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[on:]

I was wondering about the feasibility of putting some sort of on/off switch on my arduino. I don't really want to irreversibly modify it (ie cutting the traces), so I was wondering about having a non-momentary switch for the reset button.

How much power does the atmega328 draw when it's being reset?

Does the arduino let shields/components plugged into it draw power while it's being reset?

Is this safe/good for the arduino?


For the USB port, I am looking to modify the big, bulky USB B connector to a USB B mini or a USB B micro connector. Would that be possible?

[Reply #1 on:]

A WizenedEE should have no trouble reading the documentation for an arduino and desoldering the 6 pins that hold the large USB socket and the 4 pins holding the reset switch, to replace them with wires going off board to whatever sockey & switch were desired. Or in browsing the ATMEGA328 data sheet to see what occurs while the chip is held in a constant reset state.

The schematics would also show the ATMega328 has no control over the 5V, it is just another user of it, as any shield also is.

[Reply #2 on:]

I'd rather have the USB port be onboard, as the power switch. The USB port would be rather hard to put in because of the special mounting holes needed; has anyone had any luck with doing this?

 Does anybody have any other suggestions for the power switch?

[Reply #3 on:]

Look into this, as a USB power switch: Locate F1 on the board, remove that, mount it on a switch that you then hotglue to the board, maybe on the bottom, or to the female headers, then make the connections back to the board.

For replacing the socket - I would  browse someplace like here
http://www.cypressindustries.com/products/usb.html
find the connector you want. Put some leads on a part, wire the leads to the holes in the arduino board, then epoxy down a piece of insulating material and mount the connector to the top of that, finishing up with ground wires to the 2 large holes.

Or save yourself a lot of hassle and get a seedstudio arduino
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/seeeduino-v22-atmega-328p-p-669.html