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Sound-Activated LED with Arduino

Detect a clap or loud noise with a KY-038 sound sensor and flash an LED. Learn digital input and simple if-logic.

Beginner20 min

What you need

Wiring

Hover a pin or a wire to trace the connection.

Code

sound_led.ino
// Flash an LED when the KY-038 detects sound above its threshold.
// Turn the module's potentiometer to set sensitivity (the module's own
// LED lights when it triggers).

const int soundPin = 2;   // KY-038 DO (digital out)
const int ledPin   = 13;  // LED (and onboard LED)

void setup() {
  pinMode(soundPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // DO reads HIGH when sound exceeds the threshold on most KY-038 modules.
  // If your LED behaves backwards, swap HIGH and LOW below.
  if (digitalRead(soundPin) == HIGH) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    delay(200);            // keep the LED on briefly so the flash is visible
  } else {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
  }
}

Steps

  1. Wire the KY-038: + to Arduino 5V, GND to GND, DO to D2.
  2. Wire the LED on D13 through a 220Ω resistor, cathode to GND.
  3. Upload the sketch.
  4. Clap near the sensor. Adjust the module's potentiometer until the LED reacts cleanly.