Top 10 Must-Have Sensors for DIY Electronics Projects

08 May, 2025
Posted by: Netcam Infotech

In electronics, sensors are what give your project the power to perceive its environment; they transform raw electrical circuits into responsive, intelligent systems. Whether you're just getting started or you're deep into prototyping your next IoT solution, having the right sensors on hand can make all the difference.

At Tomson Electronics, we work with thousands of students, makers, and engineers every month, helping them choose sensors that bring their projects to life. Based on what we see most in demand and what we know will elevate your builds, here's our definitive list of the top 10 must-have sensors for anyone into DIY electronics.

Let’s dive in 👇

1. DHT11 / DHT22 – Temperature & Humidity Sensor

If you're working on projects that interact with the environment, like smart weather stations or home automation systems, the DHT11 and DHT22 sensors are your go-to tools. These sensors can read both temperature and humidity and are widely supported across platforms like Arduino, ESP8266, and Raspberry Pi. The DHT22 offers higher precision and range compared to the DHT11, but both are ideal for monitoring environmental conditions.

Why You Need It:

Measures temperature and humidity
Easy to use with Arduino, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi
Great for climate-related projects

DHT22

DHT11

2. IR Sensor – Infrared Obstacle Avoidance

IR sensors use reflected infrared light to detect objects and surfaces making them perfect for building robots that can avoid obstacles, count items, or detect line paths. They’re a staple in robotic kits because of their simplicity and versatility. Just mount, connect, and code and your robot is ready to detect its surroundings.

Why You Need It:

Detects objects using reflected IR light
Helps in line-following and anti-collision setups
Adjustable sensitivity

IR Sensor

3. PIR Motion Sensor – Passive Infrared

PIR sensors detect motion by sensing changes in infrared light usually emitted by human bodies. They’re used widely in home security systems, motion-triggered lights, and even automated doors. They’re low-power, low-cost, and incredibly reliable when used in indoor or semi-outdoor environments.

Why You Need It:

Senses heat signatures (like human movement)
Common in alarm systems, smart lighting
Low power consumption

PIR Motion sensor

4. MPU6050 (3x Axis accelerometer sensor and 3x Axis gyroscope sensor, HMC5883L Triple Axis Magnetometer and BMP180 Barometric Pressure Sensor)

When your project needs to sense motion, orientation, or tilt, the MPU6050 is the go-to sensor. It combines a 3-axis accelerometer with a 3-axis gyroscope, giving you six degrees of freedom to measure movement in all directions.

Perfect for gesture-controlled devices, fitness bands, balancing robots, and even drone stabilization. It's compact and communicates over I2C, making it easy to interface with any modern microcontroller.

Why You Need It:

Measures acceleration and angular velocity
Excellent for dynamic, motion-based projects
Compact, reliable, and widely supported

HMC5883L + BMP180 These two sensors are often found in combination with MPU6050 modules in 10DOF boards.

HMC5883L Magnetometer: Used for compass functionality
BMP180 Barometric Sensor: Measures altitude and atmospheric pressure

Together, they make a fantastic addition for navigation or drone-related builds.

MPU6050

5. MQ Gas Sensor Series (e.g., MQ-2, MQ-135)

MQ series sensors are essential when you want your project to "smell" or more accurately, detect gases in the air. Whether it's smoke, CO2, LPG, or alcohol vapor, there's an MQ sensor for each. These are commonly used in safety alarms, kitchen monitors, air purifiers, and environmental data loggers.

Why You Need It:

Detects gases like LPG, methane, smoke, CO2
Great for smart kitchens, pollution monitors
Analog output, easy to read

MQ-8

MQ-5

6. Ultrasonic Sensor – HC-SR04

Ultrasonic sensors are among the most popular choices for precise distance measurement. They work by sending out sound waves and timing how long they take to bounce back. These sensors are commonly used in obstacle detection for robots, automatic parking systems, and even liquid level detection.

Why You Need It:

Measures distance using ultrasonic waves
High accuracy and range (2cm to 400cm)
Great for robot navigation, parking sensors

Ultrasonic sensor

7. Soil Moisture Sensor

This simple sensor plays a huge role in smart agriculture and gardening automation. It measures how wet or dry the soil is and allows your Arduino or IoT setup to decide when to water plants. It’s one of the most practical additions to any home-based automation project.

Why You Need It:

Measures water content in soil
Ideal for plant watering systems
Simple analog output

Soil moisture sensor

8. Sound Sensor (Microphone Module)

Want your project to react to claps, knocks, or voice commands? The sound sensor is your entry into the world of acoustic interaction. It detects ambient sound levels or sudden noise spikes, allowing you to build interactive systems like clap switches, sound-activated lights, or even sound meters.

Why You Need It:

Detects sound intensity
Used in clap switches, audio-reactive lighting
Analog or digital output

Sound sensor

9. Light Sensor – LDR / BH1750

From street lights that turn on automatically to energy-saving lighting systems, light sensors play a big part in real-world automation. An LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) is perfect for basic projects, while digital sensors like the BH1750 offer more accuracy and precision through I2C output.

Why You Need It:

Measures light intensity
Used in day-night detection, energy-saving projects
LDR (basic), BH1750 (digital precision)

Light sensor (LDR)

10. GPS Module – NEO-7M

Need real-time location tracking? The NEO-6M GPS module gives your project the power to know exactly where it is and where it’s going. Used in vehicle trackers, drones, outdoor robots, and IoT location-based systems, it’s a must-have for any mobile or geo-tagged solution.

Why You Need It: