Stripboard Arduino

In this, my first Instructable I'm going to show you how to make a stripped down Arduino for a fraction of the price, using Stripboard/Veroboard.

Material List:

1x Atmel ATMega168 = �2.65
1x Stipboard = 72p
1x 7805 Voltage regulator = 26p
2x LEDs = 16p
2x 220 Ohm resistors = 8p
1x 10k Ohm resistor = 4p
2x 10 uF capacitors = 12p
1x 16 MHz clock crystal = 45p
2x 22 pF capacitors = 10p
2x .1 mfd capacitors = 10p
1x small momentary button = 18p
# small amount of wire for jumpers

Total = �5.94

(All prices based on single component prices from bitsbox)

Step 1: Cutting the tracks

Once you have collected all your components, its time to cut the tracks in your stripboard, this can be done with a 'spot face cutter' or an appropriately sized drill bit (by hand).

Below is a guide on what tracks to cut, and how to place the components for soldering.

Comments

[jasshopper]

how to install bootloader in it with a ftdi breakout board?

[icecreamterror]

Hello Jasshopper, I am just working on a updated Stripbord Arduino that will have the option of the ftdi pins.

I should have it done for the weekend.

[jasshopper]

well, is it possible to install bootloader using a ftdi breakout board? and is there any advantage to using bootloaded one or can you use it without bootloader? and is it possible to make a breakout board? if yes any suggested sites?

[jasshopper]

well, is it possible to install bootloader using a ftdi breakout board?

[ahmjazly]

hi frends...

im using a arduino UNO board, i built many circuits using this but unfortunatly i dont know to make it stand alone( i mean get rid of the original board)..any ideas...i went thru the following link

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

but it says that the method explained in that is not compatible with arduino UNO.

so can we use this Stripboard Arduino for my requirment??if so how to bootload the chip, how to program the sketch??

plzzzz reply thnx

[icecreamterror]

You should ask on the arduino forum http://arduino.cc/forum/

I don't know anything about the UNO pin outs a I don't have one :(

[OCPik4chu]

You should check out the basic tutorials on the arduino site to find out how to connect it to your PC and to upload sketches.

[Mahmoud Alaa]

can i use atmega8 instead of atmega168
please replay fast

[IronWill]

Yes

[Mahmoud Alaa]

how can i but the bootlooder ont the atmega 8 the easy way??????????

[dknapton]

Thanks for a fantastic Instructable. I'm new to all this arduino and instructables stuff and needed to re-teach myself soldering after a 15 year break but you can imagine my excitement and sense of satisfaction to follow this all step by step and witness the blink sketch flashing my LED on my very own arduino clone.

I did get a little confused at first with the voltage regulator capacitors but good old google managed to sort me out.

My mind is running away with me as to the next things I need to do, but THANKS AGAIN for your help with this step up the ladder. Onwards and upwards!

PS How did you create the pictures of the strip board showing the component layout and tracking cutting plan. I want to create some similar images for my next project which may well turn into an instructable too.

[inbox.jason]

This is a probably a stupid question, but why do you need to cut tracks from the stripboard? I'm very new to all this!!

[Yakumo]

if you don't cut the tracks the energy will just flow by the components on the board, because electricity will always go the way with the lowest resistance, the tracks have nearly no resistance the components on the board have a higher resistance. with the stripboard you just replacing the copper tracks (low resistance) with air (high resistance). just imagine a river (low resistance) that splits in 2 directions, if you want more water in one direction you just have to block some water on the other direction with a dam (high resistance).

i hope my english didn't hurt to much ^^

[tigerbomb8]

a good idea is to buy perfboard and then use solder and wire to make conections

[Carlcox89]

The resistor of led on pin 13 is wrong. At least i made the same circuit as yours and i had to put the resistor in the long leg of the led, the + side. For those who are trying to do the same thing... now you know that you need to put the resistor in the same line as the long leg of the LED. And of course cut the track between the two legs of resistor...

[Yakumo]

I haven't really looked at his pictures but: It doesn't matter if the resistor is on the + or - side of the LED as long its there. It just became a habbit to most people to do it like you said and as far as i can see... the leads are cut^^

[Spydamonky]

 this thing with the crystal confuses me! witch pins are the legs of the crystal connected to and witch are the caps connected to? please clear this up! are the caps bridging the crystal or goin off one and to the pin.

[riksworld]

I think there might be a small error in your drawing, the bottom led with the resistor, surly the resistor will goto the + of led, as it stand at the moment, from understanding, the led will not light because the power and Earth are not correclty done

I can see the earth on the bottom of the resistor, but no + to led, as there nothing to supply power to it?

Is this just a error?

[Spydamonky]

 i agree, no bigy though makes sence if you know waht your doing..
about to make one of these !! well my own 7 arduino version will keep you guys up to date on the happenings, all i know is there is alot of code in my future!!! reason 4 this is the kit to buy one costs R11500 ±!!!! so im improvising

[icecreamterror]

If you check the pin map on step 3, you can see one crystal leg connects to pin 9, and the other pin 10 of the chip.

The caps connect on the same strip as the crustal legs (9,10) between the 16mhz crystal and ground, to help eliminate noise.

hope this clears it up?

[Spydamonky]

 So if i understand correctly it should look something like this.

[icecreamterror]

Yes, that's perfect!

[Spydamonky]

 Awesome! thanks for the help. its just your diagrams were quite confusing thanks for clearing it all up

[Mr_Electric]

 Thanks! I'll try to get hold of one. Check out my Instructable "USB Traffic Light"

[Mr_Electric]

 You Know for connecting it via USB, could I use the "Arduino Serial USB Adapter" ( the one that is used to program the mini)? 

P.S. Great instructable! I'm giving you a 5-star!


website for the USB programmer: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/MiniUSB/

[icecreamterror]

Yes you could, but you would need to use jumper wire to connect the TX RX GND and +5v pins of the Arduino Serial USB Adapter to the Stripduino's TX RX GND and +5v pins

You could also make a Arduino Serial USB Adapter for $1

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1261313468

[Mr_Electric]

 Could I use an ATMega 328?

[icecreamterror]

Yep,  :)

[WillTheRescue]

 I could probably slim this down to make my own Boarduino, yes?

[icecreamterror]

 Yes, there are a few parts you could strip away or move (like the LEDs and corresponding resisters to slim it down) then just solder in the rows of pin headers upside down n they will fit right into a breadboard as the spacing is the same.   

[WillTheRescue]

 Sweet! A little bit of cash and I am all over that!

It doesn't need to be the exact size of a boarduino, but I'd really like something close to it that I could prototype with, and that will be didicated to prototyping. That way once I finish a project, I don't have to buy another Arduino before being able to start working on another.

[grampafish]

i can program it with digital 0/1 tx/rx on stripduino and arduino and 5v and ground connected. but i have to hold reset on stripduino prior to programming

[grampafish]

could i program this through arduino icsp header

[icecreamterror]

Yes, and no depending on what exactly you mean.

If you follow step 4 
http://www.instructables.com/id/Stripboard-Arduino/step4/ProgrammingBootloader/

You can program this Stripduino with a ICSP using a AVR programmer like the  USBtinyISP .

But you cant connect the ICSP a Ardino to the ICSP of this board to program....the Arduino dose not work like that, you coud still program it using a Arduino, but using the guide below, not the ICSP. 

http://hackaday.com/2009/07/15/avr-isp-programming-via-arduino/

Hope this helps?

[grampafish]

i might build one with a zif socket so no pins get bent when removing the atmega 168

[Spydamonky]

 also could you give me the link for the scematic you used as im trying to make a pcb of this and need a good diagram of the connections ect.

[icecreamterror]

Sorry, this was all drafted out on stripboard paper with only a dirty schematic (can be seen on my blog),

If you wanted to make a single sided PCB Arduino, then there are Schematic, Eagle cad and ready to print pdf files on my blog for one:

http://icecreamterror.wordpress.com/

Or there is a official Serial Single Sided board found here:

http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardSerialSingleSided3
(Im just etching one of these now myself to test out)



   

[Login258]

 I made a breadboard version of this, but when I tried to use my GPS module with it it didn't work. I also had an LCD screen hooked up, so was there not enough current to handle everything?

[Spydamonky]

 One more would this work with a ATmega328?? if not would the Arduino Duemilanove work with a ATmega168

[icecreamterror]

Yes, both this Stripduino and the Arduino Duemilanove will work with the following. ATmega328, ATmega168 and ATmega8
:)