How to Use MQ2 Gas Sensor - Arduino Tutorial

The MQ series of gas sensors use a small heater inside with an electro-chemical sensor. They are sensitive for a range of gasses and are used indoors at room temperature. The output is an analog signal and can be read with an analog input of the Arduino.

The MQ-2 Gas Sensor module is useful for gas leakage detecting in home and industry. It can detect LPG, i-butane, propane, methane ,alcohol, hydrogen and smoke.

Some modules have a built-in variable resistor to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.

Note: The sensor becomes very hot after a while, don't touch it!

In this tutorial we will use the serial monitor of Codebender (or Arduino IDE) to see how the sensor acts in variable gasses.

So, let's get started!

Step 1: What You Will Need

For this tutorial you will need:

• Arduino uno
• Breadboard
• MQ-2 Gas sensor module

Step 2: The Circuit

The connections are pretty easy:

• Vcc to Arduino 5V pin
• GNG to Arduino GND pin
• Output to Arduino Analog A0 pin

Note: The sensor becomes very hot after a while, don't touch it!

Step 3: The Code

Here's the code, embedded using Codebender!

Try downloading the codebender plugin and clicking on the Run on Arduino button to program your Arduino with this sketch. And that's it, you've programmed your Arduino board! Press connect button to start serial communication with your Arduino board.

Now you can try this:

Take a lighter and press the button to release gas near the sensor. Observe values on serial monitor.

You can keep playing with that by clicking the "Edit" button and start making your own modifications to the code.

Step 4: Well Done!

You have successfully completed one more Arduino "How to" tutorial and you learned how to use the MQ-2 Gas sensor with Arduino.

Tip: You can use this tutorial to read values from all MQ gas sensors (MQ-2, MQ-3, MQ-4, MQ-5, MQ-6, MQ-7, etc)

I hope you liked this, let me know in the comments.
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Comments

[TarekS30]

Can i supply this sensor with a 9V battery?

[Mickey The Maker]

You can supply the adrinio with a 9V battery.

[nishanthgadam]

Thanks for sharing this article nice info
gas transmitters

[HanNaKim02]

does we need to combine the lcd coding with this MQ-2 coding to get the value of smoke? or it just appear on lcd when we set it up on the breadboard?

[Ankitp1995]

i have MQ2 and MQ 4 sensor and arduino uno, i want to check methane composition in biogas. i want codes please help me

[AADITYA DEWANGAN]

How this programme is valid for aal aurdino board

[Rahul tripathi13]

Can we attiny 85 instead of arduino

[LukasS8]

Hey could one arduino power all MQ Sensors (MQ-2,3,4,5,6,7..) or would it need to much current?

[codebender_cc]

I don't know... maybe you will need an external power source.

[JAK101]

You can only use an external power source to power the digital IO pins. External power for analog is not recommended due to noise issues.

[ChoudharyA2]

Noise Issue?? Can you explain

[TheMake]

maybe you could us a voltage regulator or same what you said...... :)

[JAK101]

Your best bet is to buy a sensor shield and use it with your Uno or Mega (I prefer the mega because there are more IO pins). However, you should note that no matter which board you choose it can only supply so much current to each sensor. You reach a point where you run out. Adding an external power supply doesn't work either with the sensor shields. External power isn't applied to the analog pins due to noise issues. Basically, you are limited on the amounts of analog sensors you can use.

[TheMake]

it could power any of these with 5v

[TheMake]

it could power any of these with 5v

[itnas19]

Thanks very much, I've enjoy a lot making it.

From Madrid, Spain

[SWETHAC2]

How to use MQ2 sensor as alcohol detector?please give me tutorial

[KutsalÖ]

hi. Can I use arduino nano. Please help me.

[diy_bloke]

yes can

[KutsalÖ]

thanks