Ardweeny 2 - How to customize an Ardweeny

Since I discovered the Arduino micro-controller last October (2010) I have been fascinated by their versatility and ease of use, however I personally find that they tend to be on the bulky size and expensive for some of my permanent projects. I then discovered the Ardweeny and I just love their size and price; after purchasing a few, I made some personal improvements, especially after blowing the ATmega328 on one of them and finding it a pain in the derrière to replace it.

The concept is simple: reverse the PC board and solder the components on the opposite side, this way a socket for the ATmega328can be added along with some strip headers for versatility.

These modified versions are meant to be used in small permanent projects, they are not suited to be used in bread boards like the stock units (although with two strips of long male headers they could be used that way) keep in mind that the serial interface is obstructed making them inconvenient to program while installed in the bread board.
If you wish to use them in bread board, follow the kit instructions to the letter, my only suggestion and recommendation is to add female headers instead of the provided strips, see step 4 - Installing the Female Socket Strips, this way you get an extra set of connections to use when plugged into a smaller bread board.

Step 1 Tools and material:

What is needed:

1  Ardweeny kit
1  28 Pin DIP Socket
2  Female Socket Strip - Strip of 6
2  Female Socket Strip - Strip of 8
Optional:  different color LED (I like blue :)

Tools:

Soldering Iron and solder
Helping Hands
Precision diagonal cutters

Comments

[wunderdog317]

isnt this the ardweeny 3 theres the original then mod 1 then mod 2

[msuzuki777]

This is a great idea. I never bought an Ardweeny because it would be hard to replace if the Atmega went bad. This solves that problem.

The other problem I didn't like is that the Atmega pins are sticking out and could be subject to static electricity (ESD), this also helps with that concern.

Great job of innovating.

Lazy Old Geek

[TheRafMan]

Thanks.
I see you linked it in your The Best Arduino Instructable and I am glad you like it.

[msuzuki777]

I think you said in this Instructable that you had a standard Ardweeny with a bad AtMega chip.

I am curious if you've had AtMegas fail in any of your other 'Arduinos'. I am wondering that maybe soldering on the AtMega pins may have 'damaged' the chip with heat or static. When I was employed in the electronics industry, I did some research on ESD, electrostatic damage. In many cases, the ESD can occur but the device won't fail until days, weeks or months later.


LOG

[lincomatic]

I use these things: http://allgaiershops.com/product_info.php?products_id=32
Only 2.99, but without MCU, similar to Ardweeny, and it's socketed. You can replace the male headers w/ female ones if you don't want to use it w/ a breadboard. The guy also sells them on eBay. I like the ICSP header, which I use w/ my USBtinyISP. to use an FTDI cable, you would have to plug it into a breadboard and wire it up.

[TheRafMan]

Yes, I have a couple of these too for the 'dweeny, they come in handy.

[maewert]

I also really like the cost and simplicity of the Ardweeny and I have used them on breadboards exactly as described in the Solarbotics instructions.  You say that they are not suitable for breadboards which is the whole need for your mod.  Why do you say they are unsuitable for breadboards?  Aren't they as suitable as any DIP?  The only thing I have found using them in breadboards is that if you leave the programming cable attached during development you may accidently remove the chip from the board if the cable is jostled.

Best Wishes

[TheRafMan]

Hello Maewert, I didn't say that they Ardweeny is not suited for breadboards, only the ones with my modification as they are for stand alone small projects.
You will see what I mean once I post my next project with one of them that has my modifications.

[maewert]

I see now, your modified Adrweenys (Ardweenies?) are not intended for breadboarding. Sorry I misunderstood :-)