As always, you explained things that is easy to understand with actual example and links to the codes, docs etc.. Keep up the good works. Thank you! New subs here!

@samraj_subramaniam 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. I am going to build this proximity sensor that sends data to my iobroker that is going to control other IoT devices in the room.

@donk73 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and informative video. The RCWL-0516 is now on my list future projects. I also particularly appreciate the care and preparation put into the production, and the use of high quality video. Too often videos like this are made with low resolution video so that the code examples and diagrams are unreadable.

@johnmcclain3887 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, this is the first time I've been here, I'm a retired electronics tech, Marines, not played with electronics much for twenty years, but collected some arduino oriented electronics, off ebay, and low and behold, here's how to use the very module I selected for a burglar/security alarm system for my home. Great teaching skills, very clear explanations, nice easy pace. I look forward to getting caught back up, at least as much as necessary. How did you know I bought that doppler radar device?

@manoharmanu1460 3 жыл бұрын

Very useful , your videos are the basics of my electronics foundation sir. Thank you very much

@JamesFraley 4 жыл бұрын

You make the best, most informative videos! Thank you

@davidgapp1457 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant channel. Many thanks for your hard work. Love the clarity of your presentations.

@user-hw9hu9kl3c 2 жыл бұрын

Extremely well explained and demonstrated. Very high quality content. Thanks a lot

@eburgos021 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all your videos, especially this one. It made it much easier for me working with the RCWL-0516 doppler sensor and it's application. I'm new for this type of module sensors. Thank's again. Mr.G ( PS:I would like to know more abut your newsletter !)

@rodnolasco 5 жыл бұрын

Crystal clear. Thanks for sharing.

@quaternion-pi 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Waiting for my sensors to arrive. Practical discussion of using PIR or ultrasound vs this radar sensor (range, false positives, penetration of glass windows, etc) will be addressed in my own experiments. It would be nice if the sensor did not stay on for two seconds so it could be rotated and data collected in many directions in real time. Thanks for your great projects, well explained, as always.

@ristomatti 5 жыл бұрын

There are other microwave sensors out there that just output the raw data but they seem to be more difficult to operated. As these are so cheap, you could use two or more pointing to different directions?

@quaternion-pi 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion and clarification on available sensors - 3 sensors coming for just that reason.

@3nagib 5 жыл бұрын

As always detailed and helpful. Thank you. Keep doing what you do best. Looking forward to the next project

@mouseminer2978 5 жыл бұрын

Beautifully explained. Thank you very much.

@benjaminantonypallath6537 Жыл бұрын

Interesting video and love to see such work shop.

@mnpd3 7 күн бұрын

Excellent video! The speed of instruction is perfect for the average mind and the illustrations are precise and well-synced with the language. But why the dropping resistor? I built the circuit on a breadboard using a 3.3v LED to match the 3.3v level of the output pin. Also, LEDs come in varying voltage ratings; 3.3v being just one. I also want to try replacing the LED with a piezoelectric element to see if the output pin has enough grunt to drive it.

@MultiTechEducation4U 3 жыл бұрын

Sir, your videos are the best videos I ever saw.

@Boogiemoose 5 жыл бұрын

Ive used this to detect if my cats are outside my door. Its hooked up to a transistor that turn on leds that light up a cat shaped 3dprinted figurine. Been working fine outside for a couple of years now.

@sno_crash 5 жыл бұрын

I think it's more appropriate to call this a motion sensor, or motion detection module. It has no capability to detect 'proximity'. Any stationary object in the sensors proximity will not be detectable nor can it determine the distance to an object's proximity.

@robertwooster8539 5 жыл бұрын

Another side benefit of this circuit with remote is the microwaves knock out car key remotes , so if your car key is cloned no one can use it anyway cause the only way to open car is with key manually while the detector is running when you come back turn off microwave and you can open car again

@Adrian_Finn 5 жыл бұрын

You should have far more subscribers than you do, your videos are extremely good.

@kevgermany 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Very clear. That's one incredibly fast train in the Doppler explanation. ;-)

@lw1419 4 жыл бұрын

I love your videos, they are all so informative. Thx much.

@philippepeglion8135 3 жыл бұрын

Hi all! Thank you Bill for that video. I have a problem with my chickens. They always come to my patio and make it dirty. My project is to create a forbidden zone. So, I experimenting with a system to chase them away. I plan to use the product shown in this video to pilot two perpendicular air jets. These streams should be oriented on each side like a barrier and start simultaneously when a bird approches. To synchronize the actions, I wonder if that way of proceeding is a relevant choice in terms of sensitivity and speed. If someone has an idea or an experience, I'm interested. I look forward to reading you. Thank you very much. Philippe

@darrenmaglione6235 4 жыл бұрын

This video is so well done it is amazing. Thank you so much.

@ljmeng 3 жыл бұрын

I have leant a lot from your channel, Thank you veru much.

@muzikman2008 5 жыл бұрын

Great stuff!..I bought some doppler modules, and was looking for a way to control their output for lighting a room.I need an arduino lol.. thanks for explaining in a great relaxed concise manner. Fantastic video :-)

@Hogkat 5 жыл бұрын

I'm glad for this vid. I'm useing the 0516 with a GSM (A6) with a uno to make a alarm, I got the code for the 0516 right but to send a sms is a bit more difficult but getting there. I hope when I get to figure every thing out to make a video of what I did and also with the code but got to get the code for the sms right. But nice video

@hussain55019 4 жыл бұрын

Great Sir always trying to use modules to their full potential..Love from Pakistan

@MrBobWareham 4 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for the video as always an excellent instruction on how to use a product top marks thank you, Bob, from the UK

@hariwi39 2 жыл бұрын

Good channel for teaching practical material thanks

@dansquires2713 5 жыл бұрын

Another great lesson. I am really looking forward to the robot build.

@garydalrymple5997 3 жыл бұрын

The ldr-resistor example would be great for a war droid at night in sleep mode.Working on a turret right now.A few gesture sensors paintball gun and some high grade steppers systems.Converting some old solar panels to power it.

@melvinmurithi 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. 90% of what i need to do in my project....

@tonytee981 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, First I have to say that I really enjoy your instructional videos. You are one smart cookie. Keep em coming :) Secondly, I purchased the RCWL-0156 sensor and wired it up, both on its own, and then to an UNO, as per your instructions. ( I have a fair bit of experience with Arduino, and everything related to it, so I am confident that I connected everything properly) . I used a 220 ohm resistor for the out pin to the led. My issue is that although the RCWL functions properly. (IE: The led lights up when the sensor senses movement), it only has a range of 2cm. It doesn't pick up anything further than that. I received 5 units in my order, and tested all of them, and they all have the same range (2cm). Has anybody else experienced the same issue. Any ideas as to what could be wrong. PS: I tested with 2 different power supplies, first the UNO, and then I hooked up my Korad KA3005D set first to 12 volts, then to 24 volts and 0.003 amps. The sensing range was the same for all tests. Could it be a bad batch of sensors ? Cheers, T

@gazza595 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video, as usual very detailed and well presented. Really useful information.

@mtbevins 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. I absouluty love watching your videos. It is like candy for my brain. :)

@nevsiebenhausen7889 2 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing demo

@vinny142 3 жыл бұрын

Tiny nit to pick; The dopper effect was not *discovered* by Doppler, Doppler was the best known source for a detailed description of the ffect. A bit like how Tesla is credited for inventing wireless power transmission even though induction and radio had been wel documented long before Tesla's grandparents where born.

@Sigurdinus 5 жыл бұрын

Exceptional video, thank you very much. I really appreciate your calm and comphrehensive style of presentation.

@anokhautomation4453 2 жыл бұрын

Nice useful tutorial.thanks for sharing your valuable ideas.

@hirajijadhav375 Жыл бұрын

Very easy to learn type video. I like it so much thanks

@MrMraza123 5 жыл бұрын

Very clear explanation. Excellent job.

@sabrinagarciasosa7517 4 жыл бұрын

Thaks, even if I don't speak english well I love your video and your class.

@coldrider3517 3 жыл бұрын

Allo and thank you very much for the great knowledge you share with us , my question about this microwave sensor is : Range ; is there a way to have a set range ,meaning ignore from X range and more but when movement is inside the set range then an action is taken ?

@roquesyves6598 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for all these excellent videos. Can you do one on the LD2410C radar?

@obiwankenobi661 2 жыл бұрын

great video! appreciate your work.

@totiabel1 Жыл бұрын

Excelentemente explicado, gracias.

@unglaubichuberlieber8048 5 жыл бұрын

since this rcwl-0516 can detect object from above, beneath, left and right, and how can one/the arduino knows where the object is moving from ??? thanks for your time and your input and this tutorial;

@javijee_ 4 жыл бұрын

Why the comment about the safe use of microwaves when using this board? I don't understand. Aren't microwaves all over the place already? Nobody mentions safety when working with IR emitting devices. IR radiation is of both higher energy and absorbance by the body. BTW...Great video!

@behzadabf 3 жыл бұрын

Very clear perfect video....thanks

@jacquesmertens3369 4 жыл бұрын

Seems like a great device to detect Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.

@johnwilson3918 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Bill.

@terryroe2023 3 жыл бұрын

There is also an RCWL 0515 version

@quin2691 3 жыл бұрын

Impressive ! Good explanation

@thediscoman2001 4 жыл бұрын

i have a question what is the maximum distance of this sensor as i am thinking about making a cycle sensor for my bike to show me when vehicles are behind me and approaching me

@fabioESER 4 жыл бұрын

I do not think you will be able to do that because as you are moving, the sensor will detect movement all the time. But if you were able to, tell us. :)

@KirtikSoni 4 жыл бұрын

Man, just use a side view mirror on the handlebar.

@thediscoman2001 4 жыл бұрын

@@KirtikSoni wheres the fun in that

@SheltonDCruz Жыл бұрын

Thanks for an informative video - question I have is - how directional is the radar on the RCWL0516? Can one make it only detect in a narrow range as I am thinking of using it on a model railway layout and to trigger only when a train passes by ? - thanks

@khurumpervaiz509 5 жыл бұрын

Great video Sir 👍. Keep it up.

@junacalo 4 жыл бұрын

Excelente señor. Excelente su video. Muchas gracias.

@SekharRoy 3 жыл бұрын

Sir you are excellent. Can you make a detailed video on P10 display board.

@jeffbeck6501 5 жыл бұрын

Those 433 transmitters and receivers are hell to work with. Avoid if you don't like pain. The NRF24L01 works a lot better but you need the adapters or forget it.

@anuraggorkar5595 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent Video. Extremely informative. Sir can you please make a video on how to use an esp8266 with Arduino?

@rezakheradmandi6836 5 жыл бұрын

Hello sir I have bought 10 of the same sensor. None of them work. They work but in a distance of 1-2 cm What is wrong with those sensors

@plasterboard3884 2 жыл бұрын

For some reason mine only has a max range of about 1cm and I'm not sure why. I set it up the same as in the video (both with and without the Arduino).

@home_Grown_studio 4 жыл бұрын

I have been making attempts with a great deal of failure due to PIR sensors instability . These PIR sensors seem to have a mind of their own going high for no reason. They all do the same even at minimal sensitivity settings. My Build design consists of one Servo motor to provide Panning .. Also four PIR sensors facing North, East, West and south. as each sensor goes HIGH the servo turns in the direction of that PIR sensor.. The sensors have side blinders to prevent false directional readings. I hope that the RCWL-0516 Microwave Proximity Sensor may help

@CodenameStudios 3 ай бұрын

I looked at 3 different videos with the same wire diagram and the LED just keeps blinking on/off. I tried different boards and they are all doing the same thing (basic setup). What might be the issue?

@john543 3 жыл бұрын

I have an enclosed dark area and today turn the lights on by magnetic reed switch but they frequently fail due to mounting issues. This solution seems better but I need to switch on 12V Leds of several watts. I suspect all I need is a relay (SSR?) instead of the LED or perhaps a MOSFET. Also, what would be the least expensive size arduino that could work. I also saw a reference to nodemcu and/or esp8266. I live in an RV so have lot's of 12V and a supply of buck-boost modules that can output 3 to 40V. Advice?

@4000phil Жыл бұрын

Thanks, broad coverage. Excuse my ignorance, but how would it be possible to power a AC 230V light bulb without the Arduino, viz as standalone solution for LED as you described from 10:00, indeed AC relays require 5V DC and with RCWL-0516 the ouput is 3.3V.

@rgdphome8974 5 жыл бұрын

Gr8. Thanks for good explanation as always. Sir, as a common man, I thought, such sensor could be used to measure the distance.

@Dancer148 3 жыл бұрын

I think there is a component on the board you can change for higher delay time.

@theroboticscodedepot7736 5 жыл бұрын

I looked up the specs and it appears to have a detection range of approx 22 ft maximum which is fine but what is the angle (how wide an area) at which detection will occur?

@tejeshwvardhan1165 5 жыл бұрын

360 degree detection

@theroboticscodedepot7736 5 жыл бұрын

@@tejeshwvardhan1165 - Nice! Thanks.

@RetroRogersLab 5 жыл бұрын

Also, would it be possible to use a reflector to make the beam directional?

@theroboticscodedepot7736 5 жыл бұрын

@@RetroRogersLab - I would say that you could probably wrap a fixed sheet of something like aluminum around let's say 180 degree of the detector that would prevent it from detecting movement along that 180 degrees since that sheet does not move with respect to the detector. That would in effect make it directional.

@P-Eric 2 жыл бұрын

Good work, Le radio-Amateur peut vous confirmé que le 2.4Ghz ne sera pas interféré par le 3.18 Ghz et vice-versa. Les fréquences sont suffisamment éloigné l'une de l'autre sans être une harmonique.

@MrBobWareham 4 жыл бұрын

As always a great video I want to make one for my front door, so I see that it works through plastic but does it work through glass as well. Thanks, Bob from the UK

@LukeWatts85 3 жыл бұрын

Sure test it out and see. That's all part of the fun of it :)

@terryroe2023 4 жыл бұрын

How about adding a small piezo buzzer speakerr to it too, difficulty?

@AtlantaTerry 4 жыл бұрын

You could add a small relay to the circuit then control a buzzer or anything else with it.

@mrsalts5336 4 жыл бұрын

When you explain the Doppler effect, you show the base frequency as 1000Hz and then 2000hz when object is approaching. Think about that for a moment, that can only be true when the frequency is doubled, or when the emitter is moving the same speed as the wave. Either Mach1 for sound or Warp1 for radio waves. But, how do you make sure the emitter isn't arriving at the observer Before the wave? Typically, Doppler doesn't operate on such extreme multiples or fractions of the base frequency that you presented.

@99percentsmart75 2 жыл бұрын

Hello. Wery nice video. Good job. I like the wireing animations. Can you please tell me what program do you use for that. Thanks

@zcustard 4 жыл бұрын

hi. nice explanation, but if the person isn't whistling like the train what is the sensor actually sensing and how is the Doppler effect being observed by it? are we all giving off radio waves?