This one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whaleforset/3197918087/
Do you guys know what parts this uses, how to build it, how to power it, and how to download code to it? (Basically use it)
I'm fascinated at how it can exist on such a small breadboard.
Would I be able to use an ATMEGA328 rather than an ATMEGA8?
Thanks!
Oh yes, that is really neat, here's how thats made:
Resistor: 10k (connects reset pin to +5V)
Capacitors: Both 22pf (needed for the oscillator)
Oscillator: 16mHz (the silver UFO lookin thing on the right)
Microcontroller: ATMega328 is pin-compatible with ATMega8, so you can swap them right out!
To download code to it, you need more circuitry and an external programmer (called an ISP). But you're in luck, you can actually use another Arduino to this, here's how: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-program-a-AVR-arduino-with-another-arduin/
To power this board, you need to feed it a regulated +5V (maybe less, but I forget how low) at both of the red VCC pins. You should use a regulated power supply, something like this: Wall Adapter Power Supply - 5VDC, 2A (Barrel Jack) - TOL-15312 - SparkFun Electronics
I agree the Arduino is quite remarkable in that you don't need most of the components that come on the standard board - most of it is there to support the USB communications and regulating an external power supply.
You could also get an FTDI Basic and program & run it from USB port.
Connect its leads to +5, Gnd, Rx, Tx
Add a Reset Switch from pin 1 to Gnd, press reset when the IDE says "loading xxx bytes of xxxx" or something like that.
Or, add a 100nF cap between the FTDI DTR and pin 1, let the IDE take care of creating the Reset.
Couldn't you take out the oscillator and the capacitors by using the LilyPad bootloader to use the 328's own internal clock? How would I do this?
Also, I'm still confused as to which pins to connect to what to power it.
That's a wonderful variant, I like it a lot!
You could definitely swap to the internal oscillator, you just need to change the fuses to do so.
Downside: To change the fuses you need an ISP programmer of some sort (ArduinoISP works fine if you have another arduino setup).
Take a look at this schematic
http://webzone.k3.mah.se/k3dacu/arduino/releases/serial_v2/arduino_rs232_v2.png
You've got the right side wired up on your board, less the connectors.
You can buy the bare board that goes with that schematic at mouser.com
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Arduino/A000006/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMs0PWRNvpRp0ARF1Zt0Kmpi
and get all the components to finish it a www.dipmicro.com very inexpensively.
I have to agree, that is a neat variant - it would be very easy to transfer to a perfboard layout, too. I don't have anything else to add others haven't already, though...
It's pretty, but:
(there's room to add those...)
Yeah, but we're not gonna let little things like that get in the way 8)
Hmm - I just noticed something else - that breadboard doesn't have a "canyon", rather just a blank strip - never saw one like that before...
What's that "canyon" in there for, anyway? I wouldn't have thought it mattered.
Chicken325:
What's that "canyon" in there for, anyway? I wouldn't have thought it mattered.
Likely "less plastic" meaning lower cost, higher profit for the manufacturer. I suppose you could route a few wires underneath a chip or two if you wanted, but I've never seen this done...