new to arduino and looking for a simple project for a beginner

Projects General Guidance
1

been seeing some pretty cool things with this stuff and i was wondering what would be a good beginner project to work on?

2

That depends upon your current level of expertise. If you're a complete beginner with electronics and programming, then it might be best to start with very simple projects, and build your knowledge as you progress to more complex things.

Take a look at the Complete Beginners Guide to the Arduino (PDF, large file) and see what you think.

3

I am a newbie and I would recommend not starting with a project but running through the exercises that you get in a typical starter kit (there are exercises on-line so you can either buy a kit or just the components) e.g. ;

  • Blink LED
  • Multiple LEDs
  • Transistor and Motor
  • A servo
  • Shift Register
  • Piezo elements
  • Pushbuttons
  • Potentiometers
  • Photo resistors
  • Temperature
  • Relays

You will then have acquired a wide range of basic knowledge that you can apply to a specific project. It is also worth following the forums as you will learn a lot of tips and it is worth trying to answer questions yourself.

4

use the examples,
you will soon figure out what you want it to do.
you just have to get your head around the structure:
the blink LED Example - i have and led built in on my board im not sure about the other boards, Adruino build a few different ones.

You start of declaring any variables, in this case there isnt any but it could be
int MyInput=0; for example - its just a file in a filing cabinet it has a type int (integer) a positive whole number, it has been given a 0 value (its empty and ready to use)
therefore you could use it to stare a value you wanted to use somewhere else.
Read up about variables and constants.

Void setup() {
You configure hardware you want to use here etc
}
always start and ends with curly brackets
void loop() {
this is the main part of your program, everything in here loops as it suggests
always start and ends with curly brackets
}

The code below is in the examples in the IDE (developer environment)
i take it you have downloaded it already
just select the file menu - examples then your off

if you plan on connecting hardware ie leds and switches to your board be careful with your wiring, dont forget leds need an inline current limiting load resistor.

have fun
J.

/*
Blink
Turns on an LED on for one second, then off for one second, repeatedly.

This example code is in the public domain.
*/

void setup() {
// initialize the digital pin as an output.
// Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards:
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // set the LED on
delay(1000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(13, LOW); // set the LED off
delay(1000); // wait for a second
}