> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt

# Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (RCWL-1601) - 3 to 5V

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** CE09432 · **Brand:** [Core Electronics](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/core-electronics-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/33v-ultrasonic-distance-sensor.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/33v-ultrasonic-distance-sensor.html.md))

Enhance your project with the Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (RCWL-1601). Pin and software compatible with the HC-SR04 sensor, it uses echolocation to detect objects within a range of 2 to 450 cm. Now compatible with both 3.3V and 5V power supplies.

## Pricing

- **Price:** $2.70 (inc GST) — $2.45 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 5+ $2.41 (exc GST) · 15+ $2.33 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- In stock, ships same business day if ordered before 2PM (Australia/Sydney).
- We can dispatch 155 today; more stock is typically available with a 8–12 day lead time.

## How to buy

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- **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt
## Description

Add an easy-to-use modern distance sensor to your project.

Much like a bat or submarine, the module uses echolocation to determine the distance from objects from 2cm to 4.5m away.

This sensor is pin and software compatible with [the maker classic HC-SR04 Ultrasonic sensor](https://core-electronics.com.au/hc-sr04-ultrasonic-module-distance-measuring-sensor.html) used in so many projects with many added benefits.

### Technical Specifications

- **Power Supply:** 3-5V DC
- **Quiescent Current:** <2mA
- **Working Current**: 15mA
- **Ranging Distance**: 2cm–450cm
- **Dimension**: 45mm x 20mm x 15mm
 
### Using this sensor

Connect the Vcc and Gnd to your development board's IO level power supply, 3.3V for Raspberry Pi, Pico and micro:bit, or 5V for Arduino.

Then Trig and Echo into digital input and output pins respectively.

Once you've got it configured correctly, use your code to take the Input reading from the Echo pin and plug it into the distance formula: distance = (traveltime/2) x speed of sound to get a distance reading.

[Our guide on using Ultrasonic Distance Modules with Arduino](https://core-electronics.com.au/tutorials/how-to-use-ultrasonic-sensors.html)

### Examples

#### Raspberry Pi Pico - Micropython

 ```
from machine import Pin, time_pulse_us
import time

# Define the trigger and echo pins
trigger_pin = Pin(5, Pin.OUT)
echo_pin = Pin(4, Pin.IN)

# Define a function to measure the distance
def measure_distance():
    # Trigger the sensor by sending a 10 microsecond pulse
    trigger_pin.on()
    time.sleep_us(10)
    trigger_pin.off()
    
    # Measure the duration of the echo pulse
    duration = time_pulse_us(echo_pin, 1, 30000)
    
    # Convert the duration to distance in centimeters
    distance = duration / 58
    
    return distance

while True:
    distance = measure_distance()
    print(int(distance))
    time.sleep(.3)
```

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/u/l/ultra-dist-iso.jpg)