Summary of Blinky Fish using an Arduino
This article details the assembly of a "Blinky Fish" add-on board for Arduino, designed to simplify coding tests without building new circuits. The project involves soldering components like LEDs and resistors onto a PCB and connecting them to digital pins 9-13. It includes a guide on necessary tools, specific resistor values, and step-by-step soldering techniques for both resistors and LEDs, noting that the creator offers kits for sale or via a past Kickstarter campaign.
Parts used in the Blinky Fish:
- PCB
- 3 LED's
- Resistors (including 330ohm and 1K)
- Push button
- Right angle header
- Solder
- Soldering iron
- Cutters
- Arduino 2009
- Computer with Arduino IDE
Assembly instructions for an add-on board for the Arduino.
**** FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARCH 2013, KICKSTARTER PROJECT GO HERE
http://www.instructables.com/id/Blinky-Fish-Kickstarter-Project/ ************
It has some LED’s and a button.
It connects to digital pins 9-13 and ground. My hope is that this will be useful to people that want to play with writing code for the Arduino, but don’t want to build a little circuit every time they want to test something out.
I’m including all the files you would need to build your own. I am also offering these for sale. I figure this is the only real way to find out if this is useful to other people.
I have only a few boards right now, but they are not quite right. I have included a hack towards the end of this instructable.
Here is a small web-store I’ve set-up. The name is stupid, but easy to remember and spell.
www.PoopDirect.com
THIS IS NOW WAS ON KICKSTARTER — ENDS FUNDED MARCH 4, 2013 — BLINKY FISH
Step 1: Parts
Here are the parts!
-PCB –
-3 – LED’s
-Resistors
-Push button
-Right angle header
Step 2: Tools
Tools –
-Solder
-Soldering iron
-Cutters (?)
-The soldering is pretty easy, so I never had to use the flux pen.
– To make anything happen, you will also need an Arduiono 2009 and a computer with the Arduino IDE.
– I like to work on a white peice of paper, it keeps me from loosing parts. It is also a good if you are taking photos.
Step 3: Build – Resistors
Resistors R2,R3, and R4 are all 330ohm resistors. (orange, orange, brown).
R1 is 1K (brown, black, red).
[NOTE: the resistors shown in the picture are the wrong values – sorry about that, I was distracted by taking the pictures.]Through hole components are pretty easy to solder.
Here are the steps:
-Find the right resistor
-Put the leads in the holes
-Bend the leads out so the part doesn’t fall out
-Flip the board over
-If the resistor falls out, but it back in
-Turn the soldering iron on and wait for it to warm up
-Put the soldering iron at the joint (between the lead and the silver circle)
-Wait a little bit
-Then touch the solder to the other side of the joint (away from the solder)
-Wait for the solder to melt and go all around the circle
-That is it!
If it doesn’t work (the resistor falls right out or something), then you can just do it again.
After you do the soldering, you just need to clip the leads off. Diagonal cutters are best, but you can use nail clippers or scissors, or whatever.
Step 4: Build – LED’s
Now put on the LED’s
LED’s are one way, the short lead is negative. This side of the LED is usually flat or notched or something like that. On the PCB the flat side of the circle is for the negative lead.
The soldering is the same.
-3 – LED’s
-Resistors
For more detail: Blinky Fish using an Arduino
- How does the Blinky Fish connect to the Arduino?
It connects to digital pins 9-13 and ground. - What are the correct resistor values for R2, R3, and R4?
R2, R3, and R4 are all 330ohm resistors. - Which resistor value is required for R1?
R1 requires a 1K resistor. - How can you identify the negative lead on an LED?
The short lead is negative, and this side is usually flat or notched. - What tool is best for clipping resistor leads after soldering?
Diagonal cutters are best, though nail clippers or scissors work too. - Can you use flux pen during the soldering process?
No, the author notes they never had to use the flux pen as the soldering was easy. - What should you do if a resistor falls out during soldering?
You can just put it back in and try soldering it again. - Where should you place the board while working to avoid losing parts?
Working on a white piece of paper helps keep parts from getting lost.
