Modifications

The Raspberry Pi computer does not have a way to read analog inputs. It's a digital-only computer. Compare this to the Arduino, AVR or PIC microcontrollers that often have 6 or more analog inputs! Analog inputs are handy because many sensors are analog outputs, so we need a way to make the Pi analog-friendly.

The Raspberry Pi computer does not have a way to read analog inputs. It's a digital-only computer. Compare this to the Arduino, AVR or PIC microcontrollers that often have 6 or more analog inputs! Analog inputs are handy because many sensors are analog outputs, so we need a way to make the Pi analog-friendly.

We'll do that by wiring up an MCP3008 chip to it. The MCP3008 acts like a 'bridge' between digital and analog. It has 8 analog inputs and the Pi can query it using 4 digital pins. That makes it a perfect addition to the Pi for integrating simple sensors like photocells, FSRs or potentiometers, thermistors, etc.!

We'll do that by wiring up an [http://mchobby.be/PrestaShop/product.php?id_product=170 MCP3008 chip] to it. The [http://mchobby.be/PrestaShop/product.php?id_product=170 MCP3008] acts like a 'bridge' between digital and analog. It has 8 analog inputs and the Pi can query it using 4 digital pins. That makes it a perfect addition to the Pi for integrating simple sensors like photocells, FSRs or potentiometers, thermistors, etc.!

Lets check the [http://www.mchobby.be/data-files/datasheet/MCP3008.pdf datasheet of the MCP3008 chip]. On the first page in the lower right corner there's a pinout diagram showing the names of the pins  

Lets check the [http://www.mchobby.be/data-files/datasheet/MCP3008.pdf datasheet of the MCP3008 chip]. On the first page in the lower right corner there's a pinout diagram showing the names of the pins