I would like to use this capacitive touch screen to control four fans. 2.8 TFT Touch Shield for Arduino w/Capacitive Touch : ID 1947 : $44.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits
The problem is that this looks as though it will take up all the pins on an uno. I was wondering if this shield works on any other models. If so which one would be ideal.
All help is appreciated, thanks so much
Michael
The Arduino Uno is the easiest board to start with.
When I check the schematic, pin 2, 5, 6, SCL, SDA, and analog pins are available. That is 8 pins that can be set as digital pins.
When you want more pins, the next step is the Arduino Mega 2560. But you need to solder three jumpers according to the description at the Adafruit page.
Next step could be '1284 also.
Cross Roads Electronics, scroll down 1/2 way. [edit - link fixed, added pic]
(Can't figure copy/paste on smartphone).
I think Crossroads wants this site.
http://crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17/index.html
His board(s) is/are great and has/have much, much more on it than a plain UNO.
I picked up 5 of them.
His board(s) is/are great and has/have much, much more on it than a plain UNO.
I picked up 5 of them.
Second that!
But more importantly, the 1284 has 16K of SRAM. Automation often deals with large buffers and arrays, so the move from the UNO's 2K to the 1284 16K is a lots of headroom!
Ray
Thank you all so much the for the help! I would like to try using the '1284 but if it is possible to use the Uno i'd like to just because that is what I already have. Can I plug jumper wires right into the available pins on the arduino when the screen is on it? Or will I have to mount the screen to a breadboard to access the unused pins?
Can I plug jumper wires right into the available pins on the arduino when the screen is on it? Or will I have to mount the screen to a breadboard to access the unused pins?
Do all of your wiring, double-check, before powering on the Arduino + LCD. Both the Arduino and the LCD have power-on routines that must run and the LCD must be fully connected and initialized through POR prior to the Arduino setting up the LCD parameters from the Adafruit libraries.
Ray
Thank you for that tip I appreciate it. But what I am wondering is how can I access other pins if they are all taken up by the touch screen shield?
the link says the capacitve touch screen uses I2C
to quote from the link
'The display uses digital pins 13-9. Touchscreen controller requires I2C pins SDA and SCL. microSD pin requires digital #4. That means you can use digital pins 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and analog 0-5. Pin 4 is available if not using the microSD"
to break that down
The display uses digital pins 13-9.
Touchscreen controller requires I2C pins SDA and SCL.
microSD pin requires digital #4.
That means you can use digital pins 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and analog 0-5.
(Pin 4 is available if not using the microSD)
if you use an UNO, you have 12 pins available.
Although I thought analog 4 & 5 were the I2C pins ?
if you use a pro-mini that also has analog pins 6 and 7, you could get a couple more.
pins 13-9 are usually for SPI serial output. you MAY be able to use SPI to expand your I/O or you may be able to use the I2C to a port expander to get more I/O
I would suggest you re-phrase your question and tell us how many pins you need and what you want to do.
to turn on 4 fans ? you will have spare pins.
if you add sensors, you still have some spares.
if you want to add switches in addition to the screen, you might need to use a port expander of some sort.
But what I am wondering is how can I access other pins if they are all taken up by the touch screen shield?
Taken up? Or just covered up?
Thank you crossroads a screw shield looks to be exactly what I need! And I think you're dave-in-nj I din't phrase my question very well.
Thank you all so much
