Simple Air Sensor
question:simple-air-sensor

**The Simple Air Sensor is an arduino-based prototyping kit for studying air quality.** The SAS is a bare-bones air sensor, roughly modeled off of the [Purple Air](https://www2.purpleair.com/) system. This sensor circuit uses the same type of particle detector as the #PurpleAir sensor, but only one as compared to #PurpleAir's two. It does not include a temperature, humidity and pressure sensor while the Purple Air does. Instead of logging results to the cloud or to the device itself, the Simple Air Sensor displays a red/yellow/green light that illustrates the PM2.5 levels it detects, but it does not convert these results into an Air Quality Index (AQI). This is a version that is easy to assemble (no soldering, just push wires into a breadboard), and it comes pre-programmed. We also offer this kit [assembled and ready to go, straight out of the box](https://store.publiclab.org/products/simple-air-sensor "https://store.publiclab.org/products/simple-air-sensor"). **Parts List** 1. 1 [Arduino](https://www.amazon.com/KeeYees-Module-Soldered-ATmega328P-Arduino/dp/B07H57TLRW/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=arduino%20nano%20soldered%20usb%20cable&qid=1551459803&s=gateway&sr=8-3) 2. 1 [RBG LED Light](https://www.amazon.com/EDGELEC-Tri-Color-Multicolor-Diffused-Resistors/dp/B077XD5T8P/ "https://www.amazon.com/EDGELEC-Tri-Color-Multicolor-Diffused-Resistors/dp/B077XD5T8P/") 3. 1 [Sensor](https://www.ebay.com/itm/PlanTower-High-Precision-Laser-Dust-Sensor-Module-PM1-0-PM2-5-PM10-PMS5003-G5/183583507609?hash=item2abe6e0499:g:i6IAAOSw~D5cEjKZ:rk:5:pf:1&frcectupt=true "https://www.ebay.com/itm/PlanTower-High-Precision-Laser-Dust-Sensor-Module-PM1-0-PM2-5-PM10-PMS5003-G5/183583507609?hash=item2abe6e0499:g:i6IAAOSw~D5cEjKZ:rk:5:pf:1&frcectupt=true") with cable[](https://www.ebay.com/itm/PlanTower-High-Precision-Laser-Dust-Sensor-Module-PM1-0-PM2-5-PM10-PMS5003-G5/183583507609?hash=item2abe6e0499:g:i6IAAOSw~D5cEjKZ:rk:5:pf:1&frcectupt=true) 4. 1 [Breadboard](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KKE602W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) ## Air Quality Monitoring The Simple Air Sensor can be used: * to see immediate qualitative differences in air quality by displaying a realtime colored light readout. * to examine how the particulate sensor used in the closed source #PurpleAir responds to varying air conditions * to build familiarity with the electronic components used in air sensors without having to program * to use in groups (with 3+ sensors) to plan out placement of a PurpleAir or other more expensive sensor, with consideration for wind direction and spacing, for example. [![55894473-266f0280-5b88-11e9-9714-f945378af5fc.gif](/i/35143)](/i/35143?s=o) **NOTE: The colored light displayed by this sensor is not related to the [Air Quality Index (AQI) colors](https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi) in any way.** #Design Goals Public Lab’s Simple Air Sensor is part of an effort to develop an open source project and community monitoring network that functions similarly to #PurpleAir . Our goal is to create an open-source repository of Purple Air user’s knowledge and expertise regarding installation and troubleshooting, while creating a space for Purple Air users to communicate their findings and organize with others within the air quality monitoring network. In this way, this kit offers an "offramp" from a corporately controlled, closed source project that lacks public forums for asking and answering questions, or for organizing and advocating around the data collected. This project emerged from observations that while many people share an understanding of the importance of "right to know" laws and of the purpose that transparency serves in a society, here is much less awareness of the fragility of technology, and the (inadvertent) gate-keeping role of expertise that leaves people without a pathway to "knowing how they know." This project is part of a long term effort to encourage a culture of empiricism. Quite a few people have built simple open source, Arduino-based devices around the cheap #plantower particulate air sensor [datasheet](http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/aq-spec/resources-page/plantower-pms5003-manual_v2-3.pdf), see: * @julieta's work on https://github.com/rlyehlab/eter (and [blog post](https://medium.com/read-write-participate/a-green-approach-to-open-source-in-buenos-aires-3331861a1bc1)) * @guolivar's work: https://github.com/guolivar and blog https://cona-nz.blogspot.com * https://www.rigacci.org/wiki/doku.php/doc/appunti/hardware/raspberrypi_air ## Activities [notes:grid:activity:simple-air-sensor] Add an activity or request an activity guide you don't see listed ## Questions [questions:simple-air-sensor] **** [![IMG_20190304_170244_490.jpg](/i/30002)](/i/30002?size=original) ...


Author Comment Last activity Moderation
warren "Ah, and regarding What kind of particulate matter do these sensors work best in (ie they tend to preform worse in traffic-dominant pm than wood smo..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren " Hi @nshapiro - these are all good questions, let me try to go through them one by one, thanks! the documentation needs to be vastly improved I'm..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
nshapiro " In my perspective the documentation needs to be vastly improved before answering this question. What do you mean by "high precision" in describing..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
mimiss "Could this demonstration be linked back to the particle size (2.5 microns) that the air sensor is set to detect? Maybe start a discussion on which ..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
mimiss " Here's an example of teaching with similar air sensors from the EPA: https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/teachers/gh_pmsensorkit_handoutandinstructions.pdf " | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren "@mimiss @stevie -- what do you think of these options, and would any of them be interesting for classroom use too? " | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren "Idea 3: You could buy or build a #simple-air-sensor and leave it for a few days in a few different locations, to see if it detects anything, and if..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren "Idea 2: the #simple-air-sensor could be used alongside a more expensive device like a #purple-air, to give a more ambient awareness of the readings..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren "Idea 1: While kicking off a collaborative session or training on air sensor placement, three or more Simple Air Sensors could be held by different ..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
cfastie " Writing data to eeprom will work with the limitations you outline. Adding a microSD card module and 128 MB SD card costs less than $2.00. Adding..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
Ag8n " The only other thing to point out- all these calculations assume the particles are spheres. We had particle surface area measuring equipment. T..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
wu_ming2 " I believe your first question was answered in general terms here: https://publiclab.org/questions/Ag8n/08-18-2018/pharmaceutical-class-100000-part..." | Read more » over 5 years ago
warren " @nanocastro @cbarnes9 @ag8n @wu_ming2 @bigmit37 might also know a bit about this? " | Read more » over 5 years ago
stevie " Hi all, great questions here. Pinging in a couple people who might be able to help provide some insight @cfastie @guolivar Best, Stevie " | Read more » over 5 years ago
jeffalk " Hi @OrionAllgaier, It's great to be curious and I'm sorry I can't answer your questions. But I am also curious. To my mind if one is trying to pr..." | Read more » over 5 years ago