Raspberry Pi Pico - DHT22 - LCD
We will learn how to program a Raspberry Pi Pico to measure temperature and humidity using a DHT22 sensor and display these readings on an I2C LCD screen.
Hardware Preparation
Or you can buy the following sensor kits:
1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays) | |
1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables.
Overview of DHT22 and LCD
Explore tutorials below on the DHT22 sensor and LCD to understand their pin configurations, features, and how to program them.
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
Raspberry Pi Pico Code - DHT22 Sensor - LCD I2C
※ NOTE THAT:
The LCD I2C address can vary depending on the manufacturer. In our code, we used the address 0x27, which was given to us by the manufacturer, DIYables.
Detailed Instructions
Please follow these instructions step by step:
- Ensure that Thonny IDE is installed on your computer.
- Ensure that MicroPython firmware is installed on your Raspberry Pi Pico.
- If this is your first time using a Raspberry Pico, refer to the Raspberry Pi Pico - Getting Started tutorial for detailed instructions.
- Connect the Raspberry Pi Pico to the DHT22 module and the LCD I2C according to the provided diagram.
- Connect the Raspberry Pi Pico to your computer using a USB cable.
- Launch the Thonny IDE on your computer.
- On Thonny IDE, select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico) Interpreter by navigating to Tools Options.
- In the Interpreter tab, select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico) from the drop-down menu.
- Ensure the correct port is selected. Thonny IDE should automatically detect the port, but you may need to select it manually (e.g., COM3 on Windows or /dev/ttyACM0 on Linux).
- Navigate to the Tools Manage packages on the Thonny IDE.
- Search “DIYables-MicroPython-LCD-I2C”, then find the LCD I2C library created by DIYables.
- Click on DIYables-MicroPython-LCD-I2C, then click Install button to install LCD I2C library.
- Copy the above code and paste it to the Thonny IDE's editor.
- Save the script to your Raspberry Pi Pico by:
- Click the Save button, or use Ctrl+S keys.
- In the save dialog, you will see two sections: This computer and Raspberry Pi Pico. Select Raspberry Pi Pico
- Save the file as main.py
- Click the green Run button (or press F5) to run the script. The script will execute.
- Check out the message in the Shell at the bottom of Thonny.
- Make the area around the sensor warmer or cooler.
- Watch what happens on the LCD screen.
If the LCD screen displays nothing, check here: Troubleshooting on LCD I2C
If you name your script main.py and save it to the root directory of the Raspberry Pi Pico, it will automatically run each time the Pico is powered on or reset. This is useful for standalone applications that need to start running immediately upon power-up. If you name your script another name other than main.py, you will need to manually run it from Thonnys's Shell.