AnalogRead value constant for a varying voltage (for LED brightness variation)

Question

Having the 11~ pin on OUTPUT mode that delivers a varying voltage (from 0 to 5 : 0 to 255).

and the A0 pin on INPUT mode to read the voltage, I find that the value read by A0 being either 0 or 1016 instead of it gradually taking multiple values between the two. what is the catch?

The circuit and the code i am using:

int volt = 0; 
int sign = 1; //values: (1, -1), increments or decrements "volt" by 5.
float potential;

void setup() {

  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(A0, INPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);


}

void loop() {



if (volt == 0){sign = 1;}
if (volt == 255){sign = -1}


volt = volt + sign * 5; //raises brightness to 255 from 0, then to 0 from 255.
analogWrite(11, volt);





potential = analogRead(A0);

Serial.println(potential);

delay(30);
/*
*/

}

Answer 1

As CrossRoads says, there really isn't any such thing as analog output on an Arduino. (Any Arduino unless it has a built-in DAC.) It uses pulse-width modulation to vary the "duty cycle" of the output from 100% on to 0% on, which simulates an analog voltage.

If you drive an LED with PWM (and the required current limiting resistor) your eyes will not see the flashes, and will average out the brightness based on the duty cycle of the PWM signal.

If you want an actual analog voltage from PWM you will need to add a filter capacitor to average out the voltage over time. With a simple single capacitor filter you'll still have flutter in the output but it will be closer. If you want a clean constant voltage you'll need a more complex filter.

Answer 2

The PWM output pin does not vary voltage - it only outputs 0, or 5V. The amount of time that 5V is on, from 1/255 of about a 2mS period, to 255/255 of the same period, determines how bright the LED is perceived to be.

You really need a current limit resistor in series with the LED to keep from burning out the uC output pin, or from burning up the LED.