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Do you need to buy additional boards with ARDUINO?

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  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 158 posts
Do you need to buy additional boards with ARDUINO?
Posted by wolfman hal on Thursday, July 23, 2020 7:54 AM

OK You guys sold me on another tread. I am heading to Amazon to buy it.  I am going to purchase a starter set which looks to be good for me to start.  Am I correct to think I will be able to do several of my projects for the railroad from the same board? Do you need to buy additional boards for each project? How hard is it to learn the coding?

Stay Safe

Harold

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, July 23, 2020 8:16 AM

It depends on what you use it for.  The Arduino UNO has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs.

The starter kit I bought a number of years ago came with Getting Started with Arduino 3rd Edition and it was/is very helpful.



Edit:

I programmed several UNOs for a total of 20 outputs to drive 20 bulbs randomly on and off for structure lighting

Edit 2:

The Arduino outputs are limited to a max of 20ma, enough for a couple of LEDs at 10ma each per port.  For higher currents you will need a driver.


Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

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Posted by speedybee on Thursday, July 23, 2020 8:35 AM

I started with the official Arduino/Genuino starter kit that includes an Uno, a breadboard, various components (resistors, LEDs, transistors etc), and instructions. Such a kit is a good way to begin.

However I suggest you don't buy any additional boards yet, especially not Unos. A single Uno is a great learning tool, but not the optimal choice for actually building projects, because it is physically bigger and more expensive than other boards. Get the hang of using the Uno to do various things on a breadboard. Then when it's time to acutally implement a project you can use a cheaper and more compact device like a Pro Mini ($10 for an authentic one, $3 for a knockoff). Keep the Uno for experimenting.

  • Member since
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, July 23, 2020 8:46 AM

I agree with speedybee.  I have several smaller NANOs as well as the biggie, MEGA.

This is a NANO with a Blue Tooth wireless module for panning the camera.

 

The NANO expansion board on top of the NANO is Mel made from perf board.


Mel



 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

  • Member since
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  • From: lavale, md
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Posted by gregc on Thursday, July 23, 2020 9:06 AM

wolfman hal
Do you need to buy additional boards for each project?

 

 

wolfman hal
How hard is it to learn the coding?

see Arduino Programming Questions forum.    i'm always surprised that people think learning to write code isn't hard.   then i see the problems people post on the forum that are fairly basic

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
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Posted by nycmodel on Thursday, July 30, 2020 3:06 PM

Learning to code (in the case of the Arduino, C++) can be a challange for someone who has never learned programming. If you have a logical mind it is not impossible. A good book on Arduino programming is essential. Once you know one programming language it is fairly easy to learn another. The syntax can be the hardest as old habits die hard. Don't get frustrated. My first day with C++ resulted in some colorful langauge. All my fault, of course. Have fun.

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Posted by gregc on Thursday, July 30, 2020 3:34 PM

nycmodel
A good book on Arduino programming is essential.

many of us learned C from the inventors (ritchie), K&R.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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