SENSORS/ACTUATORS

INTERNET OF THING (IoT)

ESP32 - Flame Sensor

The flame sensor can detect and measure the infrared light coming from a flame. It's useful for spotting fires and is also known as an infrared flame sensor or fire sensor. This sensor provides two types of information: one is like a simple switch (either on or off), and the other is analog signal showing the strength of the flame.

In this tutorial, we'll learn how to use an ESP32 with a flame sensor to detect flames. Specifically, we'll cover these steps:

Connecting the flame sensor to an ESP32.
Programming the ESP32 to recognize fires by reading the on/off signal from the flame sensor.
Programming the ESP32 to measure the flame's strength by reading the analog signal from the flame sensor.

Afterward, you can modify the code to activate a warning horn when the fire is detected.

Hardware Used In This Tutorial

1	×	ESP-WROOM-32 Dev Module
1	×	Micro USB Cable
1	×	Flame Sensor
1	×	Breadboard
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	(Optional) ESP32 Screw Terminal Adapter

Or you can buy the following sensor kit:

DIYables Sensor Kit 30 types, 69 units

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Introduction to Flame Sensor

The infrared flame sensor can detect a flame or check how much infrared light the flame gives off. So, it helps us spot fires. This sensor offers two choices using a digital output pin and an analog output pin.

These sensors are designed to catch a certain types of infrared light emitted by flames while ignoring other types, like the heat from people or indoor lights. But like any sensor, they have their limits, and sometimes they might make mistakes, either saying there's a fire when there isn't (false positive) or missing a fire when it's there (false negative).

Pinout

The flame sensor includes four pins:

VCC pin: It needs to be connected to VCC (3.3V to 5V).
GND pin: It needs to be connected to GND (0V).
DO pin: It is a digital output pin. It is HIGH if the flame is not detected and LOW if detected. The threshold value for flame detection can be adjusted using a built-in potentiometer.
AO pin: It is an analog output pin. The output value decreases as the infraed level is decreased, and it increases as infraed level is increased.

image source: diyables.io

Furthermore, it has two LED indicators:

One PWR-LED indicator for power.
One DO-LED indicator for the flame state on the DO pin: it is on when flame is present.

How It Works

For the DO pin:

The module has a built-in potentiometer for setting the infrared threshold (sensitivity).
When the infrared intensity is above the threshold value, the flame is detected, the output pin of the sensor is LOW, and the DO-LED is on.
When the infrared intensity is below the threshold value, the flame is NOT detected, the output pin of the sensor is HIGH, and the DO-LED is off.

For the AO pin:

The higher the infrared intensity in the surrounding environment, the higher the value read from the AO pin.
The lower the infrared intensity in the surrounding environment, the lower the value read from the AO pin.

Note that the potentiometer does not affect the value on the AO pin.

Wiring Diagram

Since the flame sensor module has two outputs, you can choose to use one or both of them, depending on what you need.

The wiring diagram between ESP32 and the flame sensor when using DO only.

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

The wiring diagram between ESP32 and the flame sensor when using AO only.

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

The wiring diagram between ESP32 and the flame sensor when using both AO an DO.

ESP32 infrared flame sensor wiring diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

ESP32 Code - Read value from DO pin

/* * This ESP32 code is created by esp32io.com * * This ESP32 code is released in the public domain * * For more detail (instruction and wiring diagram), visit https://esp32io.com/tutorials/esp32-flame-sensor */ #define DO_PIN 13 // ESP32's pin GPIO13 connected to DO pin of the flame sensor void setup() { // initialize serial communication Serial.begin(9600); // initialize the ESP32's pin as an input pinMode(DO_PIN, INPUT); } void loop() { int flame_state = digitalRead(DO_PIN); if (flame_state == HIGH) Serial.println("No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected"); else Serial.println("Flame dected => The fire is detected"); }

Quick Instructions

If this is the first time you use ESP32, see how to setup environment for ESP32 on Arduino IDE.
Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to ESP32
Direct the flame sensor to a flame.
See the result on Serial Monitor.

COM6

Send

No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected Flame dected => The fire is detected Flame dected => The fire is detected Flame dected => The fire is detected No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected No flame dected => The fire is NOT detected

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Please keep in mind that if you notice the LED status remaining on constantly or off even when the sensor faces to a flame, you can adjust the potentiometer to fine-tune the sensitivity of the sensor.

ESP32 Code - Read value from AO pin

/* * This ESP32 code is created by esp32io.com * * This ESP32 code is released in the public domain * * For more detail (instruction and wiring diagram), visit https://esp32io.com/tutorials/esp32-flame-sensor */ #define AO_PIN 36 // ESP32's pin GPIO36 connected to AO pin of the flame sensor void setup() { // initialize serial communication Serial.begin(9600); } void loop() { int infrared_value = analogRead(AO_PIN); Serial.print("The AO value: "); Serial.println(infrared_value); }

Quick Instructions

Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to ESP32
Direct the flame sensor to a flame.
See the result on Serial Monitor.

COM6

Send

245 246 246 573 677 949 955 1004 1007 1013 1018 641 543 340 179

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

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Function References

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