Bare Minimum - Arduino on Breadboard

The Arduino uses the ATMega328p chip. We can get that in a SMD format (ATMega328p-AU) or the DIP format for trough hole soldering (ATMega328p-PU). But, the chip by itself can't work. It needs a few more components and all together is called the bare minimum configuration of this chip.

Step 1: Simple Schematic

Below we have the schematic for this configuration. As you can see we need a supply of 5 volts. This supply has to be very well regulated with no voltage spikes. For that and extra 10uF capacitor between 5V and GND. Alos, the reset pin is ngative enabled. So, in order to have it disabled, we need to apply 5V to it. For that, a 10k ohms resistor is placed between RESET and Vcc.

Also, the ATMega328, usually works at 16MHz. For that, between pins 9 and 10 we palce a 16MHz crystal. But this crystal, in order to oscillate needs two capacitors of exactly 22pF connected to GND. In the figure abve, you have all the pins of the chip. Right now, if the microcontroller has a bootlaoder, we could upload a code. But let's imagine it doesn't have a bootloader.

Step 2: Burn Bootloader

Now, let's imagine the chip doesn't have the bootloder (virgin chip). For that you have to make next connections from an Arduino UNO. These are the SPI pins, CLOCK, MISO and MOSI.

Step 3: Connect Arduino to PC

Now connect the Arduino to your PC. Open Arduino IDE and go to File → Examples → Arduino ISP and open that example. Select the com of the Arduino UNO board, select the board as Arduino UNO and uplaod this code.

Step 4: Bootloader

Now make the connections in the past schematic and is time to burn the bootloader. Go to Tools → programmer → Arduino as ISP. By that we change the programmer to ISP.

Step 5: Finally Burn Bootloader

Finally, go to Tools → Burn bootloader. Now the LEDs of the Arduino will blink a lot. Once you get the message of bootlaoder burned we are good to go.