Controlling a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor on CircuitPython

So, we’ve got a pretty cool expansion board that features the DS18X20 temperature sensor we’ve used before, plus a new blue DHT11 sensor.
Now, you might think the DHT11 is all about temperature, but it actually measures both temperature and humidity.
This project is all about showcasing these measurements on an OLED display, just like what we’ve done in previous projects.
Before diving into the fun stuff, don’t forget to securely place all the parts and modules.
Once you’ve nailed that down, you’re all set and ready for the next steps!.

First things first, you’ll want to get that Adafruit DHT Python library imported.
This is a super important first step for controlling the DHT11 sensor.
Next, create a new file named ‘adapport_underbar.dxt’ where you’ll keep all your necessary data.
Don’t forget to head over to the provided link and make sure you’ve copied the entire code block correctly because it’s really crucial for your project.
Once that’s done, import the code from your file and grab the i2c and sd modules from the ussd library to ensure everything meshes well.
Finally, you’ll need to initialize your i2c and display settings, tweaking parameters like sck and mosee so that everything runs smoothly and shows your data clearly..

Alright, let’s dive into hooking up the DHT11 sensor! This little guy is really affordable and super easy to work with, and you’ll want to connect it to pin D6 on your microcontroller.
Make sure your connections are nice and secure, because you definitely don’t want any issues popping up during use.
After you’ve connected everything, give the sensor about a second to fully initialize before you start reading data.
Once that’s done, you can jump right into reading data without any hitches!.

So, first, you’ll want to wrap your sensor reading code in a try statement inside a while loop.
This way, if there’s any glitch—like a sensor malfunction—your program won’t crash and burn.
Once you’ve got the temperature reading, the next step is to grab the humidity data from the same sensor.
Now, it’s time to show off that data! You’ll be sending the info straight to an OLED display, which is compact and makes everything look super clear.
Make sure to convert those numbers into strings, especially formatting the humidity as a percentage.
Finally, let’s show both the temperature and humidity on the OLED and the console so you have all the info you need for real-time monitoring and analysis..

When it comes to fixing errors, there’s a handy button that you can press to specify what went wrong, which really helps with troubleshooting.
The system is pretty cool because it updates its data every second, so you always have the latest information at your fingertips.
To make sure everything’s running smoothly, saving the system state double-checks that everything’s operational and all the data is recorded and displayed correctly.
Plus, if you look at the OLED display, the temperature and humidity readings match what’s shown on the console, which is a great sign of consistency.
And just so you know, touching the sensor changes the humidity readings, but the temperature stays the same, clearly showing that the sensor is working as it should..

In this session, we had a great time learning how to control the DHT11 temperature sensor with CircuitPython, and we even got to see real-time data displayed successfully.
It was a fantastic experience! As we wrapped things up, we made an exciting promise to dive into a new topic in our next session.
Stay tuned for more exploration ahead!.