![\"ESP32](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-ESP32-Tutorial-arduino.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWe have a similar tutorial for the ESP8266 board: ESP8266 NodeMCU with RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Proximity Sensor (Arduino IDE)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout this tutorial, we’ll cover the following contents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The RCWL-0516 is a small, inexpensive sensor that uses microwave radar to detect the presence of moving objects. The sensor works by emitting a beam of microwaves and then detecting the Doppler shift in the reflected waves as objects move past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, these sensors are sold as a pack of five and don’t come with header pins. So, you may need to get header pins separately and then solder them yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n You can check the following link on Maker Advisor and compare the price in different stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use the preceding links or go directly to MakerAdvisor.com\/tools<\/a> to find all the parts for your projects at the best price!<\/p> The RCWL-0516 sensor has a built-in oscillator that generates a microwave signal at a frequency of 3.18 GHz. The sensor then sends out this signal in a 360-degree pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When an object moves within the sensor’s range, the reflected waves are picked up by the sensor’s receiver. The receiver then measures the frequency of the reflected waves and compares it to the frequency of the original signal. If the frequency of the reflected waves has changed, the sensor knows that an object has moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The RCWL-0516 sensor has a single output pin that goes HIGH when it detects movement. It outputs LOW when no motion is detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The RCWL-0516 has a detection range of up to 7 meters and can detect objects moving at speeds of up to 2 meters per second. It also has a built-in adjustable delay time, which can be used to prevent the sensor from triggering repeatedly on the same object.<\/p>\n\n\n Note: even though it mentions a detection range of up to 7 meters, I couldn’t get those results with my setup. However, I got very good feedback from some of our readers about this sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s a summary of some of the key features of the RCWL-0516 sensor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n RCWL-0516 sensor specifications<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get more information about the sensor on the following GitHub page:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sensor comes with the option to solder a light-depend resistor (light sensor) if you want your sensor to operate just in dark conditions, for example. You can get the output of the LDR sensor on the LDR pin. Alternatively, you can also connect the LDR to the CDS pin.<\/p>\n\n\n When the output of the LDR is bigger than 0.7V, the OUT pin will output a HIGH signal when motion is detected. If motion is detected but the output of the LDR is smaller than 0.7V, the output will be LOW. This means that when attaching an LDR, the sensor will only sense motion when it’s dark.<\/p>\n\n\n You can adjust the sensitivity of the LDR, by connecting a resistor on the R-CDS pads (see the following section), or by adding a pull-up resistor externally in parallel with the CDS pin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my case, I added a pull-up 22KOhm resistor to the LDR pin so that it could detect motion when there is low light. Without the resistor, not even in very dark conditions I had a positive output. You might need to try with different resistance values to see which one works best for your scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the back of the sensor, there are three pads for additional SMD components (0805 dimensions):<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following information was taken from this GitHub page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following table shows the pinout of the RCWL-0516 microwave radar proximity sensor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Introducing the RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Proximity Sensor<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Introducing](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-sensor.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-sensors.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhere to Buy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/header-200.png?w=1200&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow does it work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
RCWL-0516 Sensor Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-sensor-breadboard.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Optional Light Depend Resistor (LDR) Sensor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-sensor-LDR-sensor.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-microwave-radar-with-LDR.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAdjustment components<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-optional-components.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar Proximity Sensor Pinout<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
The RCWL-0516 microwave radar proximity sensor has five pins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Microwave](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-microwave-radar-vs-PIR-motion-sensor.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Connecting](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-ESP32_bb.png?resize=891%2C696&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"ESP32](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ESP32-RCWL-0516.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Testing](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/testing-microwave-radar-sensor-rcwl-0516-serial-monitor.png?resize=604%2C368&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"RCWL-0516](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/RCWL-0516-sensor-triggered-ESP32.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n