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GAS Sensors

Gas sensors have 6 pins and require a simple electronic circuit to convert changes in conductivity due to detected gases into an output signal. MQ-2 sensors detect combustible gases and output an analog voltage that varies with gas concentration. They require 5V power to their heating pins to function properly while their output pin produces an analog voltage when powered. A resistive load sets the sensor's sensitivity. Most gas sensors come pre-packaged on breakout boards that simplify the interface to 3 pins for power, ground and analog output.

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74 views

GAS Sensors

Gas sensors have 6 pins and require a simple electronic circuit to convert changes in conductivity due to detected gases into an output signal. MQ-2 sensors detect combustible gases and output an analog voltage that varies with gas concentration. They require 5V power to their heating pins to function properly while their output pin produces an analog voltage when powered. A resistive load sets the sensor's sensitivity. Most gas sensors come pre-packaged on breakout boards that simplify the interface to 3 pins for power, ground and analog output.

Uploaded by

trustmeon18
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GAS SensorsConnection Details

Filed under: Electronics, MicroControllers Leave a comment


September 18, 2011

Gas Sensors

All Gas Sensors have 6 pins ,whether it is MQ2 (smoke), MQ3 (alcohol), MQ6 (LPG) or
MQ7 (carbon monoxide).So , the following details apply to all types of MQ sensors.

MQ-2 is a Semiconductor Sensor for Combustible Gas and Smoke

This sensor detects the concentrations of combustible gas in the air and output its reading as
an analog voltage.

MQ-2 gas sensor has high sensitivity to LPG, Propane and Hydrogen, also could be used to
Methane and other combustible gas.
Sensitive material of MQ-2 gas sensor is Tin Di-Oxide SnO2, which has lower conductivity
in clean air. When the target combustible gas exist, MQ 2 senses and its conductivity is more
higher along with the gas concentration rising.

A simple electronic circuit is used to convert change of conductivity to corresponding output


signal of gas concentration.

MQ-2 has 6 pins, 4 of them are used to fetch signals, and other 2 are Heater coil used for
providing heating current.

You can use 5v DC or AC across H H pins. And as you can see one of H pins goes to the
power and the other one is connected to the ground. The pin A (you can connect both pins A )
is connected between the power and the ground.The pin B gets an analog voltage when the
sensor is active. Also across the output, you need the resistor RL. Before you connect the
resistor use a potentiometer to tune and get accurate values. Generally RL value is between
20k and 200k.
Connecting five volts (AC or DC) across the heating (H) pins keeps the sensor hot enough to
function correctly. Connecting five volts at either the A or B pins causes the sensor to emit an
analog voltage on the other pins. A resistive load between the output pins and ground sets the
sensitivity of the detector.

Generally in the market you get these sensors fixed on a breakout board.

This breakout board is designed to work with any of the MQ-series gas sensors, simplifying
the interface from 6 to 3 pinsground, +5V VCC, and an analog voltage output.
Connect VCC to 5 V, GND to ground, and OUT to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The
board has two pairs through-hole pins for the required sensitivity-selecting resistor RL across
GND and OUT. The resistance of RL should be calculated using the datasheet for your
particular gas sensor.

The MQ gas sensors have no polarity, so the gas sensor will work with the board all the
ways it fits into the 6 pins (there are two possible orientations on each side of the board).

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