Metal Touch Sensor
A KY-036 metal touch module detects contact with its touch pad and outputs a digital signal.
Part images
What it is
A KY-036 metal touch module detects contact with its touch pad and outputs a digital signal.
How students use it
Students use it for touch buttons, secret switches, reaction games, and human-interface experiments.
Pins and power
Signal output, VCC, and GND on typical KY-036 modules.
Use module power and output levels that are safe for Pico GPIO.
The signal output changes when the touch pad is contacted. Some boards include a threshold trimmer.
Voltage and safety
Confirm the output level is no higher than 3.3V before connecting to Pico.
Use only in low-voltage projects. Do not attach touch pads to mains-powered circuits.
Module internals
Main component: Metal touch pad with comparator circuitry.
Touch pad, comparator, trimmer, indicator LED, resistors, PCB, and header pins.
Datasheet notes
Touch sensing can vary with grounding, humidity, and how the project is mounted.
Common libraries
Use machine.Pin for the digital output.
Common mistakes
Testing while floating/unmounted, touching power pins, using long noisy wires, and assuming threshold settings transfer between builds.