Are shields interchangeable between Arduino models ?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi,

Daft question I'm sure, but are shields interchangeable between the different Arduino models ? I've just bought an Uno and need a motor shield. There are loads on ebay, but most of them say "Compatible with Arduino Mega, Diecimila & Duemilanove" but don't mention the Uno.

Many thanks !

2

There are loads on ebay, but most of them say "Compatible with Arduino Mega, Diecimila & Duemilanove" but don't mention the Uno.

Compare your Uno's pin layout and power capabilities to those of the Duemilanove. Since the Duemilanove and the Uno use the same ATMega328 chip, they will be identical.

No, shields are not always interchangeable. A shield that needs 5V input from the Arduino will not work with the DUE that supplies 3.3V, but that would be a relatively rare occurrence. Not all Arduinos support the use of shields, so they are not going to be on the interchangeable list.

Motor shields should, in general, be interchangeable, though.

3

Thanks very much for the info.

4

most UNO compatible shields will work on the MEGA as well, but sometimes you might need to "bridge" the serial RX & TX to the MEGA's hardware serial ports.