DHT11 Digital Temperature and Humidity Sensor (Original)

Description

The DHT11 Digital Temperature and Humidity Sensor (Original) is a basic, low-cost digital sensor designed for measuring ambient temperature and relative humidity in hobbyist, educational, and basic environmental monitoring applications. Manufactured by ASAIR (Aosong), the original DHT11 combines a resistive humidity sensing element with an NTC temperature measurement component and an integrated 8-bit microcontroller, delivering a fully calibrated digital signal over a simple single-wire interface .

At the heart of the sensor is its factory-calibrated digital output. Each DHT11 is calibrated in a precision humidity chamber, with calibration coefficients stored in OTP (One-Time Programmable) memory . This means no external trimming or complex analog signal conditioning is required—the sensor outputs a direct digital signal that microcontrollers can read with minimal code.

The DHT11 provides humidity measurements from 20% to 90% RH with ±5% RH accuracy, and temperature measurements from 0°C to 50°C with ±2°C accuracy . The sensor operates from 3.3V to 5.5V DC, drawing approximately 1mA during measurement and 60µA in standby . The single-wire communication protocol requires only one data pin, plus power and ground, making it exceptionally easy to wire.

Important Note: The DHT11 is a basic sensor with limitations that should be understood before use. Its 1°C/1%RH resolution and ±2°C/±5%RH accuracy make it unsuitable for precision applications . The sampling rate is limited to once every 1–2 seconds , and readings should be taken at least 2 seconds apart. The original DHT11 uses a resistive humidity element, which can be susceptible to drift over long-term exposure to extreme humidity or contaminants. For higher accuracy or wider measurement ranges, consider the DHT22 (AM2302) or a digital sensor like the SHT series. The sensor is not waterproof and should be kept dry.

Whether you are building a simple weather station, a humidity controller, or an educational project, the original DHT11 provides a reliable, affordable entry point for digital environmental sensing.

Features

• Original ASAIR DHT11 sensor — Genuine quality with factory calibration

• Calibrated digital output — No external trimming required; calibration coefficients stored in OTP memory

• Single-wire interface — Requires only one data pin plus power and ground

• Combined temperature and humidity sensing — Resistive humidity element and NTC temperature component

• 3.3V to 5.5V operation — Compatible with Arduino, ESP32, and other microcontrollers

• Low power consumption — ~1mA measuring, ~60µA standby

• Long-term stability — Excellent reliability and stability for general-purpose applications

• Compact 4-pin package — Standard 0.1″ pin spacing for breadboard and PCB mounting

• Wide application range — Weather stations, HVAC, dehumidifiers, data loggers

• Cost-effective — Affordable solution for basic environmental sensing

Technical Specifications