digitalRead() function of Arduino doesn't read Input value sent by sensor after detecting the object

Question

Schematic diagramI'm trying to turn ON the LED(inbuilt/PIN13) when photoelectric proximity sensor(12v) senses any object. Sensor is connected on pin 2. Assigned pin 2 as INPUT, I've got a 12v spdt relay for switching. 12v output from sensor is fed to coil, on the other end 5v supplied to COM pin and "Normally Open"(NO) pin to Arduino (with pull-down resistor). When 'NO' connected to loose LED it works properly (shows 5V on voltmeter when object is detected). But when connected to Arduino digitalRead(), it always returns LOW/0.

//code
int a=0;
void setup() {
 pinMode(2,INPUT);
 pinMode(13,OUTPUT);
 Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
 a == digitalRead(2);
 Serial.println(a);
 if(a==HIGH){
 Serial.println("Object Detected");
 digitalWrite(13,HIGH); 
 }else{
 Serial.println("There's no object"); 
 digitalWrite(13,LOW); 
 }
 delay(1000);
}

• jsotola: it is difficult to visualize what you are describing ... please draw a schematic diagram or a wiring diagram ... also include the code that you are using
• Sim Son: To read that detector: get rid of the relay and replace it with an ordinary voltage divider.
• Prathamesh Konkar: I tried using 7805 to get 5v output. It did not work, @SimSon
• Prathamesh Konkar: @jsotola yes. sure. I'm uploading a schematic and code.
• Juraj: use 1kOhm resistor for pulldown

Answer 1

a == digitalRead(2) must be a = digitalRead(2). You also better change the if clause to if(a) to avoid true/HIGH/1 confusions.

If you had formatted the code properly, you'd have safed some time (you just need to select the code and press the {} button).

You also better replace the relay with a voltage divider (as I mentioned in my comment), because as long as you don't have a datasheet for the sensor you can't be sure that the sensor is designed to source that much current. If the sensor is supposed to drive a TTL logic, it will eventually fail, just like you don't drive relays with GPIOs directly. And beside that you need a freewheeling diode across the relay coil to deal with back EMF which will also harm the sensor.

• Prathamesh Konkar: I can't forgive myself for this. I have wasted like 3 days on this stupidest syntax typo. Thank you for drawing my attention to it. Thank you for suggestions.
• Prathamesh Konkar: oh! I'll give it a try. The freewheeling diode stuff is really helpful for me. thanks.