International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7 (4) (2018) 2113-2117

International Journal of Engineering & Technology

Website: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/IJET
doi: 10.14419/ijet.v7i4.14020
Research paper

Arduino Uno-based water turbidity meter using LDR

and LED sensors
A. P. U. Siahaan 1 *, Nogar Silitonga 2, Muhammad Iqbal 1, Solly Aryza 1, Wirda Fitriani 1,
Zuhri Ramadhan 1, Zuraidah Tharo 1, Rusiadi 3, Rahmad Hidayat 3, H. A. Hasibuan 3,
M. D. T. P. Nasution 3, Ali Ikhwan 4, Zulfi Azhar 5, Mhd. Irwan Dwitama Harahap 6
1Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Computer Science, Universitas Methodist Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Social Science, Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan, Indonesia
4 Faculty of Science and Technology, Universities Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
5 Department of Information System, STMIK Royal Kisaran, Kisaran, Indonesia
6 Degree Student of Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan, Indonesia

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Arduino Uno water turbidity gauge has been successfully designed and manufactured. This tool is made using LDR as sensor and led as
a light source to measure the water turbidity value and Arduino Uno for data processing. The existence of this tool is already familiar and
comfortable to find. However, the price is relatively higher to make this tool is only owned by certain circles only. Nephelometric Meth-
od is a method of measuring the turbidity of water by passing a light source on water so that the intensity of light reflected by the sub-
stances causing turbidity can be known. With the use of led as a light source and photodiode as a light detector, and combined with pro-
cessing using Arduino Uno then the voltage obtained from the LDR sensor in the form of analog data is processed into digital data and
can be displayed in the LCD.

Keywords: Arduino Uno; Turbidity; Water Clarity.

that can detect water turbidity, the output of the tool is displayed
1. Introduction on an LCD. Once the tool is packed, it is expected to help the
related parties to determine the quality of water so that water
An electronic device inevitably requires a power source, and this productivity is increasing and feasible to consume.
applies to the turbidity test equipment [1] [2]. Without electricity,
the test equipment cannot works properly. It is an information
retrieval tool to get important information. [3]–[11] [12]–[15]. A
2. Theories
valuable information is hiding on this tool and must be extracted
[16] [17]. Turbidimeter is a tool used as a standard test device 2.1. Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU)
serves to determine the level of turbidity of water [18]. Test
equipment sold in stores is relatively expensive to make this tool Water is cloudy when the it contains many particles of suspended
is only owned by certain parties. To test whether the water we material giving it a brownish color. The ingredients that cause
consume has a good quality should be done in the laboratory test- turbidity include sludge, well-defined organic materials, and other
ing of drinking water. Not everyone has the time and cost to do a suspended particles. A nephelometer is a tool for measuring
test to find out water quality, especially drinking water. turbidity that gives results in units of Nephelometric Turbidity
The study attempts to make a simple drinking water test kit. This Unit (NTU) [35]–[37] it is the standard unit for measuring
tool is made by using a microcontroller [19]–[21]. The break- turbidity. In nephelometry and turbidimetry, light sources are
through in question is a tool with a dynamic form based Arduino projected through liquid samples stored in transparent sample
Uno in which has planted the program to determine how much containers. Generally, nephelometry uses light sources that have
value of turbidity of water in a glass container. A program de- relatively short wavelengths between 500 to 800 nm and are
signed on a microcontroller must have high security and accuracy effectively used to detect microscopic particles. Whereas,
[22]–[28] Every person and health worker can easily see the value turbidimetry generally uses light sources that have longer
of turbidity of water in a container and with a simple display, and wavelengths between 800 and 1100 nm and are effectively used to
a good data process makes all walks of life can use this tool. detect particles of larger size. If a beam of light is passed through
The author will create a tool to measure the level of turbidity of a cloudy sample, its intensity is reduced by scattering, and the
water. This system consists of Arduino microcontroller module as amount of light scattered depends on the concentration and
a data processor and Analog Digital Converter (ADC) [29]–[34] distribution of the particle size. In nephelometry, the scattered
as an analog to digital converter signal because Light Emitting light intensity is measured while in the turbidimetry, the intensity
Diode (LED) transcribes analog data. This tool is used as a system of the light transmitted through the sample is measured.
Copyright © 2018 A. P. U. Siahaan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which per-
mits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2114 International Journal of Engineering & Technology

2.2. Arduino uno

Arduino Uno is one of a series that contains microcontroller based

on ATmega28 [38]. This tool is the development of an old
microcontroller that has been refined with various features needed
to support the microcontroller to work [39]. It also has a USB
connection to do programming on the microcontroller. After the
tool is programmed by connecting the USB cable to PC, Arduino
Uno is ready to work. Arduino Uno has 14 digital input/output
pins, six analog inputs, a 16MHz ceramic resonator, USB
connection, input power plug, ICSP header, and a reset button
[40]. Arduino Uno R3 is the latest and last series of Arduino USB
series. The following picture is an Arduino Uno R3.

Fig. 2: LDR and LED Sensors Series.

3.2. Design of printed circuit board

Design of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on the manufacture of the

water turbidity detection system using Kicad to design the
electronic circuit. This software facilitates the design scheme for
electronic circuits and converts it into PCB design. Printed Circuit
Board (PCB) is a circuit board made of ebonite (Pertinax) or glass
fiber where one side of the surface is coated with thin copper.
Based on the PCB arrangement is divided into three types, the first
PCB Single Layer is a plain PCB that only has one layer of copper
on one side. Double Layer PCB is a plain PCB that has two layers
of copper on both sides, and PCB Matrix Strip Board is a PCB
Fig. 1: Arduino Uno R3. that has one side of copper and has holes with a regular size of 0.8
to 1 mm. With the right design will get layout PCB path is neat
Arduino Uno Specification: and easy to use. The width and distance between paths should also
• ATmega328 Microcontroller be estimated to avoid errors or short links due to too tight and
• Power Supply 5V narrow paths. The design of PCB layout can be seen in the
• Input resistance (recommendation) 7-12V following picture.
• Input resistance (limit) 6-20V
• Pin I / O Digital 14 (with 6 PWM output)
• Analog Input Pin 6
• DC current per Pin I / O 40 mA
• DC current per Pin I / O for PIN 3.3V 50 mA
• Flash Memory 32 KB (ATmega328) where 0.5 KB is used
by bootloader
• SRAM 2 KB (ATmega328)
• 1 KB EEPROM (ATmega328)
• 16 MHz Clock Speed

3. Methodology

3.1. Series of LDR and LED sensors

Arduino Uno has 14 digital pins and six analog pins that can be Fig. 3: PCB Design.
used as input and output. In this circuit, the LDR sensor is
connected to an Arduino analog pin. In the design of this tool LED The component layout is the arrangement of the electronic
is used as a light transmitter to be received by the color sensor. components of the schematic diagram drawing to be mounted on
LED is connected to digital pin seven on Arduino. The sensor the PCB surface in contrast to the PCB path. The arrangement of
circuit connected to Arduino can be seen in the following picture. the electronic components must correspond to the PCB path. Each
component to be installed has a size to correspond to the PCB
path. Each component to be installed has the proper size and
sufficient space on the PCB surface.

3.3. LCD circuit

The design of the LCD circuit using pin 15 to pin 20 on Arduino

where on the LCD is also coupled two resistors as a controller to
set the light on the LED light and setting the LDR sensor
manually. The following picture is the LCD circuit
International Journal of Engineering & Technology 2115

.
Fig. 4: LCD circuit.

3.4. Regulator circuit

In this design, the regulator serves to lower the incoming voltage

from the battery to the Arduino into 5 volts. It is connected to the
digital pin 6 as shown in the following figure.

Fig. 6: Overall Circuit.

4. Result and discussion

4.1. Test result

The tests were performed using a completed turbidity measuring

device to determine the turbidity value by using multiple
experimental samples. This test is conducted to determine the
difference of turbidity level of water read by the sensors contained
in the tool. The sample used is the ink water with the ratio of the
number of droplets in 5 experiments to determine the amount of
turbidity value. Test results using ink water can be seen in the
following figure.

Fig. 5: Regulator Circuit.

3.5. Indicator light

The design of the tool is made in such a way as to facilitate the

user in its application. The authors have designed three pieces
indicator lights as a marker of the value of turbidity of water.
Description of the indicator light itself can be seen in the
following table.

Table 1: Indicator Description

NTU Value Status
0-5 Green light (Clear)
6-99 Yellow light (Turbid) Fig. 7: Test Result.
100-500 Red light (Dark)
The following table is the NTU value comparison result based on
3.6. Overall tool series the five tests of ink water.

The whole circuit has been connected with each pin on Arduino Table 2: NTU Comparison
Uno. The various tools and materials used are Arduino Uno, PCB, Test Number NTU Value
resistor, potentiometer, 16x2 LCD, LDR (Light Dependence 1 429
Resistance), LED, USB port, 9V Battery Socket and 9v Battery. 2 446
3 461
Overall can be seen circuit system based on Functions and their 4 483
goals on each pin Arduino Uno. The whole set of Tools can be 5 494
seen in the following figure.
4.2. Determination of NTU value

In determining the value of turbidity of water based on the results

of previous sample testing, it is determined the value of NTU
2116 International Journal of Engineering & Technology

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