Some questions for the arduino people...

mechanic · 10-20-15, 09:17 PM

I am thinking about getting into arduino, it looks very interesting to tinker with as well as save some money over off the shelf products. I also like the idea of being able to tailor it to my uses. Seems like quite a few people on here are into it so thought I'd ask. As far as the wiring/sensors/etc go I feel I would be very comfortable with it as I'm an automotive tech and work with many types of sensors, actuators, wiring issues every day and am quite at home with it. The thing that's all new to me is the programming. How do most go about learning it? Are many of you employed in that type of area or just learn as a hobby? What's the best way to learn? Just buy a beginner kit and start following tutorials? Is any decent sized beginners kit a good place to start? Are other brands practically the same or is genuine arduino better? Thanks

AC_Hacker · 10-21-15, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanic

I am thinking about getting into arduino, it looks very interesting to tinker with as well as save some money over off the shelf products.

Yes, you're right about that. And what with winter coming on up in your neck of the woods, it's a perfect time to hunker down and learn a new skill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanic

I also like the idea of being able to tailor it to my uses. Seems like quite a few people on here are into it so thought I'd ask. As far as the wiring/sensors/etc go I feel I would be very comfortable with it as I'm an automotive tech and work with many types of sensors, actuators, wiring issues every day and am quite at home with it.

I can't think of a better book that this one:

Getting Started With Arduino

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanic

The thing that's all new to me is the programming. How do most go about learning it? Are many of you employed in that type of area or just learn as a hobby? What's the best way to learn?

I think the book will be just what you want.

Maybe a starter kit would be good, because the you'd have most of what you need to get started.

As I recall, the book will take you through several small steps, and each step will introduce another of the Arduino's possibilities, and a little bit of programming to go with it.

Later, you may need a proto-board to connect stuff together without needing to solder.

And some jumper wire to help

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanic

Just buy a beginner kit and start following tutorials? Is any decent sized beginners kit a good place to start? Are other brands practically the same or is genuine arduino better? Thanks

Yes, that is just about how it is done.

I have used the very cheapest Chinese Arduino I could find ($6, free postage), and it worked exactly as well as any other. The chip on the board will be identical.

The Internet will give you load of information. You are lucky, because there are more people working with Arduinos on the Planet Earth than any other microcontroller.

I don't know about your area, but thee are probably Arduino User Groups in your town.

Be prepared to be educated by children... it can be a humbling experience... ask me how I know!

Good luck, you are embarking on a lot of fun.

And you have already started a thread on your Arduino Odyssey.

Take lots of photos, you already have friends right here.

Best,

-AC

mechanic · 10-21-15, 08:43 AM

Thank you! Good to have a book recommendation, there are lots out there but hard to know which one to get...

Daox · 10-21-15, 08:50 AM

A good alternative is youtube. Its chaulk full of videos on ardiuno stuff including beginner tutorials. Once you get the basics down (there aren't a ton of basics), I usually just start googling for the specific issues I encounter as I go about coding. Pretty much anything you'll run across has already been run across by someone else and google can find it for you.

AC_Hacker · 10-21-15, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

Pretty much anything you'll run across has already been run across by someone else and google can find it for you.

Yes, there is an unlimited source of free pre-written code that you can use and modify. You need to understand the fundamentals to use it.

So you download the code from the Internet, up-load it to your Arduino, and compile it (That's in the book) and it should compile without errors. Then make some modification (tiny ones at first) and compile again. If you get an error, find out what the error is, and fix it. Step by step you will begin to understand.

It has to be said that Arduino has a very weak de-bugging ability, but it's better than none.

But this is a great way to learn.

-AC

jeff5may · 10-21-15, 11:35 PM

The starter sets you can buy from eBay are very economical. There are different flavors of boards, tailored to what you want to do with them. The two developer boards that are the most common are the uno and the mega. They work very close to the same as each other. The main difference is that the mega has more memory and interface pins to work with, while the uno is much smaller. Either can be had with a proto board, a handful of jumper wires, and a few dozen discrete parts and hardware for under 30 bucks shipped.

10-20-15, 09:17 PM	#1
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Some questions for the arduino people... I am thinking about getting into arduino, it looks very interesting to tinker with as well as save some money over off the shelf products. I also like the idea of being able to tailor it to my uses. Seems like quite a few people on here are into it so thought I'd ask. As far as the wiring/sensors/etc go I feel I would be very comfortable with it as I'm an automotive tech and work with many types of sensors, actuators, wiring issues every day and am quite at home with it. The thing that's all new to me is the programming. How do most go about learning it? Are many of you employed in that type of area or just learn as a hobby? What's the best way to learn? Just buy a beginner kit and start following tutorials? Is any decent sized beginners kit a good place to start? Are other brands practically the same or is genuine arduino better? Thanks

10-21-15, 08:50 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	A good alternative is youtube. Its chaulk full of videos on ardiuno stuff including beginner tutorials. Once you get the basics down (there aren't a ton of basics), I usually just start googling for the specific issues I encounter as I go about coding. Pretty much anything you'll run across has already been run across by someone else and google can find it for you. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-21-15, 08:43 AM	#3
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Thank you! Good to have a book recommendation, there are lots out there but hard to know which one to get...

10-21-15, 11:35 PM	#6
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	The starter sets you can buy from eBay are very economical. There are different flavors of boards, tailored to what you want to do with them. The two developer boards that are the most common are the uno and the mega. They work very close to the same as each other. The main difference is that the mega has more memory and interface pins to work with, while the uno is much smaller. Either can be had with a proto board, a handful of jumper wires, and a few dozen discrete parts and hardware for under 30 bucks shipped.