KY-020 Tilt switch

Depending on the tilt, a switch short-circuits the input pins.

  • Arduino
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Raspberry Pi Pico
  • Micro:Bit

Depending on the inclination, a switch closes the input pins briefly. This happens due to the fact that a ball inside short-circuits the contacts, depending on the position.

Technical data
Operating voltage 3,3 V - 5 V
Dimensions 19 x 15 x 5 mm

Pin assignment

Code example Arduino

Pin assignment Arduino

Arduino Sensor
Pin 10 signal
5 V +V
GND GND
Arduino Sensor
Pin 13 LED+
GND LED-

This is an example program which lights up a LED when a signal is detected at the sensor. The modules KY-011, KY-016 or KY-029 can, for example, be used as LEDs.

int Led = 13 ;// declaration of the LED output pin
int Sensor = 10 ;// Declaration of the sensor input pin
int val; // Temporary variable
   
void setup ()
{
  pinMode (Led, OUTPUT) ; // Initialize output pin
  pinMode (Sensor, INPUT) ; // Initialize sensor pin
}
   
void loop ()
{
  val = digitalRead (Sensor) ; // The current signal at the sensor is read out
   
  if (val == HIGH) // If a signal could be detected, the LED is switched on.
  {
    digitalWrite (Led, LOW);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite (Led, HIGH);
  }
}

Sample program download

KY020-Arduino.zip

Depending on the inclination, a switch closes the input pins briefly. This happens due to the fact that a ball inside short-circuits the contacts, depending on the position.

Technical data
Operating voltage 3,3 V - 5 V
Dimensions 19 x 15 x 5 mm

Pin assignment

Code example Raspberry Pi

Pin assignment Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi Sensor
GPIO 24 [Pin 18] Signal
3.3 V [Pin 1] +V
GND [Pin 6] GND

This is an example program where a console output is generated as soon as a signal is detected.

# Import the needed modules and set them up
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
   
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
   
# Here the input pin is declared, to which the sensor is connected. Additionally the PullUP resistor at the input will be activated
GPIO_PIN = 24
GPIO.setup(GPIO_PIN, GPIO.IN)
   
print ("Sensor test [press CTRL+C to end test]")
   
# This outputFunction will be executed on signal detection
def outputFunction(null):
        print("Signal detected")
   
# When a signal is detected (falling signal edge) the output function is executed
GPIO.add_event_detect(GPIO_PIN, GPIO.FALLING, callback=outputFunction, bouncetime=100) 
   
# main program loop
try:
    while True:
        time.sleep(1)
   
# clean up after the program is finished
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    GPIO.cleanup()

Sample program download

KY020-RPi.zip

Depending on the inclination, a switch closes the input pins briefly. This happens due to the fact that a ball inside short-circuits the contacts, depending on the position.

Technical data
Operating voltage 3,3 V - 5 V
Dimensions 19 x 15 x 5 mm

Pin assignment

Code example Micro:Bit

Pinout Micro:Bit:

Micro:Bit Sensor
Pin 1 Signal
3 V +V
GND GND

Sample program download

microbit-KY-020.zip

Depending on the inclination, a switch closes the input pins briefly. This happens due to the fact that a ball inside short-circuits the contacts, depending on the position.

Technical data
Operating voltage 3,3 V - 5 V
Dimensions 19 x 15 x 5 mm

Pin assignment

Code example Raspberry Pi Pico

Pin assignment Raspberry Pi Pico

Raspberry Pi Pico Sensor
GPIO26 Signal
3.3V +V
GND GND

This is a sample program that counts up and outputs text serially when a signal is detected at the sensor.

# Libraries load
from machine import Pin, Timer

# Initialization of GPIO as input
sensor = Pin(26, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_DOWN)

# Create timer
timer = Timer()

# Set counter to 0
counter = 0

# Function: Count steps
def step(timer):
    global counter
    counter = counter + 1
    print("Inclined position")
    print(counter)

# Function: Vibration
def shake(pin):
    # Debounce function: Set timer
    timer.init(mode=Timer.ONE_SHOT, period=100, callback=step)

# Initialization interrupt
sensor.irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_FALLING, handler=shake)

Example program download

KY020-Pico.zip