bperrybap:
In post #36 I suggested putting a series resistor on each of the wires that connects to the Arduino input pins.
What that means is a series resistor goes between each Arduino input pin and the wire it connects to on the cable.
It does not mean putting a series resistor on 5V before it feeds/connects to other things.
The only thing my +5V goes to is the wires that connect to the arduino input pins. I suppose using resistors after the circuit is split in parallel as opposed to using a resistor before the circuit is split in parallel will send different amounts of amperage to the pins in each case.
bperrybap:
The trial and error methodology can be used as a method to learn things, but as you have seen it can also be time consuming and expensive.
And in some cases it shouldn't be done do to potential dangers.
I find it much more efficient and cost effective in the long run to spend a few hours or even days studying and learning how things actually work, prior to experimenting. It can also help avoid the crash and burn type of events you experienced.IMO, one of the biggest issues with the trial and error methodology is that that in many cases it doesn't help learn how things actually work, but rather pushes the experimenter to a solution based on the conclusion that their particular test environment appears to work. And I specifically point to the phrase "appears to work", since by the very nature of trial and error experimentation, there is often not enough understanding of the test environment by the experimenter to evaluate if the test environment truly works or is just appearing to work temporarily.
All that said, it can still be lots of fun.
Just be prepared to blow things up, if you are not going to spend the time up front to gain some knowledge about how things work before trying things with the Arduino.--- bill
I agree, the same can also be said from just reading though. If you never put into practice what you've read, you're going to forget it or not explore it to its full potential. Taking it into practice provokes thought and interest and makes the individual question what they're doing. Not to mention things read in theory may behave differently in practice due to some external factor. You didn't tinker when you first learned arduino?
Either way, as I've said, I am online trying to figure this all out.
Appreciate the ideas. I think I have some idea of what you're saying I, need to gather a better understanding of the terminology and how the arduino pins behave in these different "states."