Touch Toggle

Arduino Project

Arduino Touch Switch with Capacitive Touch Sensor

Kit purchase

Looking for parts? Check out our all-in-one kits below — packed with components, beginner-friendly guides, and tons of fun.

2.png__PID:4c058c33-95c6-4f46-b6eb-562b4ffd4bdf

Name	Includes Arduino board	PURCHASE LINK
Elite Explorer Kit	Arduino Uno R4 WiFi	BUY
3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Ultimate Sensor Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Universal Maker Sensor Kit	×	BUY

Course Introduction

This Arduino project uses a touch sensor and a traffic light LED module to simulate a simple traffic light system. Each time the touch sensor is pressed, the LEDs switch in sequence from red to yellow to green. This example demonstrates how to use a touch sensor as an input trigger to control multiple LEDs in a sequence.

Note

If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.

1.1 Install Arduino IDE(Important)
1.2 Introduce of Arduino IDE

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components:

SN	COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	QUANTITY	PURCHASE LINK
1	Arduino UNO R4 Minima	1	BUY
2	USB Type-C cable	1	X
3	Breadboard	1	BUY
4	Wires	Several	BUY
5	Touch Sensor Module	1	BUY
6	Traffic Light LED	1	BUY

Wiring

touch_light.webp__PID:c14c0a3e-2dfa-409b-8429-e9fc2a61f001

Common Connections:

Traffic light LED
R: Connect to 7 on the Arduino.
Y: Connect to 8 on the Arduino.
G: Connect to 9 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to GND on the Arduino.

Touch Sensor Module
SIG: Connect to 2 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

Writing the Code

Note
1.You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
2.Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 Minima/WIFI) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

/*
  The code controls a traffic light LED module with a touch sensor.
  Once the touch sensor is activated, the LEDs cycle through turning
  on in sequence: Red -> Yellow -> Green.

  Board: Arduino Uno R4 (or R3)
  Component: Touch Sensor Module and Traffic Light Module
*/

// Define pins for touch sensor and LEDs
const int touchSensorPin = 2;  // touch sensor pin
const int rledPin = 7;         // red LED pin
const int yledPin = 8;         // yellow LED pin
const int gledPin = 9;         // green LED pin

int lastTouchState;     // the previous state of touch sensor
int currentTouchState;  // the current state of touch sensor
int currentLED = 0;     // current LED 0->Red, 1->Yellow, 2->Green

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);              // initialize serial
  pinMode(touchSensorPin, INPUT);  // configure touch sensor pin as input

  // set LED pins as outputs
  pinMode(rledPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(yledPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(gledPin, OUTPUT);

  currentTouchState = digitalRead(touchSensorPin);
}

void loop() {
  lastTouchState = currentTouchState;               // save the last state
  currentTouchState = digitalRead(touchSensorPin);  // read new state

  // check if the touch sensor was just touched
  if (lastTouchState == LOW && currentTouchState == HIGH) {
    Serial.println("The sensor is touched");

    turnAllLEDsOff();  // Turn off all LEDs

    // switch on the next LED in sequence
    switch (currentLED) {
      case 0:
        digitalWrite(rledPin, HIGH);
        currentLED = 1;
        break;
      case 1:
        digitalWrite(yledPin, HIGH);
        currentLED = 2;
        break;
      case 2:
        digitalWrite(gledPin, HIGH);
        currentLED = 0;
        break;
    }
  }
}

// function to turn off all LEDs
void turnAllLEDsOff() {
  digitalWrite(rledPin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(yledPin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(gledPin, LOW);
}

Recover password

Create my account

Arduino Project

Arduino Touch Switch with Capacitive Touch Sensor

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Note

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

Arduino Project

Arduino Touch Switch with Capacitive Touch Sensor

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Note

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

Subscribe to our newsletter