

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Introduction
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) indicates how
many milligrams of soluble solids are
dissolved in one liter of water. In general,
the higher the TDS value, the more
soluble solids are dissolved in water, and
the less clean the water is. Therefore, the
TDS value can be used as one reference
point for reflecting the cleanliness of
water.

A TDS pen is a widely used peice of

equipment to measure TDS value. The
price is affordable, and it is easy to use,
however commonly it is not able to
transmit data to a control system for online monitoring of water quality. In general professional
instruments have high accuracy and can send data to the control system, but the price is expensive
for the ordinary person. To this end, we have launched an analog TDS sensor kit which is compatible
with Arduino, plug and play, and is easy to use. Matching with Arduino controller, you can build a
TDS detector easily to measure the TDS value of liquid without needing to purchase expensive
equipment.

This product supports 3.3 ~ 5.5V wide voltage input, and 0 ~ 2.3V analog voltage output, which
makes it compatible with 5V or 3.3V control systems or boards. The excitation source is AC signal,
which can effectively prevent the probe from polarization and prolong the life of the probe,
meanwhile can help increase the stability of the output signal. The TDS probe is waterproof, it can be
immersed in water for long time measurement.

This product can be used in water quality application, such as domestic water analysis and
hydroponics. With this product, you can easily DIY a TDS detector to reflect the cleanliness of water
to protect your health!

Attention:
1.The probe can not be used in water above 55 degrees centigrade.
2.The probe can not be left too close to the edge of the container, otherwise it will affect
the reading.
3.The head and the cable of the probe are waterproof, but the connector and the signal
 transmitter board are not waterproof. Please be careful.


Specification HOME FORUM BLOG

Signal Transmitter Board

Input Voltage: 3.3 ~ 5.5V
Output Voltage: 0 ~ 2.3V
Working Current: 3 ~ 6mA
TDS Measurement Range: 0 ~ 1000ppm
TDS Measurement Accuracy: ± 10% F.S. (25 ℃)
Module Size: 42 * 32mm
Module Interface: PH2.0-3P
Electrode Interface: XH2.54-2P
TDS probe
Number of Needle: 2
Total Length: 83cm
Connection Interface: XH2.54-2P
Colour: Black
Other: Waterproof Probe

Board Overview

Num Label Description

1 - Power GND(0V)

2 + Power VCC(3.3 ~ 5.5V)

3 A Analog Signal Output(0 ~ 2.3V)

4 TDS TDS Probe Connector

5 LED Power Indicator

 tdsValue=(133.42*compensationVolatge*compensationVolatge*compensationVolatge - 255.86*co
//Serial.print("voltage:");

 //Serial.print(averageVoltage,2);
//Serial.print("V ");
Serial.print("TDSHOME
Value:");FORUM BLOG

Serial.print(tdsValue,0);
Serial.println("ppm");
}
}
int getMedianNum(int bArray[], int iFilterLen)
{
int bTab[iFilterLen];
for (byte i = 0; i<iFilterLen; i++)
bTab[i] = bArray[i];
int i, j, bTemp;
for (j = 0; j < iFilterLen - 1; j++)
{
for (i = 0; i < iFilterLen - j - 1; i++)
{
if (bTab[i] > bTab[i + 1])
{
bTemp = bTab[i];
bTab[i] = bTab[i + 1];
bTab[i + 1] = bTemp;
}
}
}
if ((iFilterLen & 1) > 0)
bTemp = bTab[(iFilterLen - 1) / 2];
else
bTemp = (bTab[iFilterLen / 2] + bTab[iFilterLen / 2 - 1]) / 2;
return bTemp;
}

Expected Results
After uploading the sample code,open the serial monitor of the Arduino IDE. Then insert the TDS
probe into the water, and gently stir it. Then wait for the reading to be stable, and you will get the

Sample Code
HOME FORUM BLOG

/***************************************************
DFRobot Gravity: Analog TDS Sensor / Meter For Arduino
<https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Gravity:_Analog_TDS_Sensor_/_Meter_For_Arduino_SKU:_S

Created 2017-8-22
By Jason <[email protected]@dfrobot.com>

GNU Lesser General Public License.

See <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/> for details.
All above must be included in any redistribution

/***********Notice and Trouble shooting***************

1. This code is tested on Arduino Uno and Leonardo with Arduino IDE 1.0.5 r2 and 1.8.2.
2. More details, please click this link: <https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Gravity:_Ana
****************************************************/

#define TdsSensorPin A1
#define VREF 5.0 // analog reference voltage(Volt) of the ADC
#define SCOUNT 30 // sum of sample point
int analogBuffer[SCOUNT]; // store the analog value in the array, read from ADC
int analogBufferTemp[SCOUNT];
int analogBufferIndex = 0,copyIndex = 0;
float averageVoltage = 0,tdsValue = 0,temperature = 25;

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(115200);
pinMode(TdsSensorPin,INPUT);
}

void loop()
{
static unsigned long analogSampleTimepoint = millis();
if(millis()-analogSampleTimepoint > 40U) //every 40 milliseconds,read the analog value
{
analogSampleTimepoint = millis();
analogBuffer[analogBufferIndex] = analogRead(TdsSensorPin); //read the analog value an
analogBufferIndex++;
if(analogBufferIndex == SCOUNT)
analogBufferIndex = 0;
}
static unsigned long printTimepoint = millis();
if(millis()-printTimepoint > 800U)
{
printTimepoint = millis();
for(copyIndex=0;copyIndex<SCOUNT;copyIndex++)
analogBufferTemp[copyIndex]= analogBuffer[copyIndex];
averageVoltage = getMedianNum(analogBufferTemp,SCOUNT) * (float)VREF / 1024.0; // read t
float compensationCoefficient=1.0+0.02*(temperature-25.0); //temperature compensation
float compensationVolatge=averageVoltage/compensationCoefficient; //temperature compens
 tdsValue=(133.42*compensationVolatge*compensationVolatge*compensationVolatge - 255.86*co
//Serial.print("voltage:");

 //Serial.print(averageVoltage,2);
//Serial.print("V ");
Serial.print("TDSHOME
Value:");FORUM BLOG

Serial.print(tdsValue,0);
Serial.println("ppm");
}
}
int getMedianNum(int bArray[], int iFilterLen)
{
int bTab[iFilterLen];
for (byte i = 0; i<iFilterLen; i++)
bTab[i] = bArray[i];
int i, j, bTemp;
for (j = 0; j < iFilterLen - 1; j++)
{
for (i = 0; i < iFilterLen - j - 1; i++)
{
if (bTab[i] > bTab[i + 1])
{
bTemp = bTab[i];
bTab[i] = bTab[i + 1];
bTab[i + 1] = bTemp;
}
}
}
if ((iFilterLen & 1) > 0)
bTemp = bTab[(iFilterLen - 1) / 2];
else
bTemp = (bTab[iFilterLen / 2] + bTab[iFilterLen / 2 - 1]) / 2;
return bTemp;
}

Expected Results
After uploading the sample code,open the serial monitor of the Arduino IDE. Then insert the TDS
probe into the water, and gently stir it. Then wait for the reading to be stable, and you will get the

HOME FORUM BLOG

TDS value of the water.

Advanced Tutorial
Through the basic tutorial the TDS value of the liquid can be easily measured. However, due to the
individual differences of different TDS probe, differences of the main control board, and no onboard
temperature compensation, the measured value can have some errors.Therefore, to obtain a more
accurate TDS value, calibration is required before measurement. In addition, it is recommended to
connect a temperature sensor for temperature compensation to improve accuracy. Normally, the TDS
value is half of the electrical conductivity value, that is: TDS = EC / 2. The wiring diagram is same as
the basic tutorial. During the calibration, a liquid solution of known electrical conductivity or TDS
value is needed, such as 1413us/cm standard buffer slution. If converted to a TDS value, it is about
707 ppm. The TDS value can also be measured using a TDS pen if you do not have a standard buffer
solution. The following will demonstrate how to calibrate.

Download and install the DFRobot Gravity TDS Sensor Library. How to install Libraries in Arduino
IDE?

Sample Code

/***************************************************
DFRobot
DFR b t Gravity:
G it Analog
A l TDS Sensor/Meter
S /M t
 DFRobot Gravity: Analog TDS Sensor/Meter
<https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Gravity:_Analog_TDS_Sensor_/_Meter_For_Arduino_SKU:_S

 ***************************************************
This sample code showsHOME FORUM
how to read the tds BLOG
value and calibrate it with the standard buffer so

707ppm(1413us/cm)@25^c standard buffer solution is recommended.

Created 2018-1-3
By Jason <[email protected]@dfrobot.com>

GNU Lesser General Public License.

See <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/> for details.
All above must be included in any redistribution.
****************************************************/

/***********Notice and Trouble shooting***************

1. This code is tested on Arduino Uno with Arduino IDE 1.0.5 r2 and 1.8.2.
2. Calibration CMD:
enter -> enter the calibration mode
cal:tds value -> calibrate with the known tds value(25^c). e.g.cal:707
exit -> save the parameters and exit the calibration mode
****************************************************/

#include <EEPROM.h>
#include "GravityTDS.h"

#define TdsSensorPin A1
GravityTDS gravityTds;

float temperature = 25,tdsValue = 0;

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(115200);
gravityTds.setPin(TdsSensorPin);
gravityTds.setAref(5.0); //reference voltage on ADC, default 5.0V on Arduino UNO
gravityTds.setAdcRange(1024); //1024 for 10bit ADC;4096 for 12bit ADC
gravityTds.begin(); //initialization
}

void loop()
{
//temperature = readTemperature(); //add your temperature sensor and read it
gravityTds.setTemperature(temperature); // set the temperature and execute temperature co
gravityTds.update(); //sample and calculate
tdsValue = gravityTds.getTdsValue(); // then get the value
Serial.print(tdsValue,0);
Serial.println("ppm");
delay(1000);
}

Calibration Step
Uploaded the sample code to your controller board then open the serial monitor
 Uploaded the sample code to your controller board, then open the serial monitor.

Clean the TDS probe, then dry it with absorbent paper. Insert the probe into the buffer solution
 of known electrical conductivity or TDS value, then stir gently and wait for stable readings. If you
HOME FORUM BLOG

do not have the standard buffer solution, a TDS pen can also measure the TDS value of the liquid
solution.

Input command "enter" to enter the calibration mode.

Input command "cal:tds value" to calibrate the sensor.In this example, I use the 707ppm buffer
solution, so I need to input command "cal:707".

Input command "exit" to save and exit.

After the calibration, you can use the TDS sensor in your application now.

FAQ
FAQ

Q1. Does this sensor have a temperature sensor? How to make the temperature
compensation? HOME FORUM BLOG

A1. This TDS probe has no temperature sensor, but the temperature compensation algorithm is
reserved in the sample code. The temperature variable in the sample code will default to 25 °C
without a temperature sensor. You can add a waterproof temperature sensor to read the
temperature,then update the temperature variable, to make automatic temperature
compensation.

For any questions, advice or cool ideas to share, please visit the DFRobot Forum.

More Documents
Schematic
Layout with Dimension
CD4060BM96 Datasheet
LMV324A-SR Datasheet
DFRobot Gravity TDS Sensor Library(Github)

Get Gravity: Analog TDS Sensor/Meter for Arduino from DFRobot Store or DFRobot
Distributor.

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