Learn Arduino Using Maker UNO - Lesson 2

The biggest problem I faced when I wanted to learn Arduino was there are too many documents, learning guides, tutorials flooding around the internet and I had no idea which one to refer to.

Most of the learning guides that claim they were crafted for the beginners are just too surface while most of the time they only show you the schematics, give you the sample codes and tell you what to expect but they do not explain how it works. It is very frustrating for people like me who do not have C-programming background. Although I can achieve the expected results by following the schematic and codes given but I am pretty sure I can’t create my own project after I completed the lessons.

Another problem that I observed was most of the learning guides are created by the techies where things are assumed to be understood.

There is nothing special with the projects that I covered in this learning guide, I just added some notes and reminders on things that I did not understand. I try to simplify the technical part and I hope that at least the beginners benefit from this and enjoy learning with Arduino.

This beginner guide covers 7 lessons. Each lesson comes with several projects and one open-ended challenge.

Lesson 0 - Setting Up The Hardware & Software

Lesson 1 - Digital Output

Lesson 2 - Digital Input

Lesson 3 - Analog Output

Lesson 4 - Melody Tone

Lesson 5 - Analog Input

Lesson 6 - DC Motor

Lesson 7 - Ultrasonic Sensor

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Lesson 2 > Project 4: On-Board Push Button Switch

In this project, we want to control an LED using the on-board push button switch.

Step 1. Open a new sketch then write these codes into the sketch.

Step 2. Compile and upload the program.

Step 3. Check your result: LED 4 will light up when the push button is pressed.

*********************************** End of Project 4 ************************************

Lesson 2 > Project 5: External Push Button Switch

In this project, we want to construct a basic circuit of an external push button switch.

Step 1. Get these components.

Step 2. Construct the circuit shown below.

Step 3. Press the external push button switch. Observe LED 3. Is it on before you press the switch and goes off when the switch is pressed? If it is not working, please fix your circuit before you proceed to the next step.

Step 4. Modify your previous code into this, then upload to your board.

Step 5: Check your result: When the external push button switch is pressed, LED 4 will be on.

*********************************** End of Project 5 ************************************

Q: Use both on-board and external switches. When both switches are not pressed, both LED 4 and LED 5 will be on. If the on-board switch is pressed, LED 4 goes off. If external switch is pressed, LED 5 will go off.

Proceed to Lesson 3 >>