In Tinkercad circuits, choose sensor substitutes.

Tinkercad Circuits has a small library of frequently used electronic parts by design. Beginners may easily explore the complexities of the electrical world without feeling overwhelmed thanks to this curation. The drawback is that you can't build an identical replica of your circuit in the simulator if you're looking for a particularly specific part number or version of a sensor that isn't there in the parts drawer.

Fortunately for all of us, there's usually a solution to represent your missing component by using a similar one instead. A few major groups of sensors contain many similar sensors. You can choose an appropriate replacement for your Tinkercad Circuit with the aid of this tutorial.

Digital sensors

As they are activated, analogue sensors provide a changing voltage and resistance. Potentiometers are the most common sort of analogue sensor, but other more specialised varieties exist as well, such as flex sensors, photoresistors, microphones, some temperature sensors, force-sensitive resistors (pressure sensors), piezo components, and some IR distance sensors. Analogue inputs can be read using Arduino's analogRead() function or Tinkercad's "read analogue pin" block.

We advise using a potentiometer or TMP36 temperature sensor as an alternative in Tinkercad circuits if the analogue sensor you wish to use has three pins, as they both have three pins (power, ground, and signal). The TMP36 requires a regulated power supply voltage (2.7-5.5V), whereas a potentiometer is an only resistive sensor. This is an important distinction to make.

The only viable alternative in Tinkercad Circuits if your analogue sensor only has two pins is a two-pin photoresistor (the piezo element in Tinkercad Circuits can only be used as an output).

Electronic Sensors

High/low voltage signals and more complicated digital signals are the two primary categories of digital sensors.

Pushbuttons, switches, tilt ball sensors, magnetic reed switches, PIR motion sensors, and vibration switches are a few examples of sensors in this category. Try one of the many switches and pushbuttons available in Tinkercad Circuits, but also have a look at the tilt sensor and PIR motion sensor, whose simulations might more precisely resemble whatever digital sensor you are trying to replicate. Using digitalRead();, Arduino may read signals with high or low voltage. "Read digital pin" is the Tinkercad block for digital inputs. Launch the simulation below, then click on each sensor to see what happens:

The swap possibilities are more constrained for more sophisticated sensors that make use of data protocols like i2c. There isn't a component that can act as your i2c device, yet you might be able to use the extra library by putting it into your Arduino sketch.

Further Resources

When you make a substitution, we advise using the annotation tool to put notes on your circuit. Even though you couldn't illustrate the precise correct component, this can still aid in communicating the intent.

Don't overlook Tinkercad Circuits' starters, which can get you up and going with several fundamental sensors very quickly (in the components drawer).

Try out our beginner-level Arduino courses using Tinkercad Circuits to learn more about how to add sensors into your Arduino projects.

Send the team your requests for components, please! Although we deliberately limit the number of available components, we are constantly considering what we can add to make Tinkercad Circuits even better. Your criticism is a gift. I'm grateful.