Air Quality Test Box

by Seeed Studio

60K11013

Intro: Air Quality Test Box

Is DIY a device that can monitor the environmental quality condition at any time a problem for you? Actually, it’s not a tough job. Here, on the desk, is a DIY device which can help me get the informant about the air pollution in the room.

This device can detect the concentration of dust, gas, alcohol and other organic gas in the room. In order to make this process faster and simpler, I choose to use Seeedstudio’s Grove modules.

In addition, its whole shell is made of acrylic and assembled with a few screws. You see, it’s all made by myself.

STEP 1: Preparing the Components

Here are the modules I have chosen:

1.Seeeduino
2.Base Shield
3.Grove - Dust Sensor
4.Grove - Gas Sensor(MQ9)
5.Grove – HCHO Sensor
6.Lipo Rider pro and Battery
7.Grove – OLED Display 128*64

I also make a shell of acrylic and assembled with a few screws. It seems very simple, but enough.

Update: All product is here.

STEP 2: Assembly Components

Now, Connect the sensor, display and other modules to Arduino.

First of all, we need to insert the base shield to Arduino board. Then, insert the sensor, ethanol sensor combustible gas sensor and other modules to the Base shield in the following order.

And then Assembing Lipo rider and battery to acrylic pannel.

STEP 3: Programming

Now, we have to prepare procedure for it. In fact, these sensors are not so convenient to use. Fortunately, Seeed have provided a library file for us. It costs me 1 more hour to complete this programming. Therefore, if you don’t want to code it, you can download here( Github.). But, please remember to choose the COM port and board.

When you get the code, you will have a file named Air_monitor.ino. Opening it with Arudino IDE (if you haven't, you should donwload it).

After downloading, you can run this device normally. Certainly, if you think it’s inconvenient to connect it with a USB cable, you can instead of it with a battery or even power it with a charger.

STEP 4: Packaging Into Box

Alright, let’s make a device together.

Put them into a box that you like. Of course, you can also make one by yourself. But, if you think it’s a troublesome to make by yourself or you haven’t found the suitable material, you can use any box that you like. It’s all up to you. Definitely, a paper box is ok.

I also use a Lipo Rider to provide power for Arduino.

STEP 5: Test It


Now, all components is into Skeleton box, turn on the Lipo Rider.The OLED Display should show message about air quality.

I put it on my desk. Isn’t it very cool? Want to see if it can work normally? It turned out to be true. Yes, it is.

12 Comments

DanLangley 5 years ago

Hi can you add a datalogger shield so this can be placed somewhere for an extended time?

KaregaA1 6 years ago

Hey can you send link to the custom acrylic board?

niner_zero 7 years ago

Very interesting project. the github page is not working. Does anyone have a working link?

Request to author: Can you please repost the code?

IgorF2 9 years ago

I couldn't find the code you used for the Arduino. The link for downloading the files (http://seeed-studio.github.io/Air_Quality_Test_Box/) isn't working. Could you please provide the code?

gulliverrr 9 years ago

Does anyone have any information on calibrating these sensors. The pots on the sensors are there for a reason. Otherwise the numbers are meaningless and can only be used to compare figures (like my room has more dust than the other room).

mech_ 10 years ago

How did you calibrate the sensor in order to get μg/m^3??

In the manual the only thing that can help you calibrate it, is the chart of ciggarete smoke and it is in pieces/280ml of air. Not in μg. How did you convert the units to mass? How do you know that 1 particle of PM1 or 2.5 can be related to mass? PM is diameter and not mass. Please if you have info on this I really need it.

ncsolution 10 years ago

what size box did you use? where did you get it?

Seeed Studio 10 years ago

I get it here http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/skeleton-box-p-1407.html?cPath=55_60

ncsolution 10 years ago

thanks. i missed it for sure on the site.

chrwei 10 years ago

you product links are missing the ":" in http:// and so dont' work.

also, neat sensors, but any idea what the values mean? I mean, how much dust is a level that action should be taken?

Seeed Studio 10 years ago

Dust sensor just get the pm2.5, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulates