Arduino Tutorial 12: Understanding Potentiometers

You guys can help me out over at Patreon, and that will keep this high quality content coming:

In this tutorial we show how potentiometers work and do a simple project with step by step instructions on how to set up and use a potentiometer. We show you a simple circuit analysis using Ohm's Law.

You can get the following Elegoo kit, to follow these lessons and play along at home

You can get more details and useful arduino information on my WEB site HERE:

#Arduino

[fengt]

I am a Chinese student using VPN to watch your video, you are the best teacher I have ever met！

[erygion]

NOOO! We have to use variables and BOOM! always make me smile. You're great Mr. Mcwhorter 😁

[sreekarreddy]

This guy teaches better than all of my teachers combined. HE DOES IT FOR FREE!!!!
While our teachers take a LOT of money.... Hats off to u sir

[sparrowyt]

Paul McWhorter: The coolest and greatest old man alive.
Give this guy a mug of ice cold coffee and BAMMM!!!

[kaiserkarry]

These are the ONLY classes I've ever genuinely been sad in when I don't get homework assignments, Mr. McWhorter you truly are a wonder... Hello from a first year Aerospace Engineering student!

[bryanscottandrews]

I'm a retired electronics engineer and computer programmer, but haven't worked in these fields for almost twenty years, and I'm just getting started with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. I'm very glad I found your channel as I'm appreciating your teaching style and the review of these concepts is very helpful since I'm a bit rusty.

[patkeller]

First, I am a degreed (now retired) Electrical Engineer and as such understand the physical side of these lessons, but Paul is an excellent instructor and I think I can get my 11 year old grandson to understand Paul's tutorials. That said, several people have asked why the voltage measurements of this project are referenced to resistor R2 and not R1. The answer is that ALL measurements made by the Arduino input pins are relative to ground, i.e. GND. The R2 resistor is connected on the second pin to ground. So the value being measured is between the R1 and R2 connection (the potentiometer wiper) and ground (GND). Regardless of any circuit complexity to the input on an analog pin of the Arduino, the measured value will be from the input pin to ground.

As a small gig to Paul, I would suggest that the scaling factor of 5.0/1023.0 be a defined constant such as
float scale1Kto5V=5.0/1023.0;
NEVER use hard coded numbers (grin)!

I really am enjoying the ride with you Paul!

[dygrid]

I am 12 years old learning arduino. Couldn't have been possible without this guy.

[Bambicarus]

Hi Paul. Greetings from Scotland. I've been following these tutorials and just wanted to say briefly that your time and effort are much appreciated, especially during the European lockdown. I have learned so much from you these last few weeks. You have an excellent teaching style and really stand out from many YouTube 'educators' who just lack that vital lively and involving element.

For all of our sakes, please never stop!

[ReDoG]

I'm from Barbados, and I must say, THIS CHANNEL IS A GODSEND prepping me for higher studies!

[valeriysevastiyanov]

Thank you very much Paul, as a 15 year old who is really interested in electronics, this channel is my new gold mine.

[pasteltiara]

One of life's beautiful blessings. To have a teacher like you. And if I missed a point, I can always rewind the video and understand it again. Makes me love electronics properly.

[bjornakeSwe]

Hi Paul. Greetings from Sweden. I graduated from highschool in 1970 as an Engineer in Electonics and have been working as a Service Engineer since then. Repairing circuit boards and other hardware but no programming. I have a house full of components and tools and as a senior (72) lots of free time. When I discovered your channel I realized this was what I had been waiting for for may years. Of course I have bought myself an Elegoo Kit! I really enjoy your videos and watch several of them every day. Thank you for your excellent work! As it is now November I must admit I drink hot coffee, but no sugar, nothing but strong black coffee!

[Vbeck]

I never thought I could have so much joy just turning a potentiometer and seeing the read

[nahuel]

I love your youtube content!
I don't think that there is anything more noble than teaching. You should be proud of how many people you help. Thank you very much :)

[SerialCommenter]

One of these days, we’ll have people like Paul all over YouTube able to teach us stuff in a few hours that college professors can’t teach in a year. And when that day comes I will be a very happy man.

[donnybigboy]

Thank you Paul. I have been trying to learn coding for the Arduino for a while now. The simplest of tasks to most were monumentus to me. I do suffer from some learning disabillities which have become slightly easier with age! I find your style and pace just right for me. I thank you Sir.

[javisan]

Las mejores clases, muchas gracias desde Guatemala, 64 years old guy learning from you!! thank you

[suraiyaanjum]

Everytime a child uses a constant, her mother warns, "Dear dont use a constant always use a variable or else the NO NO guy will come."
You literally scared me😂

[ecoutesca]

Almost 2 years later and this content is still gold. Thank you professor!