• Arduino – What bits to start with…and a bit of head bashing!

    Posted in: Arduino

    I explain some challenges I had getting started and point out how to get around them.

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  • * Choosing between Arduino UNO or Mega – I compare specs.
    * Choosing an LCD display type
    * Understanding issues with the different versions of the Arduino software / sketch editor.
    * A quick look at my digital thermometer project.

    Handy websites:
    http://www.toddfun.com/
    http://www.arduino.cc/
    http://tronixstuff.wordpress.com/
    http://www.timnolan.com
    http://www.timnolan.com/index.php?pag…
    Dave Jone EEVBlog: http://www.eevblog.com/

    Parts List:
    1 1x Arduino UNO R3
    * ATmega328 microcontroller
    * Input voltage – 7-12V
    * 14 Digital I/O Pins (6 PWM outputs)
    * 6 Analog Inputs
    * 32k Flash Memory
    * 16Mhz Clock Speed
    2 1x Breadboard 840 Point White
    3 1NPA-AS3 Relay (3V , 3A)
    4 6x 5mm Colour LED’s
    5 1x NPN transistor (P2N2222A)
    6 1x Triple Output RGB LED
    7 5x 5mm Microswitches
    8 1x Jumper Wire Kit
    9 1x LDR (Photocell
    10 1x Temperature Sensor (LM35)
    11 2x High Bright LED (White)
    12 1x Small Servo Motor
    13 1x Potentiometer
    14 2x Resistor Packs (220, 10k)
    15 1x USB Cable
    16 1x Zener Diode (1N5225)
    17 1x Piezo
    18 1x LM317 Voltage Regulator
    19 1x 9V Battery Connector
    20 1x Protoplastic 100g
    21 1x Resource CD

    My addition add-on: Serial Enabled 16×2 LCD – Black on Green 5V

    Projects I plan to attempt in the near future:
    * Digital thermometer with stand alone data logging
    * DC power and temperature data logger for solar panel performance comparisons
    * An MPPT solar charge controller to investigate the various tracking algorithms used in these devices.