Designing a Simple Data Logger with Arduino

 

Designing a Simple Data Logger with Arduino

At Philip M Russell Ltd, we’re always looking for ways to make science experiments more engaging, affordable, and hands-on. One of the best tools for this is the Arduino microcontroller, which allows students to design and build their own data loggers.

What Is a Data Logger?

A data logger is a device that records measurements over time—temperature, light, sound, humidity, voltage—whatever sensor you attach. Scientists and engineers use them to track environmental conditions, monitor experiments, and collect data for analysis.

Building with Arduino

Using an Arduino board, students can:

• Connect sensors (e.g., temperature, light, pressure).

• Write simple code to read values at set intervals.

• Save the readings to an SD card, or send them live to a computer.

• Plot graphs and spot patterns in real data.

Why It’s Valuable

• Hands-on coding: students see their programs control real hardware.

• STEM integration: links computing, physics, and engineering.

• Customisable: you can log just about anything measurable.

• Affordable: cheaper than most commercial lab equipment.

A Starter Project

• Arduino Uno board

• DHT11 temperature/humidity sensor

• SD card module

• Breadboard & jumper leads

With less than 20 lines of code, students can record classroom temperature every 10 seconds, store it to a file, and graph it in Excel later.

The Takeaway

Designing a simple data logger isn’t just about collecting numbers—it’s about giving students ownership of their experiments. With Arduino, the science lab becomes a maker lab.