Hello! I am new to the forum. I want to connect an Arduino with a breadboard. I have not purchased any components yet. So, what I want is the easiest connection currently available.
If it is more expensive, that is fine. I know that the Arduino and breadboard can be connected with a series of wires, for example. But, I have seen other options. Here is what I have seen, along with related questions I have:
Arduino Nano - It sounds like I could plug the Nano into the breadboard, and connect that to one of the mainline Arduino boards (Uno, Due). Would I be doing this with a miniUSB to a USB on the main Arduino? And, would I then get both power and communication via the miniUSB/USB connection?
SparkFun FT232 breakout board - I looks to me to have a similar idea to the Nano: Have a chip-equipped board that connects to the breadboard and has a miniUSB connector.
Boarduino (Arduino compatible) Kit (w/ATmega328) - There is a DC-jack and USB version. These are kits, so I would have to build it. I have done a little sautering. It would be worth the effort if this was the best of these three to use. Again, the question would be: is the connectivity with the Ardunio good, and making sure this receives the power it needs.
I really appreciate the input! I have lots of questions about what to do after everything is connected. But, I need to connect the Ardunio and the breadboard first!
Typically you start with an Uno, (which has everything one one board) and connect it to a breadboard with male to male jumper wires. There are generally two sorts available, a set of 65 with varying lengths which is also useful for connecting components together on the board.
You can also buy 40 way "DuPont" ribbon cable with either male to male, male to female or female to female.
You can plug a nano directly into a board, some come with pins soldered some don't. Like the Uno, it has a USB port and connects directly to a computer.
A third option is a pro mini, useful for embedding in projects, which requires a USB to serial converter like either the FTDI or CH340 boards that are commonly available.
I use [u]these headers[/u] which can be cut down to the required number of pins, or the pins can be used individually.
I solder a wire to it and then heatshrink over the solder joint. Solid wire can be directly plugged into the breadboard. Soldering in-line like that to the top of the pin is not a "proper" solder connection, but it works and I've used that method for "permanent" projects.
A breakout board is a better design. You can get a bare prototyping shield board like [u]this[/u], then you can solder wires or connectors of your choice to the board.
I do have a lot of questions. I have done a fair amount of research, but I haven't really found what I've needed so far. So, thanks for all of your help and advice!
The Nano sounds like a good option. So, with the Arduino Nano, it sounds like it's a full-blooded Arduino. Is that correct? And, I just plug it into the breadboard and then into my PC, for instance?
I would like to make it as straight-forward a process as possible, just plug the miniUSB into the Nano, then plug the USB into the PC. Once that is done, what kind of software do I use to access the Nano? I would want to program the Nano to run the breadboard so I could do things like reading sensors, running a small screen, etc.
millerfilm:
The Nano sounds like a good option. So, with the Arduino Nano, it sounds like it's a full-blooded Arduino. Is that correct? And, I just plug it into the breadboard and then into my PC, for instance?
Absolutely!
Essentially the only value of the UNO is the ability to mount shields. For breadboarding, the Nano is vastly superior. I rather like Pro Minis (and haven't managed to get Pro Micros to work yet - fussy devices, those).
Actually, the UNO has a sort of "on-board Leonardo" with the 16U2 which can be made to perform tricks of its own, but that is a rather sophisticated matter.
The Nano is perfectly usable as "Arduino as ISP" also.