Stripboard Arduino

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by icecreamterror

introStripboard 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 )

Stripboard Arduino

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step 1Cutting 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.

Cutting the tracks

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45 comments	Add Comment

1-40 of 45

Jul 31, 2010. 6:46 AMCarlcox89 says:

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...

Jul 25, 2010. 4:00 PMinbox.jason says:

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!!

Dec 13, 2009. 9:19 AMDemonSpawn says:

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.

May 17, 2010. 10:52 AMriksworld says:

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?

May 17, 2010. 12:11 PMDemonSpawn says:

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

Dec 13, 2009. 10:58 AMicecreamterror (author) says:

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?

Dec 13, 2009. 12:24 PMDemonSpawn says:

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

Dec 13, 2009. 1:13 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

Yes, that's perfect!

Dec 13, 2009. 11:29 PMDemonSpawn says:

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

Apr 28, 2010. 7:10 PMMr.Electric says:

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

Apr 27, 2010. 7:52 PMMr.Electric says:

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/

Apr 27, 2010. 8:52 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

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

Apr 25, 2010. 4:56 PMMr.Electric says:

Could I use an ATMega 328?

Apr 25, 2010. 5:32 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

Yep, :)

Jan 22, 2010. 7:39 PMWillTheRescue says:

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

Jan 22, 2010. 11:44 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

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.

Jan 23, 2010. 4:40 PMWillTheRescue says:

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.

Jan 3, 2010. 4:04 PMgrampafish says:

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

Dec 26, 2009. 6:31 AMgrampafish says:

could i program this through arduino icsp header

Dec 26, 2009. 7:40 AMicecreamterror (author) says:

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?

Dec 26, 2009. 5:29 AMgrampafish says:

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

Dec 13, 2009. 9:40 AMDemonSpawn says:

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.

Dec 13, 2009. 11:09 AMicecreamterror (author) says:

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)

Nov 16, 2009. 11:40 AMLogin258 says:

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?

Nov 13, 2009. 11:16 AMDemonSpawn says:

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

Nov 13, 2009. 12:33 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

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

Nov 13, 2009. 9:29 AMDemonSpawn says:

Witch pins on the ic is the crystal connected to

Nov 13, 2009. 10:57 AMicecreamterror (author) says:

Pins 9 and 10

(think there is a image with layout of all the pins in 'Step 3' just just holla if you get stuck on anything)

Nov 2, 2009. 11:25 AMScytheon3 says:

I am a complete utter noob looking for a cheap arduino clone and have some questions.
1) what voltage is the 10uF capacitor
2) I cant find a .1mfd capacitor
3) Is the momentary switch like the one in the picture with 4 pins (below)
4) How do you connect it to a computer and program it

sorry for being a complete noob

Nov 2, 2009. 1:38 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

HiScytheon3,

No need to be apologetic, they are all very good questions!

1) what voltage is the 10uF capacitor
The ones i used are 16V, but you can use 25V too.....as your not going to be using more then 9V as a power supply.

2) I cant find a .1mfd capacitor
.1mfd is also called 100nF (try a search for 100nF)

3) Is the momentary switch like the one in the picture with 4 pins (below)
Yep that's the right type, the main thing to look out for is that it is a "momentary switch" so only on when your holding down the button

4) How do you connect it to a computer and program it
This bit is a little more tricky, you have two options
1: buy a AVR programmer like the USBtinyISP
2: build your own Ghetto-Programmer like THIS one.

Then follow he guide on adding a ISP to the Stripduino.......I think iv done one.

its also worth getting your Chip with the Arduino bootloader already loaded....most places off that for only a fraction more, and will save you lots of time and stress.

Sure you will have more questions, so feel free to PM me any time.

Oct 16, 2009. 4:42 AMagis68 says:

thnx pal for your nice and clear job you did 5/5

Oct 13, 2009. 9:26 AMbaharini says:

One question!
could you put this chip in a Arduino Diecimila, upload bootloader and code and put back into the stripduino?

Oct 13, 2009. 10:14 AMicecreamterror (author) says:

That is exactly what i do :)

Just make sure you solder a dil socket to the Stripduino so you can add, and remove the chips where ever you want.

Sep 17, 2009. 9:29 AMProtons says:

Got mine built YAY!!! :D Although the parallel programmer is pretty much useless just to let you know, (I've heard a lot of bad things about it, I built one and it just failed lol) and by the way you need to buy the bigger strip board if you follow your designs exactly, or you can just move the pin 13 led :-) but when you go deluxe it costs about £10 including parallel programmer parts. P.S Do you know if the usb tiny isp is any good?

Sep 17, 2009. 2:16 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

YAY post pics! :D Iv not had any trouble with the parallel programmer, but iv only built one lol, and having read bad things thought it would be overkill for a stripbroad, so just slapped the ICSP option on as its really straightforward. but I seem to always just use my Arduino duemilanove as a programmer and switch chips as the duemilanove is permanently attached to a breadboard and my Mac for something. The USBtinyISP from adyada.net is a little stunner......I use a clone of it myself.

Sep 20, 2009. 11:32 AMProtons says:

there she is the slodering got a bit..ummm messy.... in parts :-s but everythings fine now i just have to get a programmer that works! anyway where did you get/build a usb tiny isp clone from?

Sep 20, 2009. 5:24 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

Looking good!

Built my clone from the EAGLE CAD Files/schematics found here:
http://www.ladyada.net/make/usbtinyisp/download.html :)

Aug 30, 2009. 3:01 PMProtons says:

what should pins 2 and 6 on the isp be connected to? ground on the chip (pin 8) and vcc on the chip (pin 7) or left un connected? thanks again

Aug 30, 2009. 3:31 PMicecreamterror (author) says:

Hello mate 2, and 6 on the ISP are VVC (+5v) and GND (ground), so don't have to be connected to anything, as long as the StripDuino is attached to a battery and the power light is on.

Aug 29, 2009. 9:01 AMProtons says:

great Instructable but the red, black and blue lines in the diagram, what are they? jumper cables? and could you please show on a diagram exactly what you did in the revision? thanks

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