The ESP32 integrates two 12-bit SAR (`Successive Approximation Register <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Successive_approximation_ADC>`_) ADCs supporting a total of 18 measurement channels (analog enabled pins).
The ADC driver API supports ADC1 (8 channels, attached to GPIOs 32 - 39), and ADC2 (10 channels, attached to GPIOs 0, 2, 4, 12 - 15 and 25 - 27). However, the usage of ADC2 has some restrictions for the application:
1. ADC2 is used by the Wi-Fi driver. Therefore the application can only use ADC2 when the Wi-Fi driver has not started.
2. Some of the ADC2 pins are used as strapping pins (GPIO 0, 2, 15) thus cannot be used freely. Such is the case in the following official Development Kits:
The ADC should be configured before reading is taken.
- For ADC1, configure desired precision and attenuation by calling functions :cpp:func:`adc1_config_width` and :cpp:func:`adc1_config_channel_atten`.
- For ADC2, configure the attenuation by :cpp:func:`adc2_config_channel_atten`. The reading width of ADC2 is configured every time you take the reading.
Attenuation configuration is done per channel, see :cpp:type:`adc1_channel_t` and :cpp:type:`adc2_channel_t`, set as a parameter of above functions.
Then it is possible to read ADC conversion result with :cpp:func:`adc1_get_raw` and :cpp:func:`adc2_get_raw`. Reading width of ADC2 should be set as a parameter of :cpp:func:`adc2_get_raw` instead of in the configuration functions.
..note:: Since the ADC2 is shared with the WIFI module, which has higher priority, reading operation of :cpp:func:`adc2_get_raw` will fail between :cpp:func:`esp_wifi_start()` and :cpp:func:`esp_wifi_stop()`. Use the return code to see whether the reading is successful.
It is also possible to read the internal hall effect sensor via ADC1 by calling dedicated function :cpp:func:`hall_sensor_read`. Note that even the hall sensor is internal to ESP32, reading from it uses channels 0 and 3 of ADC1 (GPIO 36 and 39). Do not connect anything else to these pins and do not change their configuration. Otherwise it may affect the measurement of low value signal from the sensor.
This API provides convenient way to configure ADC1 for reading from :doc:`ULP <../../api-guides/ulp>`. To do so, call function :cpp:func:`adc1_ulp_enable` and then set precision and attenuation as discussed above.
There is another specific function :cpp:func:`adc2_vref_to_gpio` used to route internal reference voltage to a GPIO pin. It comes handy to calibrate ADC reading and this is discussed in section :ref:`adc-api-adc-calibration`.
The input voltage in above example is from 0 to 1.1V (0 dB attenuation). The input range can be extended by setting higher attenuation, see :cpp:type:`adc_atten_t`.
The ESP32 ADC can be sensitive to noise leading to large discrepancies in ADC readings. To minimize noise, users may connect a 0.1uF capacitor to the ADC input pad in use. Multisampling may also be used to further mitigate the effects of noise.
The :component_file:`esp_adc_cal/include/esp_adc_cal.h` API provides functions to correct for differences in measured voltages caused by variation of ADC reference voltages (Vref) between chips. Per design the ADC reference voltage is 1100mV, however the true reference voltage can range from 1000mV to 1200mV amongst different ESP32s.
Correcting ADC readings using this API involves characterizing one of the ADCs at a given attenuation to obtain a characteristics curve (ADC-Voltage curve) that takes into account the difference in ADC reference voltage. The characteristics curve is in the form of ``y = coeff_a * x + coeff_b`` and is used to convert ADC readings to voltages in mV. Calculation of the characteristics curve is based on calibration values which can be stored in eFuse or provided by the user.
Calibration values are used to generate characteristic curves that account for the unique ADC reference voltage of a particular ESP32. There are currently three sources of calibration values. The availability of these calibration values will depend on the type and production date of the ESP32 chip/module.
**Two Point** values represent each of the ADCs’ readings at 150mV and 850mV. To obtain more accurate calibration results these values should be measured by user and burned into eFuse ``BLOCK3``.
**Default Vref** is an estimate of the ADC reference voltage provided by the user as a parameter during characterization. If Two Point or eFuse Vref values are unavailable, **Default Vref** will be used.
