Hello, I am quite new to Arduino and I am attempting to build a laser harp from RadioShack. http://www.radioshack.com/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/Laser_Harp_Online_Instructions.pdf I am stuck at the calibration process. The potentiometer works, but I can't seem to figure out why the photoresistors will not emit a tone to the speaker as said in the instruction manual. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance.
I assume you know that photoresistors don't emit a tone?
When the light level changes, you get a resistance change (and a voltage change when wired correctly). If you don't have a multimeter, I strongly recommend you get one. (Radio Shack has one for $15 USD, and Jameco offers several under $15.) You can test the input-hardware by measuring the voltage (and voltage change) going into the Arduino.
Troubleshooting involves testing the various "components" separately (and sometimes replacing suspect parts/components to see if that fixes the problem).
Typically, you design & build something the same way... You can make something that makes a tone purely with software. Then add more tones. Then make something that makes a tone when you push a switch/button. Then add more inputs/buttons and associate them with different tones. Then build the laser part and replace the switches with photoresistors or phototransistors. That's just an example... You don't have to do it in that order, but the concept is to develop, test, and troubleshoot one thing at a time. (Beginning programmers get into all kinds of trouble by trying to write the whole program at once.)
I know you didn't write the sketch yourself, but you may need to modify the sketch to make tones with software-only to make sure the "tone" part of the design is working. If that works, the output-hardware is working.
Aha, yes, I didn't exactly word that correctly; my apologies. Anyway, how should I modify the code? I am also wondering if instead of just putting the RadioShack DIY code/sketch into the Arduino application, I should also place the Tone folder in it as well. Thanks.