Embedded Files
09-04-16 (Arduino components):
Today we were introduced to the Sparkfun RedBoard. We learned where the power was and where the analog and digital pins were. Analog is where there is a range whereas digital is either it is or it isn’t. We found where it would tell us whether it was on or off, which if it is on, a green light will turn on at the bottom right. If you know your Arduino is getting power, you can start to figure out how to communicate with it. You can input up to 15 volts, but 9 volts of power is recommended. The simplest task we completed was blinking the LED. The other part of electronics we learned about was the breadboard. The two rows on the outsides (called rails) run up and down while the rows “a-l” run horizontally. Power goes from high to low. We use red wires for the positive side and black/green for the ground.
09-05-16 (setting up Arduino as a battery to an LED):
- Get two jumper wires of two different colors, a 330k resistor, an LED, a cable, and a battery.
- The red wires go from the 5v pin to the positive rail and another from the positive rail to anywhere in the f-j columns.
- Put the LED with the positive leg (long) where it is in the same number row because it will force the power through the LED
- Note: if you put both legs in the same number row, then the power will not be forced through the LED. Power will go through the path of least resistance.
- Put the resistor in the same number row either before or after the LED (doesn’t matter which)
- The resistor is not polarized like the LED
- Take one of the black wires and stick one end in the same row as the end of the resistor (or LED) and the other end in the ground rail.
- The other black wire should have one end in the ground rail and the other end in the ground pin on the Arduino.
- Connect the battery to the cable and the cable to the power input on the Arduino.
- If it does not work, look below for troubleshooting steps.
09-06-16:
Today we did an experiment with a 9 volt battery that was connected to a positive wire and a ground wire. We then put the tips of each of the wires on our tongue and we tasted electricity. Our body is a conductor, so our tongue completed the circuit. The closer we put the tips of the wire together on our tongue, the more powerful the shock was. This was a demonstration of a simple circuit. We were warned not to do it with a higher volt battery because too much power going through our body could electrify us.
09-07-16 (trouble shooting steps):
- Is my Arduino powered? If it is, the green light will turn on. If it doesn't, it isn't getting any power.
- Check the connection to the battery
- Check the battery
- Could you be shorting your Arduino? (Right from hot to ground or not a complete circuit)
- Check the jumper cables. Is something hooked up to the power and something hooked up to the ground?
- Make sure everything is secured
- Is it going from high to low?
- Check polarity of parts that are polarized
We also did an activity where we partnered up and one partner would leave the room while the other sabotaged their Arduino. The partner then had to trouble shoot and fix what the partner did. For example, my partner put the ground into the positive rail so the circuit was not complete. When I plugged in the battery, my power didn't turn on, so I knew she changed the battery or she broke the circuit. I assumed she didn't search for a bad battery, so I first looked for the jumper wires from the 5v pin, and then the jumpers to the ground and that's where I found my problem.
Programming notes:
Tools ~ board ~ Arduino Uno
Tools ~ serial port ~ USB
*Serial Port is never “Bluetooth”*
Compile then upload to make sure there are no errors
Semi colon needed to be able to go to the next line
Sensors- input- Motors, output- lights
Report abuse