“Since summer rolled around and people are starting to flock to beaches again during these post-pandemic times, I decided to make a portable UV index meter for my more delicate-skinned friends so they can sunbathe responsbily - by keeping an eye on how much UV radiation they are exposing themselves to at the moment! There are some other portable UV index meter projects online, but none of them feature a rechargable battery and most have clunky designs that makes it hard to see the screen and point the UV sensor up at the same time, so I took it to myself to build one.
B.U.R.N. Meter is an Arduino Teensy based UV index meter with a ST7789 display capable of measuring UV index and onboard battery voltage in real time. The device features the following:
- Colored display that shows the current UV index based on an ultraviolet photodiode reading
- Live texts with recommended duration user can stay outside before getting sunburned
- Graphics displaying the remaining battery capacity
- Dynamic image that changes color based on the measured radiation level
Components:
- Arduino Teensy 4.0
- ST7789 1.3” LCD Display Screen
- 3.7v LiPo Battery
- TP4056 Lithium Battery Charging Board
- GUVA-S12SD UV Sensor
- S7V8F3 Voltage Regulator
- Rocker Switch
- 10k Resistors
- Alpha Nanotech Fused Quartz Plates (Industrial Grade, 30 x 30 x 1 mm)
- 1/8” Thick Acrylic Sheet
- M2 x 5 mm Screws
- M2 x 10 mm Screws
- Solder Board
- 22 AWG Solid Copper Wires
Tools needed:
- Hot glue
- 3D printer
- Wire stripper/cutter
- Soldering iron and solder
- Small M2 Phillips screwdriver (or equivalent if using a different fastener from the one above)
- Electronics tape (optional but recommended)
- Laser cutter (optional, can substitute with a saw or something that can cut acrylic)”