Electronics Class – Day 2

This is a support page for day 2 of an 8-session class is a basic introduction to both electronics and programming the Arduino microprocessor.  The intent is to prepare the student for what is currently popular in the maker world, rather than an electronics or engineering degree, and includes some things of interest to amateur radio enthusiasts.

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8

Day 2: The Arduino, the Arduino IDE, making a light blink
Goals:
    • Explain what an Arduino is
    • Understand how an Arduino program (sketch) is structured
    • Upload a program to a microcontroller
    • Use a microcontroller to blink an LED
Vocabulary:
    • IDE
    • C++
    • Microcontroller
    • Arduino
Arduino Tips:
    • If the board’s lights go out—REMOVE THE POWER IMMEDIATELY
    • Check your COM port. If it fails:
      • Unplug Arduino
      • Look to see which COM ports exist
      • Plug it in and note which new one appeared. THAT’S the one you want.
    • Test circuit BEFORE trying code
    • Build projects in pieces and test each step
    • If code fails, look for errors in orange in the bottom box
Blink LED schematic diagram, wiring and code

Schematic:

Build:

Code:

Blink.ino

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void setup() {
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(12, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
}

void loop() {
}

 

Blink x Number of Times

Same wiring as above, but with this code:

Blink-x-times.ino

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void setup() {
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  for (int i=1; i<5; i+1) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) 
    delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW 
    delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  }
}

void loop() {
}

 

Blink Forever

Same wiring as above, but with this code:

Blink-forever.ino

Copied!
void setup() {
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(12, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
}

 

Blink 2 LEDs

Schematic:

Build

Code:

Blink2.ino

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void setup() {
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(12, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  digitalWrite(11, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW 
  delay(1000);             // wait for a second 
}

 

Homework:

 

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