I am a knowledgeable electronics hobbyist and programmer and would like to know where to start with buying a Arduino and programming it for some simple home automation tasks. I am not new to microprocessors, but I have never implemented interfacing one to perform the tasks I want accomplished.
I need to know what version of Arduino to purchase (even if it is not recent), where to learn how to code, and anything else I might need to know about interfacing sensors. Thank you ever so much for your help.
Since you are old and experienced, the best place to learn about programming an Arduino is here, and the examples that come with the Arduino software - the IDE. There is a great swag of tutorials and notes orbiting this forum, and you can just pick what is interesting.
As for hardware, I would suggest a Mega. It is a plain-vanilla standard with adequate pins and memory. You might also consider ESP8266 devices like the Node-MCU, which uses the same language and have WiFi built in, and I imagine very suitable for home automation.
Hi,
DISCLAIMER: Mentioning stuff from my own shop...
Lots of good information here:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/HOME
A Home Automation example here:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/Arduino-Project-Home-Monitor-Control
Get your hands on hardware and get going! Many good kits; here is the one I make:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/YourDuinoEngStarter
You can use the how-to on that page with whatever Arduino you get. I like the easy-to-connect-to version shown there.
Ask good questions here and you'll get good answers.
Welcome...
I started with a kit and worked through the examples - my kit was from Sparkfun, but Terry's look quite nice also - - I need the structure of examples and the practice coding helped even though I had done C some times back - process control is different than other programming
You will need an Arduino (or clone) that uses an ATMEGA328P microcontroller. That's most of them. Once you have learned how to use it, you can select another chip more suited to your task, but using the "standard Arduino" will give you the largest selection of learning materials. For many, this means a Uno, and some sort of a starter kit. You should also have a beginner's book. Starter kits and books abound. Pick ones that appeal to you.
Download the latest Arduino IDE software: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software.
Attach the Arduino to your computer with a USB cable, run the software, go to the File > Examples menu and start exploring. When you have questions your own explorations do not answer, ask here.
oldelectronicsman:
I am a knowledgeable electronics hobbyist and programmer and would like to know where to start with buying a Arduino and programming it for some simple home automation tasks.
What type of home automation task are you thinking of as this will ultimately determine the Arduino model you use.
And another note.
While the UNO is the "standard" Arduino, unless you are going to pair it with one of the "shields" specifically designed to fit it - which I suggest is actually rather unlikely - you should get a Nano. Unlike the UNO, the Nano will fit into a standard solderless breadboard ("MB-102" is the large one) which makes it easier to work with, or without the header pins fitted, facilitates soldering connections directly to the PCB. For virtually all of the exercises you are likely to attempt, it is functionally equivalent to the UNO so the only difference is which board you specify in the IDE to program it. 
Now it it generally suggested that to give credit to the Arduino project, you at least initially purchase a genuine Arduino, if not directly from Arduino, then a genuine reseller. I am not sure exactly how Terry - above - is related to them, but I would most certainly support purchasing a kit from him. 
Hi,
Unlike the UNO, the Nano will fit into a standard solderless breadboard
To me, a major question is "How difficult is it to CONNECT all my other stuff to the 'Arduino'?"
I'm a big fan of "Have a 3-pin (Ground-Voltage-Signal) connector for every I/O pin". You can do this with a Nano with a Nano Sensor Shield like THIS:
Or for a semi-permanent project, a Screw Shield like this:
But these basically have the same chips etc. as the UNO. So I also really like this one-piece solution:
Info: https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/YourDuino-RoboRED
And, back to Connecting things up:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/Cables
OH: About "Arduino", Take a look at this explanation about Arduinos, Clones, Counterfeits and Derivatives:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/Arduino-YourDuino
I periodically contribute to Arduino, and write a lot about it...
DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop...
short and simple:
UNO: 32K program memory, 2K RAM. An UNO can handle one complicated task. An UNO would be a good platform for an NTP server OR an alarm clock, but not both. when your constants and global variables get up to ~1500 things get flaky; not enough RAM
MEGA: 256K Program memory, 8K RAM, plenty of room to go big; multitask, multi display, et cetera.
if you need to read parallel bytes from attached units, or write parallel bytes to attached units, use a MEGA.
NANO: one job. I may use a NANO for a DTMF decoder, or with one or two RF modules, not much else.
DUE: 3.3 Volts. the majority of modules are 5 VDC, and there is no way I would mix voltage systems. Select one or the other and remove one whole layer of aggravation from your life. Raspberry Pi is also 3.3V, so if you use RPis a DUE makes much more sense.
Chinese UNO clones: $3.42 last time I stocked up
Chinese MEGA clones: $ 9.55 last time I stocked up
If you decide to start with UNOs, buy a MEGA to set aside for when you run out of room in the UNO.
Say homeautomation and the first thing that pops up is iot. For iot you need wifi. So anything with wifi. Wemos, nodemcu.
But starting out with anything that has a esp module for wifi can be overwhelming.
I am happy i started with a uno starterskit from elegoo to get the hang of it and then went to wifi enabled devices recently. I had no knowledge at all when i started.
I think there is an online "simulation" platform. Maybe play with that a bit and figure out how much you actually master already? It is not like the real thing but it might help you give an idea how the arduino world is set up?
I believe it was tinkercad but i guess you'll find it with google if you are interested enough
Hi,
I hope you are doing well in choosing your device mate! Personally I started when I was 14 with the arduino uno starting kit. You can find a lot in there ! I is a great kit for beginners due to its variety in components. You can really do a lot of stuff and learn a lot in programming just with this. I am now 18 and looking back I really am glad I baught this kit.
terryking228:
But these basically have the same chips etc. as the UNO. So I also really like this one-piece solution:Info: https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/YourDuino-RoboRED
And I cannot fault that. Especially as your RoboRed has a proper regulator on-board which can power other modules when powered through Vin or the "Barrel Jack", something of which the original UNO (and yours is otherwise the actual UNO design) is completely incapable.
Its only supposed downfall is that it is the SMD design (there is such an original UNO version - I do have one ) which prevents you from replacing the chip if you smoke it. But you should simply be careful and not smoke it.
Really? If you wanted NTP you would use an ESP8266 (or 32).
Functionally and programmatically identical to a UNO, but in a more useful (and more compact) form factor.