Vol. 25: Primer: Make and Use an Arduino

Build and program a microcontroller clone with no soldering.

+ Downloads & Extras:

+ Li'l Larson LED Scanner - a fun and easy first project to try with your new Breadboard Arduino kit. Glen Larson is credited with producing several iconic American television shows, including Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider, among others. Both shows featured mesmerizing "light scanners" that are easy to simulate and hard to reproduce exactly. Here's how to get started on building a your own "Li'l Larson LED Scanner." +

Maker Shed USB Adapter (USB mini 03)

USB adapter and power: plug adapter in symmetrically over central gutter, pins into rows 1-4 on either side.
Jumper J-2 to right-side ground rail, J-3 to right-side power rail (5V). Power LED from I-4 to I-5; resistor from J-5 to ground.
Chip and power: Plug microcontroller chip over gutter with Pin 1 in E-6.
For power, jumper A-12 to left-side power rail, A-13 to left-side ground rail, J-12 to right-side ground rail, J-14 to right-side power rail.
Chip to the USB adapter: Jumper A-2 to A-7 (RX) Receive and B-1 to B-8 (TX) Transmit.
Solder a wire to the 5th pinhole down on the right side of the adapter and connect to C-6 (RST) Reset.
With this USB Adapter, you want to connect the adapter and chip RX and TX pins together (RX to RX and TX to TX), rather than connecting RX to TX and TX to RX.
Quartz crystal: Plug between C-14 and A-15
Programmable LED: Resistor between J-15 and J-20, LED H-20 to H-21, jumper J-21 to right-side ground power rail.

Modern Device USB BUB

Install adapter sideways on breadboard with DTR, RX, TX, 5V, 3.3V, and GND pins in holes F-1 to F-6.

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� MAKE: AMENDS Errata for This Article

Correction for page 65
The second paragraph on page 65 should read: "To connect the chip to power and ground, jumper [...] J-7 to right ground, and J-9 to right power (Figure G)." The print version had power and ground reversed for pins J-7 and J-9. Figure G is correct.

� MAKE: NOISE — Discuss this article

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Comments & Questions
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Dale,

Thanks for the great article. It was instructive, thoughtful and thought provoking. My curiosity was peaked while reading your primer and I have a few questions before I try out this "new to me" hobby.

First, I was reading Charles Platt's article on a salt lamp ("A Trippy Crystal Nightlight") and figured that it could be done in Arduino. The project includes 3 LED's (RGB) and varies the intensities to create a wide range of colors. My question is: can Arduino drive 3 LED's simultaneously at differing intensities? If so, do I understand correctly that they must come off D3, D5, D6, D9, D10 or D11, because of the PWM requirement?

My second question has to do with programming. I know there are a few sample sketches, but where do people share their programs. I do not have the ability to program a sketch that would systematically or randomly display every possible color. I would assume, however, that this code has been written before and would be a good way for me to learn some programming.

Thanks for your response.
Posted by jyossarian on January 26, 2011 at 06:44:09 Pacific Time

Arduino Primer
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Dale:

Your article was great.

I was wondering if you have ever used the FTDI basic board from sparkfun as the USB adapter for a breadboard arduino. I have not been able to use the FTDI to connect to the breadboard circuit. I get a not in sync error even though I have installed drivers and do see the com port in the ide. I have seen other postings with this problem with the FTDI board with either the ardweeny or breadboarded arduino circuits. Any ideas? Do I need to buy another USB-TTL adapter? Thanks so much.
Posted by BotChip on February 15, 2011 at 10:45:51 Pacific Time

ordering from dale's website
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kudos to dale and his shop. first off, let me say, im not the guy that goes around praising everyone, but ill make a rare exception here.

i ordered this kit off his website, went to paypal to send payment, and as soon as i hit send, the door bell rang, and it was there, in pa, from tx, in less than 5 sec.

ok, it wasnt THAT fast, but it sure felt like it. great service!!
Posted by deth502 on November 09, 2011 at 16:00:36 Pacific Time

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