Photoresistor Tester

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Idea Name:

Photoresistor Tester

Overview:

A "black box" that will quickly report the dark and light resistance values of a photoresistor

Concepts/Skills:

Outputing values to a human (me) via either LCD or 7-segment display
Construction of a body that'll ZIF accept a photoresistor
Body that will enclose the photoresistor and block out all light, and also capable of illuminating with white light

Description:

This is not a robot, it's a testing module. While building Sandwich, I had to test an assorted batch of 100 photoresistors to come up with two pairs that give roughly similar resistance values in light and roughly similar resistance values in dark. While doing this testing I proceded to break some test leads, burn my hand on a light bulb, and snap the leads off of two components. And the end result is that I have 4 photoresistors that barely match up. So while doing this, specifically while tending to my burned finger, I thought it would be a fun project to build a little box with a sliding lid. Inside would be a ZIF socket or miniature solderless breadboard where you stick the photoresistor. You slide the lid shut and press a button and the dark resistance value will be displayed via 7-segment display or LCD. Then you press a different button and some bright white LEDs will shine on the resistor. By providing its own light source, it can give measurements for consistent conditions. Perhaps it can also have different color LEDs so that it'll give a list of values for the different colors. Or for even more advanced fun, with a push of a button, it'll run through a list of tests of light, dark, and colors, and then report values on an LCD output.