Can you use a FTDI breadboard module to program an arduino nano. i have mine connected copying this diagram. (i know that the one in the diagram is a pro mini). Any help is appreciated.
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/sparkfun-usb-to-serial-uart-boards-hookup-guide?_ga=1.195530988.173287115.1463523814
I think the Arduino Nano has an FTDI chip built in on the bottom of the board. And so yes you could attach an external one also...
Is there a reason you don't use the one on the board?
Z
yes i am making a weather station and the nano itself is deep in side and inaccessible without taking the whole thing apart, but i do have an access port on the side that i can hide the ftdi behind and get it out when i need to. what pins would i use is the diagram correct?
MR-Turtle:
yes i am making a weather station and the nano itself is deep in side and inaccessible without taking the whole thing apart, but i do have an access port on the side that i can hide the ftdi behind and get it out when i need to. what pins would i use is the diagram correct?
you can have a second serial port connected 
and both will do exactly the same.
so here's the schematic
[File Not Found](http://"File Not Found Nano-Rev3.2-SCH.pdf")
Heres the physical Pinout:
In the schematic we can see the USP Chip is a separate item to the right see the wires labeled: RX, TX , RESET
Nano RX is connected to the FTDI TX pin
Nano TX is connected to the FTDI RX pin
Power and Ground are connected up as expected
Now Look closely at the Nano Reset Pin it ties to a 100nf (.1uf) capacitor before it connects to DTR on the FTDI chip. you will need to provide one(if you don't have this size capacitor a larger capacitor will work). This is necessary to properly trigger a reset of the Nano before programming.
If you just want to see output and don't wish to program through this chip do not connect the reset it is only needed when programming.
Z
ok i got it almost working i added an led to the reset pin so i can see and it looks like when i upload a sketch the reset pin goes low but does not go high again so the boot loader cant start. I get this error message.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x63
avrdude: ser_drain(): read error: Access is denied.
i do have the 100nf capacitor.
MR-Turtle:
ok i got it almost working i added an led to the reset pin so i can see and it looks like when i upload a sketch the reset pin goes low but does not go high again so the boot loader cant start. I get this error message.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x63
avrdude: ser_drain(): read error: Access is denied.i do have the 100nf capacitor.
place the capacitor inline with the reset and the dtr so one side connects to the dtr and the other connects to the reset. when the dtr changes state the reset pin will temporarily change too until it discharges through the resistor.
MR-Turtle:
You mean like this picture
Yes. This will trigger the reset and the resister on the reset pin on the nano will restore the non reset state shortly after allowing for serial programming to be enabled.
i put the capacitor on as shown and it is still not triggering a reset. i think the problem is that the reset pin on the nano is staying high even when the dtr is low and i don't know how to fix that.
MR-Turtle:
i put the capacitor on as shown and it is still not triggering a reset. i think the problem is that the reset pin on the nano is staying high even when the dtr is low and i don't know how to fix that.
Larger capacitor would pull the reset pin down longer. it doesn't take much time to trigger a rest. Try up to 100uf I can't imagine needing a larger capacitor. Capacitor size need is related to the pull up resistor tired to the reset pin
I am already using a 100uf capacator.
MR-Turtle:
I am already using a 100uf capacator.
I'm needing more information. A schematic of the ftdi connections to your nano would help. Is there anything else connected to the serial RX TX pins.
You can add a cheap ($2) BLE module to the nano and upload sketches to the nano via bluetooth. Best way to debug/change code in enclosed projects.
MR-Turtle:
Here is the connections(the picture attachment) there is nothing else in the TX or RX lines.
Your connections look good.
So here's another test, can you connect your nano's USB and connect your FTDI connector to a different port. Like Com3 and Com4 now you can open 2 com ports and type between the two .
another way would be to just see if you can get output from the nano sent through the FTDI module.
I am not seeing anything wrong with the wiring.
Z