Circuit Basics

Having spent 50 years of my life sitting at work at an electronics workbench in a professional R&D lab, or at home in a spare room or garage, I have developed a particular way that I like to layo...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-build-an-electronics-work-bench/

In this article, we will look at some of the parts and supplies that will help you get started working with the Arduino. We’ll start by taking a look at a few of the different Arduino boards th...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/getting-started-with-the-arduino/

The Arduino is an electronics prototyping platform that makes it easy to build fun and useful projects, learn about electronics, and quickly test new ideas. In this article we will take an in-dep...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/the-components-of-an-arduino-uno-pcb/

The Arduino IDE is where Arduino programs are written and uploaded to the Arduino board. In this article, we will see how to download, install, and configure the Arduino IDE. We will also see how...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-install-and-configure-the-arduino-ide/

Making an LED blink is the “hello world” of microcontroller programming. It’s one of the first things to do when learning to program a new microcontroller. An LED is a great way to see what...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-control-leds-on-the-arduino/

Push buttons can be used to control LEDs, relays, motors, and pretty much anything else you can think of. In this article, we will learn how to connect and program a push button on the Arduino. W...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-connect-and-program-push-buttons-on-the-arduino/

The Arduino can only output two voltages – 0 volts and 5 volts. But many devices like LEDs, servos, and motors need to be powered by a range of voltages between 0 volts and 5 volts. Luckily, th...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-pulse-width-modulation-on-the-arduino/

A DC motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Today, you find DC motors in many devices we rely on every day such as home and office appliances, automobiles, acce...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/introduction-to-dc-motors-2/

Variables are probably the most basic thing you’ll learn in programming but they’re also the most useful. In this tutorial we will focus on using variables, declaring variables, naming variab...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-variables-on-the-arduino/

In this article, we will learn how perform math calculations in an Arduino program. We will look at the basic mathematical operators first, followed by a review of the order of operations. Then w...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-do-math-in-arduino-programs/

Edmond Becquerel was the first to discover the photovoltaic effect, whereby electric current and voltage is generated by a material exposed to light. This discovery led to the invention of the fi...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-are-solar-panels/

In this article, we will learn how to use another type of conditional statement on the Arduino called the switch case statement. The switch case statement replaces the need for multiple if statem...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-switch-case-statements-in-arduino-programming/

Conditional statements are one of the most useful tools in Arduino programming. They let you control the flow of a program based on certain conditions that you can define in the code. Conditional...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-conditional-statements-in-arduino-programming/

Loops are used to control the flow of a program. In a loop, a block of code is executed over and over again. Each cycle of the loop is called an iteration of the loop. Depending on certain condit...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-loops-in-arduino-programming/

The serial monitor is usually just used to display data from the Arduino on a computer monitor. But it can also be used as an input device that takes input from a user and sends it to the Arduino...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-read-user-input-from-the-arduino-serial-monitor/

Logic chips are integrated circuits that perform the logic functions AND, OR, XOR, NAND, and NOR. They are common in older electronic devices, since more advanced ICs have replaced the need for i...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-are-logic-chips/

The Raspberry Pi is probably the most popular electronics prototyping platform ever. Its creators, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, wanted to create a single-board computer that could be used to teac...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/introduction-to-the-raspberry-pi/

In this article we will take a look at data types and how they are used in Arduino programming. Data types are important to understand because they determine the types of data that variables can ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-data-types-in-arduino-programming/

In this article, we’re going to learn about compound operators and how to use them in Arduino programming. Compound operators are a shorthand way to do simple math with variables. They’re goo...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-compound-operators-in-arduino-programming/

A datasheet is an instruction manual on how to use an electrical component. It explains the devices features, what it does, and how to use it. But despite how useful they are, they can be really ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-read-datasheets-and-application-notes/

The Arduino is one of the most popular electronics prototyping platforms for learning and using microcontrollers on the market today. This is because the creators of Arduino have simplified the c...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/introduction-to-arduino/

Arrays are like variables – they can store sensor readings, text strings, and Boolean values like high and low. But a variable can only store one value at a time. Arrays can store multiple valu...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-arrays-in-arduino-programming/

Logical operators give you another element of control over the flow of your program. Also known as Boolean operators, they can be very powerful when used inside the condition of an if statement o...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-logical-operators-in-arduino-programming/

Functions are the code in your program that get things done. They contain the code to do things like getting data from a sensor, setting the voltage state of a pin, or displaying text on an LCD d...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/using-functions-in-arduino-programming/

Did you know that you can use a solar panel to power a Raspberry Pi? Think of the possibilities. A solar powered weather station. An autonomous vehicle that never needs to be charged. A camera th...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-make-a-solar-powered-raspberry-pi/

It was the dream of Nicola Tesla to transmit energy wirelessly from a remote power station to homes and factories around the world. While the technology still does not exist to transmit high amou...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-is-wireless-power-transmission/

A class is a collection of functions and variables that can be used to perform specific programming tasks. In Arduino programming, a class is basically the same thing as a library. A class is lik...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/programming-with-classes-and-objects-on-the-arduino/

An analog-to-digital converter is a device used to convert an analog signal (like the output from a photoresistor or a thermistor) to a binary signal that can be processed by a digital computer o...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/analog-to-digital-converters/

Libraries are packages of code (mostly functions) that can be used to perform specific programming tasks. Libraries make programming on the Arduino a lot easier. They simplify and reduce the amou...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-arduino-libraries/

In the early 1970s, two American companies, Intel and Texas Instruments, introduced microprocessors and microcontrollers to the world. These companies envisioned a future dominated by single-chip...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/introduction-to-microcontrolleres/

It probably won’t take long working with the Arduino before you will find a need to use hardware or timer interrupts. Interrupts can help when you want the Arduino to do more than one thing at ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-hardware-interrupts-and-timer-interrupts-on-the-arduino/

Gyroscopes measure the speed of rotation around one or more axes. Connected to the Arduino, they can be used to control the orientation of drones, robots, and autonomous vehicles, or to detect bo...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-gyroscopes-on-the-arduino/

In this article, we will look at the internal physics of transistors. In a famous diagram showing how a transistor works (Figure 1), the “transistor man” watches a gauge measuring the base cu...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-is-a-transistor/

9-axis sensors combine a magnetometer, accelerometer, and a gyroscope into a single sensor. The small size and low weight of these sensors make them perfect for building aircraft, drone, and robo...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-9-axis-sensors-on-the-arduino/

In this article, we’re going to learn about switch debouncing and how to use it in your Arduino projects. Switch bounce is a problem with almost all mechanical switches. When a switch bounces, ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-switch-debouncing-on-the-arduino/

PS2 joysticks are great for controlling things like motors and servos, and they can also be used to navigate through menus on LCDs or other displays. In this article, we will see how to read the ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-ps2-joysticks-on-the-arduino/

LED matrixes are ideal for displaying text since they can be seen easily from far distances. This is why signs in train stations, airports, and roadways are commonly made from different configura...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-an-led-matrix-on-the-arduino/

A DC to DC converter is a power electronics circuit that efficiently converts a direct current from one voltage to another voltage. Without a doubt, DC-DC converters play an integral role in mode...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-are-dc-dc-converters/

In this article, we’re going to learn how to detect vibration with the Arduino using shock sensors and knock sensors. Accelerometers are the most accurate way to detect vibration, and we’ll l...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-vibration-sensors-on-the-arduino/

Magnetometers measure the magnetic field along one or more axes. With a magnetometer, you can turn your Arduino into a digital compass. They’re great for navigation and guidance systems in remo...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-a-magnetometer-on-the-arduino/

Accelerometers can detect the magnitude and direction of acceleration. Many smartphones use accelerometers to detect when the phone is picked up or tapped. They can also be used to detect when a ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-an-accelerometer-on-the-arduino/

GPS sensors can provide real time position data in your Arduino projects. By detecting latitude, longitude, altitude, velocity, and heading, they’re an indispensable tool for autonomous vehicle...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-a-gps-sensor-on-the-arduino/

Electronic engineers use a variety of different circuit simulation tools to study the behavior of electronic circuits. But in this tutorial, we will go step-by-step through the process of perform...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-is-circuit-simulation/

In this article, we’re going to learn how to detect tilt by connecting two different types of tilt sensors to the Arduino. Accelerometers are the most accurate way to detect tilt, but for some ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-tilt-sensors-on-the-arduino/

Photoresistors are analog sensors that can measure light. They are light dependent resistors that change resistance with the amount of light that hits the sensor. Photoresistors are perfect for m...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-photoresistors-to-detect-light-on-an-arduino/

Rotary encoders are useful for controlling servos and stepper motors, navigating menus on LCD displays, and also as speedometers that can measure how fast a wheel is rotating. In this article, we...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-and-program-rotary-encoders-on-the-arduino/

Passive infrared (PIR) sensors can detect infrared radiation that is emitted by warm objects like humans and animals. PIR sensors are commonly used in home security systems and as sensors to acti...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-setup-passive-infrared-pir-motion-sensors-on-the-arduino/

In this article, we will see how to use two different types of piezoelectric buzzers on the Arduino. Piezoelectric buzzers produce a loud noise. When connected to the Arduino they can be used as ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-active-and-passive-buzzers-on-the-arduino/

In this article, we will show you how to use obstacle avoidance and tracking sensors on an Arduino. Obstacle avoidance sensors use infrared light to detect when an object is close to the sensor. ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-obstacle-avoidance-and-ir-tracking-sensors-on-the-arduino/

Using an electret microphone, the Arduino can detect sounds and perform actions based on the input it receives. For example, the sound of hands clapping, a door closing, or someone’s voice can ...

https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-microphones-on-the-arduino/