Rain Sensor Clothes Protection

Many times, we hang clothes outside for drying, and suddenly it starts raining. If no one is there to remove or cover the clothes, they get wet again, which wastes time and effort. So I thought of creating a system that can automatically protect the clothes when it rains. This project not only solves a real-life problem but also helped me understand how sensors and automation work together.

Characteristics of the Project

1. It is automatic — works without human intervention
2. It is based on a real-life problem
3. It uses simple and low-cost components
4. It is easy to build and understand
5. It combines sensor + Arduino + motor control
6. It is a good example of home automation
7. It is efficient and saves time and effort
8. It can be improved further with advanced features

Components / Requirements

1. Arduino Uno
2. Rain Sensor Module (with sensor plate)
3. Servo Motor
4. Jumper Wires
5. Breadboard
6. USB Cable (for programming Arduino)
7. Cardboard / Base (for making model structure

Tools Required

1. Glue gun or Fevicol
2. Cutter / Scissors
3. Tape
4. Ruler (for measurement)
5. Laptop / Computer (for coding and uploading program)

I basically made the main model that looks like a small clothes drying setup. First, I took a piece of cardboard and used it as the base. Then I made two vertical supports using cardboard and fixed them on both sides, like small walls of a house. After that, I placed a stick between these supports, which acts like the rod where clothes are hung. I also added small pieces of cloth or paper to represent clothes so the model looks more realistic. Then I made a small roof or cover using another piece of cardboard and attached it from one side so it can open and close easily. I placed this roof just above the clothes so it can cover them properly when needed. So overall, I created a simple house-like structure with a clothes area and a movable cover that can protect the clothes from rain.

1. First, I took the servo motor and placed it near one side of the roof (cover)
2. Then, I fixed the motor properly on the base or side wall using glue or tape so it doesn’t move
3. After that, I attached the servo arm (plastic horn) to the edge of the roof using a stick or directly with glue
4. I made sure that the arm is connected in such a way that when it rotates, it can push or pull the roof
5. Then, I checked it by slightly rotating the servo by hand to see if the roof is opening and closing properly
6. If the movement was not smooth, I adjusted the position of the motor or the stick until it worked correctly

1. Rain sensor connection

The rain sensor module usually has pins like VCC, GND, and DO or AO.

First, I connected the VCC pin of the rain sensor to the 5V pin of the Arduino. This gives power to the sensor.

Then, I connected the GND pin of the rain sensor to the GND pin of the Arduino. This completes the power circuit.

After that, I connected the DO pin of the rain sensor to digital pin 7 of the Arduino. This wire is used to send the rain signal to the Arduino. When water falls on the sensor plate, this pin tells the Arduino whether rain is detected or not.

If your module has AO, you can leave it for now, because for this simple project we only need the digital output.

2. Rain sensor plate connection

The rain sensor usually comes in two parts:

1. one small control module
2. one sensor plate

The sensor plate connects to the rain sensor module using the small wire that comes with it. So just plug the plate into the module properly. This plate is the part where water actually falls.

3. Servo motor connection

Now let’s connect the servo motor. A servo usually has three wires:

1. Red = power
2. Brown or Black = ground
3. Orange or Yellow = signal

First, I connected the red wire of the servo to the 5V pin of the Arduino. This powers the motor.

Then, I connected the brown/black wire to the GND pin of the Arduino.

After that, I connected the orange/yellow signal wire to pin 9 of the Arduino. This is the control wire. Through this wire, Arduino tells the servo how much to rotate.

4. Common ground

One important thing is that both the rain sensor and the servo motor should share the same GND with Arduino. This means all the ground wires must be connected properly. Without common ground, the components may behave strangely or not work at all.

5. Final wiring check

Before turning it on, I checked everything once again:

1. rain sensor VCC to 5V
2. rain sensor GND to GND
3. rain sensor DO to pin 7
4. servo red to 5V
5. servo brown/black to GND
6. servo signal to pin 9

If all this is connected correctly, the circuit part is ready.

After finishing the wiring, I connected the Arduino to my laptop and uploaded the code. The code is written in such a way that the Arduino keeps checking the rain sensor continuously. If it detects water, it sends a command to the servo motor to rotate, otherwise it keeps everything normal.

I tested whether my project is working properly or not. I took a little water and carefully dropped a few drops on the rain sensor to act like rain. As soon as the sensor got wet, it immediately detected the presence of water and sent a signal to the Arduino. This step helped me confirm that the sensor and the whole system are responding correctly when rain is detected.