I am coming up on doing some testing of my system and it requires me to travel outdoors (I am making a BBQ temperature logger/controller). Right now, I have a lot of pieces in my system, including: Arduino, WiFi Shield, Blower (and controller), sd card break out, time clock break out, 4 voltage dividers (going to thermistors), and an LCD (I am also going to be adding buttons, but that is down the line). So I have 4 female "stereo" type jacks for the thermistors and then another for my power supply for the blower, plus I need power for the Arduino as well (do I really need to plug in two different adapters for this? My fan is 12V and .27 amps).
What is the best way to keep everything together when testing, and more importantly once I am finished, to put it into an end product? With testing, it is most important to just make sure I can easily move it around without things falling apart.
I sometimes use large plastic food or clothing containers to bring experimental prototypes outside. The ones I use are about 16" square and about 4" deep with a snap on lid. I usually try not to cut holes in them, but will if I have to. A picture of your set-up might help.
Browse you local Office Max/Staples for "Really Useful Boxes", come in lots of sizes, easy to work material for installing connectors, etc.
Use a Unibit/Step Drill for making holes.
Arduino can be powered from 12V. Regulator may get warm.
I am more of a programmer than electrical engineer.. Can you lead me in the right direction for how to split the single power source to two things? The Arduino and the blower?
No, the 12V needs to go into the barrel jack, or into Vin & Gnd on the power header, so the onboard regulator can bring it down to 5V for use on the board.
that is easy! Thanks!