Introduction: AdruShield – Most Versatile Arduino Shield Ever

ArduShield it is most versatile development shield for most popular Arduino boards like a:

  • Arduino UNO R3
  • Arduino Mini
  • Arduino Pro Mini V5
  • Arduino Nano V3
  • Arduino MicroR3
  • Arduino Leonardo
  • Arduino Yun
  • Arduino Zero
  • Galileo Gen2

and many other derivative boards created by great community of people.

Idea for ArduShield was born out of the problem that hit several Arduino fans.


The main targets of this instructable is to show step by step with no steps to skip what kind of problem can solved ArduShield.


Your feedback is extremly valuable. Idea is to make this shield usefull to you, that you will get most out of it.

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Step 1: AdruShield With Other Shields

First we found that we had many shields that fit only to Arduino UNO, but they don’t fit to Arduino Mini, Pro Mini, Nano, Micro and other type of smaller Arduino board.

Smaller Arduino boards are much more cost effective then Arduino UNO, and we want to use them to.

First we have an example of Ethernet shield drive by Arduino Micro run via ArduShield.

Second example it is the custom shield for 2×16 LED display drive by Arduino Pro Mini run via ArduShield.

Step 2: Simplify Design With AdruShield

Second thing what most bother us over time, was when we have to start
one more time re-wiring Arduino and bread board because of some small mistake which cannot be find.

Idea was to shrink down amount of the cable between Arduino UNO and Bread Board minimum by half.

Step 3: Move Arduino Pins to Bread Board

Great things about ArduShield is that you can have access for all pins of Arduino on bread board instantly

no matter if it is Arduino Mini, UNO, Pro Mini, Nano, Micro or other type of Arduino compatible.

Step 4: Power Supply on Bread Board

Another useful thing about ArduShield is that you can have power supply to your bread board.


You can also use VCC or GND signal separately if you want just by cutting narrow trace on BR1 or BR2. If you want to go back with this connection just place a drop of tin between cuted trace.

Step 5: Programming Tool for Arduino Mini and Arduino Pro Mini

ArduShield can be use like a programing tool for Arduino Mini and Arduino Pro Mini. We know that both of this board require external programmer.


Now if you have Arduino UNO board you can connect Arduino Mini or Arduino Pro Mini instantly to ArduShield and play with them via Arduino IDE.

Step 6: Access for Analog Pins A4 A5 A6 and A7 of Arduino Mini and Arduino Pro Mini

Now you will get access for all of the pins Arduino Mini and Pro Mini on bread board.


Till now when you need to use pins A4, A5, A6, A7 with Arduino Mini there where make short cut with pin 8 and 9 on bread board.

With Arduino Pro Mini pins were not place in the 0.1inch (2.54mm) raster. They had this weird spacing.

Now this change with ArduShield.

Step 7: Full Flexibility When You Design With ArduShield

ArduShield provide access for all 4 holes from each side of bread board.


Comparing with Arduino Micro and Arduino Nano we have access for 2 and 3 pins after assembly PCB on bread board.

Access for 4 holes on each side give us high flexibility during design.

Step 8: Two Prototype on One Bread Board With ArduShield

The realynice thing about this shield is that you can develope even 2 prototype at the one time on one bread board, without the need to disconnect everything.

How it is frustrated when you need to jump shortly to another prototype and check some new idea!

Now this is easy and simple.

Just flip side of the AdruShield on bread board and you are ready to go with your second idea!


Step 9: Future Plans About ArduShield

Stage of ArduShield is that it is still "under construction".

Base on feedback we want to have also on this board:

  • RGB LED (WS2812S),
  • power status LED,
  • ISCP connector,
  • socket to program the ATtiny85(DIP8) microcontroller via Arduino UNO,
  • connector for polular OLED display SSD1306.

Influence the final shape of the project, leave your comment here.

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