In order to get started with my goal of experimenting with a controller I figured I needed a basic kit of parts.
I was hesitant to purchase an off-the-shelf beginner’s kit of parts as I am leery of the cost of these kits relative to what you actually get. So, I did some research on the internet and this is the list of items that I bought:
- 1 x Arduino Uno (open source micro controller),
- 1 x Arduino Uno Protoshield,
- 1 x Bluetooth Mate Silver bluetooth modem board (Sparkfun Electronics),
- 1 x USB cable to hook Uno up to my computer for programming,
- 1 x soldering iron + stand (110v, 40 Watt),
- 1 x breadboard (830 terminals),
- 1 x 50′ roll AWG22 wire,
- 10 x each of 1/4 watt resistors (2.2k, 330k, 220, 10k),
- 4 x BC547 NPN transistors,
- 5 x 2n2222 NPN transistors,
- 5 x 2n3906 PNP transistors,
- 2 x 1×40 header,
- 1 x LM317 DC Regulator,
- 1 x photo resistor,
- 1 x 4N35 optocoupler.
- 1 x LM335Z temperature sensor,
- 1 x tactile switch,
- 4 x 1K potentiometers,
- 4 x 10K potentiometers,
- 15 x 5mm LED’s (red, yellow, green),
- 1 x 3v buzzer,
- 1 x 8 ohm speaker,
- 5 x each of capacitors (100 uF, .01 uF, .1 uF),
I spent approximately $160.00 on my list of parts. The most expensive items were the modem board and the Uno. There are less expensive modem boards, but this board seemed well-documented and used on the internet. I wanted to start with something that was known. Things I should have added to my list but I already had include:
- 1x spool of solder
- 1x wire strippers
- 1x external power supply for the Arduino Uno (I am using a 9 volt wall transformer that powered our old phone. I had to reverse the wires to the jack so that it was positive in the centre, as opposed to the outer rim, of the jack.)
- 1x volt meter
For a development environment I am using open source packages that are freely available on the internet. My list includes,
- the Arduino development environment for programming the Uno,
- The Eclipse/Android development environment for programming my cell phone,
- The Fritzing circuit design software for designing circuits,
- Inkspace drawing package for making parts for Fritzing,
- Terminal emulation program for talking with the bluetooth modem (I used btterm for Android) but there are also programs for Unix, Mac and Windows.
I simply followed the installation instructions for all of these packages to set them up on my computer.