Introduction: Want to know the temperature and humidity around you at a glance?
In this project, we’ll build a Weather Station using a BBC micro:bit, Bit-Z expansion board, DHT11 temperature & humidity sensor, and a 16×2 LCD display.
The LCD will show live temperature (°C) and humidity (%) readings in real-time.
Learning Outcomes:
By completing this project, you will:
- Understand how the DHT11 sensor works.
- Interface a 16×2 LCD with a micro:bit via Bit-Z.
- Display real-time sensor data on an LCD.
Components Needed:
- BBC micro:bit
- Bit-Z
- DHT11 Sensor Module
- 16×2 LCD
Circuit Connection:
On the Bit-Z board, we’ll connect:
DHT11 Sensor Module to P0/P1/P2 and LCD to LCD pin of Bit-Z
How It Works
- DHT11 sensor measures temperature and humidity.
- The micro:bit reads these values through Pin 0.
- The readings are sent to the 16×2 LCD via I2C for display.
- The micro:bit also scrolls the readings on its LED matrix for extra visibility.
Code:
Possible Improvements:
- Log data to the micro:bit’s memory and export to a computer.
- Display heat index or comfort level (“Hot”, “Cold”, “Comfortable”).
- Add a buzzer to alert if temperature/humidity exceeds a set range.
- Make it portable with a battery pack.
Conclusion:
With just a micro:bit, Bit-Z, DHT11 sensor, and LCD, you’ve built a mini weather station that gives you live environmental readings anytime.
It’s a perfect project for learning sensor interfacing and LCD display control.