ESP32 - Potentiometer Triggers LED

This tutorial instructs you how to use ESP32 with the potentiometer to control LED. In detail:

The ESP32 automatically turns LED on if the potentiometer's analog value is above a threshold
The ESP32 automatically turns LED off if the potentiometer's analog value is under a threshold

We also learn how to convert the analog value to voltage and then use the voltage threshold to control the LED:

The ESP32 automatically turns LED on if the potentiometer's voltage is above a threshold.
The ESP32 automatically turns LED off if the potentiometer's voltage is under a threshold.

If you want to control the brightness of LED by potentiometer, see ESP32 - potentiometer fades LED tutorial.

Hardware Used In This Tutorial

1	×	ESP-WROOM-32 Dev Module
1	×	USB Cable Type-C
1	×	Potentiometer
1	×	(Alternative) Potentiometer Kit
1	×	(Alternative) Potentiometer Module with Knob
1	×	LED
1	×	220 ohm resistor
1	×	Breadboard
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	(Optional) DC Power Jack
1	×	(Recommended) Screw Terminal Expansion Board for ESP32
1	×	(Recommended) Power Splitter For ESP32

Or you can buy the following sensor kits:

1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays)
1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays)

Disclosure: Some of the links in this section are Amazon affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Additionally, some links direct you to products from our own brand, DIYables.

Introduction to LED and Potentiometer

We have specific tutorials about LED and potentiometer. Each tutorial contains detailed information and step-by-step instructions about hardware pinout, working principle, wiring connection to ESP32, ESP32 code... Learn more about them at the following links:

Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

If you're unfamiliar with how to supply power to the ESP32 and other components, you can find guidance in the following tutorial: How to Power ESP32.

ESP32 Code - Analog Threshold

/* * 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-potentiometer-triggers-led */ #define POTENTIOMETER_PIN 36 // ESP32 pin GPIO36 (ADC0) connected to Potentiometer pin #define LED_PIN 21 // ESP32 pin GPIO21 connected to LED's pin #define ANALOG_THRESHOLD 1000 void setup() { // set the ADC attenuation to 11 dB (up to ~3.3V input) analogSetAttenuation(ADC_11db); pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT); // set ESP32 pin to output mode } void loop() { int analogValue = analogRead(POTENTIOMETER_PIN); // read the input on analog pin if (analogValue > ANALOG_THRESHOLD) digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // turn on LED else digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // turn off LED }

Quick Instructions

If this is the first time you use ESP32, see how to setup environment for ESP32 on Arduino IDE.
Do the wiring as above image.
Connect the ESP32 board to your PC via a micro USB cable
Open Arduino IDE on your PC.
Select the right ESP32 board (e.g. ESP32 Dev Module) and COM port.
Copy the above code and paste it to Arduino IDE.
Compile and upload code to ESP32 board by clicking Upload button on Arduino IDE

Rotate the potentiometer
See the change of LED's state

Line-by-line Code Explanation

The above ESP32 code contains line-by-line explanation. Please read the comments in the code!

ESP32 Code - Voltage Threshold

The analog value read from the potentiometer is converted to voltage, and then the voltage is compared to a voltage threshold. If it exceeds the threshold, it triggers LED

/* * 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-potentiometer-triggers-led */ #define POTENTIOMETER_PIN 36 // ESP32 pin GPIO36 (ADC0) connected to Potentiometer pin #define LED_PIN 21 // ESP32 pin GPIO21 connected to LED's pin #define VOLTAGE_THRESHOLD 2.5 // Voltages void setup() { // set the ADC attenuation to 11 dB (up to ~3.3V input) analogSetAttenuation(ADC_11db); pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT); // set ESP32 pin to output mode } void loop() { int analogValue = analogRead(POTENTIOMETER_PIN); // read the input on analog pin float voltage = floatMap(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 5); // Rescale to potentiometer's voltage if (voltage > VOLTAGE_THRESHOLD) digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // turn on LED else digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // turn off LED } float floatMap(float x, float in_min, float in_max, float out_min, float out_max) { return (x - in_min) * (out_max - out_min) / (in_max - in_min) + out_min; }

※ NOTE THAT:

This tutorial uses the analogRead() function to read values from an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) connected to a potentiometer. The ESP32 ADC is good for projects that do NOT need high accuracy. However, for projects that need precise measurements, please note:

The ESP32 ADC is not perfectly accurate and might need calibration for correct results. Each ESP32 board can be a bit different, so you need to calibrate the ADC for each individual board.
Calibration can be difficult, especially for beginners, and might not always give the exact results you want.

For projects that need high precision, consider using an external ADC (e.g ADS1115) with the ESP32 or using an Arduino, which has a more reliable ADC. If you still want to calibrate the ESP32 ADC, refer to ESP32 ADC Calibration Driver

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