Learning arduino stuff?

[julianf]

Id like to do some arduino stuff, but dont really know where to start.

Mostly, i guess, im unsure what dev board to get.

As i understand it, buying a "more comprehensive" dev board, and then scaling back for the final build would not be problematic, but im not even certain about that?


I would need a handful of analogue pins, and a selection of digital ones. I dont need loads and loads, and it would (with my limited knowledge) seem simpler just to get a more comprehensive processor than to have to multiplex etc.

...but, really, im just at the start of things.


Could anyone give me any pointers to dev boards etc that are current?

Thank you.

 

[Misterg]

Are you expecting WiFi and bluetooth? Need a small form factor?

If no to all, you may as well go with an Arduino Uno R3 to cut your teeth.

Simple, robust, cheap* and very, very well supported.

*Especially clones, but purchase from an established seller with good feedback - about £2 on Aliexpress / £5 on ebay or Amazon.

Once you're into it, you'll be better placed to see what boards people are using for the sort of projects you gravitate to.

I do like the ESP32 (that has wifi, etc.), but interfacing it isn't as straightforward as the Uno that has robust, 5V logic inputs.

 

[Dapph2]

This could be a very interesting and rewarding thread ..
I'd love to see & follow such a thread , as I know nothing about their uses but have several friends who have dozens doing things in their homes .

 

[julianf]

Are you expecting WiFi and bluetooth? Need a small form factor?

If no to all, you may as well go with an Arduino Uno R3 to cut your teeth.

Simple, robust, cheap* and very, very well supported.

*Especially clones, but purchase from an established seller with good feedback - about £2 on Aliexpress / £5 on ebay or Amazon.

Once you're into it, you'll be better placed to see what boards people are using for the sort of projects you gravitate to.

I do like the ESP32 (that has wifi, etc.), but interfacing it isn't as straightforward as the Uno that has robust, 5V logic inputs.

Nope, no wifi needed. Or BT.

I really am at the bottom of the curve with learning - could i trouble you for an ali / ebay or amazon link, just to be sure what i should be matching?

I did just look on ali, but, as always there, theres multi-option pages with options that, the cynic in me, thinks are deliberately deceiving!

Uk is fine also - i mean the difference of £2 or £5 is neither here nor there on a 1-off purchase, so long as i get the correct item.

Thank you.

 

[Misterg]

Basic board from a seller that I've used before on Amazon (£9.99):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AZDelivery-UNO-R3-comatible-Arduino/dp/B01MDJA464?th=1

Similar from random seller on ebay:

Pardon our interruption...

I won't put an Aliexpress link on, but there are dozens of sellers - just pick one and keep your fingers crossed! I'd avoid it for your first board, just because of the very slim chance that you end up with a quirky one that stumps your progress.

If you don't already have a selection of electronic bits and bobs, there's quite a nice looking starter kit that includes the Arduino Uno, a breadboard and a selection of LEDs, switches and resistors on Amazon that looks handy (currently £19.99):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DGD2GAO?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc

The above comes with their own tutorials (I don't know how good they are, but Elegoo are usually competent).

In any case, the tutorials on the arduino site are very good.

https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/uno-rev3/Blink/

You may want to wait for other opinions before committing, this is just my take on it.

 

[6ply]

I don't have much recent experience with Arduino boards, but I have used the Arduino nano (recommended if you want to plug straight into a breadboard) and Arduino Uno with the DIL Atmega328p microcontroller. If you get the latter, you can place the programmed microcontroller in your own circuit with the addition of a few cheap components.

 

[droopsnoot]

I bought one a few years ago (so no help in advising what current products you should buy, and I actually don't remember what I bought) so I could have a play. As always, I got on better once I'd thought of something to make rather than just experimenting.

 

[6ply]

Take a look on AliExpress. Dirt cheap options out there. If you don't have a soldering iron, make sure you choose one with the header pins soldered in place.

1-10pcs Type-C USB Nano 3.0 With the bootloader compatible Nano controller for arduino CH340 USB driver 16Mhz ATMEGA328PB - AliExpress 502

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

 

[Robert Weaver]

you'll need both hardware to programme and develop into your project, and a computer running a compatible integrated development environment (IDE). don't know about mac, but windows and android have Arduino ide software which connect directly to the hardware. I've being using nano compatible (clone) boards for years. used to control stepper motors, addressable LEDs and sound (playing music via an MP3 board), and now sending text messages with the local temperature.

the scale of your projects will drive how much it you'll need. whether it's just discrete components (resistor, capacitors, transistors, MOSFETs, LEDs, etc) or pre-made boards (realtime clock, hall sensor, sms, switch, current, humidity, etc).

basics are breadboard, jumper wire, 5v header board, computer and software.

I've only used nano. older one is atmega328p CPU. 6 analogue, 12 digital, 5v, 16 MHz. decent all-rounder.
am now using nano every. ATmega4809 CPU is faster and more flexible gpio. I've realised though, that the libraries h for the old nano aren't always compatible with the every, so some programmes (sketches) won't work. so the new isn't backwards compatible.

digital in, out and analogue in is simple. analogue out is 5v pwm, so not true analogue.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I tend to cheat and use ai to write the code, it’s pretty good if you tell it what you need it to do etc

 

[Dev]

Esp32 boards do everything an arduino can but are cheaper and smaller. I mean _really_ cheap. Yes they also do wifi and bt but you don’t have to use it. Some also have extra sensors like PIRs or cameras.

Personally I find esphome more fun than either the arduino IDE or Platformio.

 

[Robert Weaver]

I've got more component than I need, so if you want a bunch of bits to get going, let me know.

I too use ai to remind me the syntax needed.

 

[jimbo84]

I asked the mrs to get me an elegoo uno R3 starter kit a few years ago, did one or two of the examples and then didn’t really get anywhere with it and it sat in the drawer. I’ve recently got back into it and enjoying messing around with it.

After writing some code I got a pro mini board (tiny) to make some traffic lights. Tried to program it via the uno but realised I’d connected it up wrong think I’ve fried the chip because the IDE doesn’t recognise it’s there. I’ve got another on the way to see if that works.

I’ve got the arduino IDE on a mac laptop and a windows and a linux laptop. The IDE and linux really don’t get on well with each other. Fine on mac and windows.

I’d recommend getting the UNO starter kit initially and work through some of the examples. When you get a feel for it you’ll want to build some other stuff and can then get a board suitable to what you need. The beauty of it is everything to do with them is cheap as chips.

 

[jimbo84]

I tend to cheat and use ai to write the code, it’s pretty good if you tell it what you need it to do etc

I was struggling to write some code. I’d turned to the arduino forum, some were helpful but I was struggling to get the info I needed. I turned to chatGPT for some help and learned more in 20 minutes on that than I had in a few hours on the forum and google.

It isn’t foolproof though, it altered the sequence so two lots of green lights were on at the same time (traffic lights). Had to manually correct some of the code but it is amazing at what it can do, a very powerful tool.

 

[skotl]

Per the other folks, I'd strongly recommend starting woth ESP32 / ESP8266 (although there's little reason for going with the older, slower 8266 nowadays).

They tend to be a lot more modern and are easy to interface with. Tons of videos on Youtube as, well.

I have a bunch of them as door sensors, light and battery sensors. Some talk MQTT to Home Assistant.
My latest project is an ESP32C board that talks HID Bluetooth to send keyboard commands to my PC to control the microphone and camera in Teams calls.

 

[Olderisbetter]

I used to tinker with electronics when I was 12 to 20 years of age many years ago and have recently started to fet beck into it and combine esp32 projects so arduino will be of interest to me, thanks for starting this thread