Hi. I'm wondering if i can connect two NRF24L01 modules to only one arduino. Is 5v supply source from arduino will be enough to provide appropriate current to two NRF24L01 connected in parallel circuit. Also need to mention that I'm using 3.3 volts regulator for each NRF24L01
Welcome to the forum
The Arduino is not designed to be a power supply.
Many problems with NRF24 projects reported on this forum are dues to power supply problems. The Arduino can only power one of the modules and it can barely even do that so the chances of two being able to be powered successfully is small in my opinion
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Use an external supply for the NRF24 devices, powering them from the Arduino is asking for a lot of buggy problems. Here are some simple guidelines:
Gil's Crispy Critter Rules, they apply to processor hardware:
Rule #1. A Power Supply the Arduino is NOT!
Rule #2. Never Connect Anything Inductive to an Arduino!
Rule #3 Don't connecting or disconnecting wires with power on.
Rule #4 Do not apply power to any pin unless you know what you are doing.
LaryD's Corollary's
Coro #1 when first starting out, add a 220R resistor in series with both Input and Output pins.
Coro #2 buy a DMM (Digital Multi-meter) to measure voltages, currents and resistance.
Violating these rules tends to make crispy critters out of Arduinos.
Hint: It is best to keep the wires under 25cm/10" for good performance.
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Not sure why you would want to connecvt two NRF24L01's to the same arduino. Even if you can figure out how to power them both I would doubt that you will be able to get them to "talk". I have three NRF's talking to each other through 3 Nano's - one outside and two inside. While I was trouble shooting them to get them working (I had all manner of problems getting the code, wiring, decoupling etc sorted before they would talk at all), I had to separate the three units by at least 2 metres to do the checking. Awkward because I ended up having them connected to three separate computers so I could see the serial output. But even now they all run perfectly if I put two of them together closer than a couple of metres they all effectively stop communicating.
And in my opinion, the power output from an Arduino (Nano anyway) is good enought to get nRF's working well. I am using a 5v power supply to power my Nano's through the 5V pin (I know some people don't recommend that) and power the nRF's off the same input not through a Nano pin. In my case I am using the nRF socket board with the nRF's plugged into them. The socket boards are poered using 5V - they have their own regulator. While I was trying to get the nRF's running I was powering them through the Nano and I think that was part of the reason why I spent weeks trying to get them going. Too many moving parts and was best to eliminate doubt about the adeqacy of the power supply.
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OK, so why two NRF24L01 connected to the same Arduino ?
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You say
then you describe your circuit that does not power the modules from the Nano at all
Furthermore you then say that you are using an RF24 "motherboard" that has its own 3.3V regulator on board and, no doubt, a capacitor across the power output pins
Where many user come unstuck is to power the Arduino from the USB socket then to use the Arduino 3.3V output to power the radio module directly
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I guess that's the point I was trying to make:
in my opinion, the power output from an Arduino (Nano anyway) is good enought to get nRF's working well ---- so my circuit powers the arduino through the USB connected to 5v power and its ground, and separately from the same 5v power supply feeds to the nRF breakout board, servo's etc. So, one 5 volt power supply powering the arduino and separately the 5v periperals including the nRF. The eath however is common.
And the second part - yep ypu got that right - the 5v power supply goes directly to the nRF breakout board - I have attached a picure of one of those. I think you can see that it has its own power refulator to cut the 5v input down to 3.3v to power the nRF.
And we agree on the last point - but perhaps I did not descibe very well how I am avoiding that.
Thanks
Wrong picture
Right one follows:
Awesome set of rules. Thanks for sharing it. Btw, who are LaryD and Gil?
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