Project explaination

Development Boards Arduino
1

I’ve just started to read through the Dummies guide and just need a little help explaining how one of the tutorial projects work. The one in question is this one…

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/DigitalReadSerial

I do know a little about electronics but I’ve always struggled to understand the paths current takes and why. I’d like to know why there is a resistor in the circuit, how the current flows through the switch and how the current would make it up through the blue wire to the digitial output pin?

I know thats alot of questions but it would help me if somebody could explain. :slight_smile:

2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor

http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electri … /DC_3.html

The resistor limits current. In the case with your link it’s a “pull down” resistor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pull-up_resistor

http://makezine.com/2009/03/05/understa … ulldown-r/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxA7qwmY9mg

I advise you to Google some tutorials and electronics 101 articles. These is too much to explain in just one forum, a day, or even a month… People go to college 4+ years to learn.

3

A basic understanding of simple DC circuits might be had via the old water analogy, assuming you’ve got an intuitive understand of why water flows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_analogy

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb … atcir.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onPTH_amtJI

After that it’s time for lessons. Start w/DC theory.

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/

4

Thanks.

Maybe this just isnt the hobby for me I guess.

5

Well, it depends in what you are interested in. Once you learn some of the basics, that is when the real possibilities come to you. I started learning a couple of years ago and still learn something new everyday. I have been teaching myself as well, no college or classes. Just had some ideas for some projects and learned what I needed for those projects, then on to the next one.

I am assuming you have an Arduino? If you do, then I would recommend doing some basic projects like blinking an LED, then multiple LEDs. There are tons of tutorials if you just Google them. Chances are someone has already done your project and posted it for everyone to learn.

6

Thanks for the encouragement.

The thing is Ive been in and out of electronics since my school days but always fall down on the theory stuff. I’m no Stephen Hawkins and most of the books I look through look like Calculus Theory! I don’t mind following step by step instruction but I would prefer to sometimes understand whats happening to all those electrons. :slight_smile:

7

Try just looking up some basic courses online. http://www.pyroelectro.com/edu/basics/ teaches you the basics and the more advanced stuff in a beginner-friendly manner.

Don’t get discouraged because you fall down on the theory. This stuff is complicated at times, and we all started somewhere. You don’t need to be a genius, as long as you want to learn. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! If one explanation doesn’t work for you, another might.

I barely understood Ohm’s law a few months ago, now I’m designing circuits and modding my own guitar amps. Just learn and have fun, and remember: you learn most by doing stuff, messing up, and then figuring out where you went wrong!

8

Try just looking up some basic courses online. http://www.pyroelectro.com/edu/basics/ teaches you the basics and the more advanced stuff in a beginner-friendly manner.

Don’t get discouraged because you fall down on the theory. This stuff is complicated at times, and we all started somewhere. You don’t need to be a genius, as long as you want to learn. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! If one explanation doesn’t work for you, another might.

I barely understood Ohm’s law a few months ago, now I’m designing circuits and modding my own guitar amps. Just learn and have fun, and remember: you learn most by doing stuff, messing up, and then figuring out where you went wrong!

9

Thanks, will check that link out.