Summary of Build your own Arduino Uno
The article discusses the process of creating a homemade Arduino board to save costs and enable testing multiple prototypes simultaneously. The author highlights the benefits of building your own Arduino, such as learning PCB design and electronics while keeping expenses low. The article lists essential components for a standalone Arduino based on the Atmega328P microcontroller and mentions the necessity of a USB to UART converter, like FT232RL or PL2303, for programming the board.
Parts used in the Homemade Arduino:
- Atmega328P microcontroller with UNO Bootloader (or empty chip to burn bootloader)
- 16MHz Crystal
- 22pF ceramic capacitor x2
- LM7805 voltage regulator (optional)
- 100uF capacitor (optional)
- 10uF capacitor (optional)
- Tact switch (reset button) (optional)
- 10k ohm resistor (reset) (optional)
- LED for pin 13 indicator (optional)
- 330 ohm resistor (LED) (optional)
- 28 pins IC Socket (optional)
- USB to UART converter (FT232RL or PL2303 IC)
I often use Arduino to test out my project prototype before complete it. Sometimes, I wanted to test more than one project at the same time. I would need more Arduino, but the original Arduino is over my budget for prototyping purpose. Therefore, I decided to make my own Arduino. Some of the benefits of making your Arduino (at least for me) are it is cheap, easy, learn to design PCB and electronics at the same time. Although there are a lot of guides on how to make your own Arduino, I decided to make one so as I can share with my readers, and at the same time document it for myself.
First, I am going to list a few basic items and parts required for standalone Arduino.
– Atmega328P microcontroller with UNO Bootloader ( An empty chip will do if you have an Arduino and burn the bootloader on your own)
– 16MHz Crystal x1
– 22pF ceramic capacitor x2
Optional
– LM7805 voltage regulator x1
– 100uF capacitor x1
– 10uF capacitor x1
– Tact switch x1 (For reset)
– 10k ohm resistor (For reset)
– LED (For pin13 indicator)
– 330 ohm resistor (LED)
– 28 pins IC Socket
Besides, the parts mentioned above, another important part that you need is a USB to UART converter. You would need this to program your Arduino from your computer. There are a few USB to UART converter available to you, most of them uses FT232RL IC, but I will also show you the one that I am using, which uses PL2303 IC.
For more detail: Build your own Arduino Uno
