Have you seen some really cool stuff being made with a thing called Arduino? What is Arduino anyway? It sounds like an Italian sandwich with extra cheese or something... Well - it's that and a lot more. I hope this video can help explain some the basic premise of the Arduino!  

Have you ever wanted to change the font color in the Arduino IDE? Maybe it is hard for you to read the light grey comments in the Arduino IDE, or maybe you prefer something a little bolder. Whatever your reason, in this short video, I demonstrate a relatively easy way to change the font color of comments.

In many cases while using an Arduino, you will want to see the data being generated by the Arduino. One common method of doing this is using the Serial.print() function from the Serial library to display information to your computer’s monitor. In this week’s episode we will talk about the intricacies of the Serial.print() function.  This is the second part of a two part series on the Serial.print() function (Click here for the first part). Here are the exact topics we will cover in this...

In many cases while using an Arduino, you will want to see the data being generated by the Arduino. One common method of doing this is using the Serial.print() function from the Serial library to display information to your computer’s monitor. In this week’s episode, we will talk about the intricacies of the Serial.print() function. This is the first part, of a two part series on the Serial.print() function. Here are the specific topics we will cover in this lesson: Why would you want to...

There are a couple good use-case scenarios for making a secret knock detector using an Arduino. You are a spy who needs to authenticate your cohorts You are a super hero who wants a secret knock to open the entrance to your lair Whatever the reason - by the end of this tutorial you will know how to use an Arduino, a piezo transducer and a couple other cheap components to make secret knock detector. Here is an overview of exactly what we will talk about in this lesson: The components you...

In this video we demonstrate how to create pseudo random numbers with Arduino - with a useful twist. This lesson was inspired by the following viewer question: How do I create Random Non-Consecutive numbers with Arduino? P.S. These are the best tutorials that a complete idiot like you could ever make, thanks. -Chris Let's overview exactly what we will talk about in today's episode: Talk about pseudo random numbers. Identify the problem - using an Arduino sketch to demonstrate. ...

I don’t subscribe to many magazines, but I love my subscription to Make: magazine. And even though I rarely have time to sit down and enjoy a magazine in peace and quiet (parents forget what peace and quiet means), I still manage to get through my Make: magazine cover to cover. I like it that much! This video is a short review of why I enjoy Make: magazine, and why I think you would enjoy it too. Here are some highlights: 1. Make: Magazine is published every 2 months. 2. Filled with...

Understanding how the Arduino IDE sets up its file directory system can spare you some confusion when it comes to saving, organizing and opening your Arduino sketches (or sketches you have downloaded from the internet). This week’s episode covers the following: The Arduino Sketchbook folder How to change the default location where your Arduino sketches get saved What happens when an Arduino file does not have an enclosing sketch folder of the same name Where and how multiple tabs get saved...

In this video we talk about an Arduino shield designed to teach you about shift registers, I2C, SPI, temperature sensors, real time clocks, analog to digital convertors and flash memory chips - all this on one awesome Arduino shield! Electronics Concepts can be Intimidating Like any industry or hobby, electronics has its fare share of acronyms. A couple of the more common ones you might have come across are SPI, I2C, ADC, RTC and YOMAMA. All these acronyms can be intimidating. It’s like...

This week's Episode is what I am calling an intermission, which is basically me taking a break from hardcore Arduino tutorial making, and present a less technical topic.  In this intermission video, I walk through the process I use when creating Arduino tutorials and some of the software that helps me do it. Here is a list of software I use when creating Arduino tutorials: Full Disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links that help me afford gold toilets on my private island. ...

If you ever have a project using two or more Arduinos, it's likely you'll want them to work together. Say for example you have one Arduino connected to an LCD shield, and another Arduino controlling an LED matrix.  You want both to do something when you press a single button - how can this be done? It turns out to be extremely easy.  This video will describe in detail how to trigger multiple Arduinos with a single input. CODE: /* Button Turns on and off a light emitting diode(LED)...

In this video we will be talking about some key points to keep in mind when assembling an Arduino shield from a kit. Many of these tips will apply equally well to any type of electronics kit you are assembling. So you just bought an awesome Arduino shield - it's going fly you to the moon and back, but before you start using it you have to do some basic assembly. Here are six tips to help you get the assembly done right the first time. Read the Directions: The first advice is painfully...

In this episode I talk about the video channel that I host on YouTube. If you have watched any previous episodes of this channel then you know I focus on Arduino related topics. The purpose of the channel is to help people learn about using Arduino. Specifically, the target audience is electronics hobbyists who are interested in learning to use Arduino. That being said, I try to make the videos from the perspective of a beginner so if you don't know jack about electronics or programming,...

If you have been learning about Arduino for any amount of time, than you have probably come across the term Breakout Board.  Now, you might think, as I did when I first heard about breakout boards, that they were some fixture for practicing your Kung Fu fighting. In this lesson, we will discuss what breakout boards are, how they can accelerate your Arduino prototyping and some things to look out for when you buy them. Want to step-up your Arduino skills? Click here to join our 12-part HD...

If you are learning about Arduino, you have no doubt come across the term Arduino Shield.  This tutorial will explain what Arduino Shields are, why they are awesome, and several things to consider when buying shields. cool electronics ideas that you have. Now the Arduino in and of itself is pretty amazing - you can do a lot of stuff with an Arduino alone. But when you want to start adding all types of cool technologies like bluetooth, wifi, RF, motor-drivers, etc. it can be pretty tricky;...

So you just opened up your fancy new gadget - maybe an awesome DSLR camera, or the newest gaming system, or maybe a new Blu-ray player.  As you gladly tear away the packaging - you notice a small book that feels like it was printed on 4th generation recycled newspaper - it’s the instruction manual. As you skim the pages you realize it was first written in Japanese, translated to Chinese by an Australian ventriloquist and then an intern in California used Google Translate to finish the job...

In this tutorial we describe using RGB LEDs of the Common Cathode Type.  We will describe setting up the circuit, talk about the LED and discuss the code used to adjust the hue.

This video tutorial talks about using the random() and randomSeed() functions with Arduino.  It is pretty straight forward, but there are some intricacies worth noting. Creating truly random numbers in Arduino is harder than you might think.  The closest we can get in Arduino, and just about anywhere else, is using pseudo random numbers.  That is, numbers that mimic randomness, but in fact do have a pattern if Want to fast-track your Arduino skills? Click here to join our 12-part HD Video...

Ever ever spent too much time searching for a 220 ohm resistor or just one more jumper wire? Are you sure you had that extra LED, LDR, [Fill in the blank], but have no idea where it went? Do you just want to throw up a quick circuit and get to coding? Travel a lot and want an easy way to learn Arduino on the road?

Do you have an application where you want multiple buttons for different user inputs?  Maybe you have a timer and you want one button for minutes and another for hours. But there is a problem – you only have room for one button! In this tutorial, we are going to use Arduino to explore how to make one button have the functionality of two or more. Click here to join our 12-part HD Video Course.   You Will Need: (1) Momentary push button (5) Jumper wires (1) Solderless breadboard (2)...

If you are just getting started with Arduino, you might be wondering what the heck all this HIGH and LOW stuff everyone is talking about really means. At first I just figured everyone using micro-controllers was just on some type of emotional roller-coaster, until I began to realize that HIGH and LOW are actually abstractions. But let us not talk in abstractions - let us talk in concrete numbers and get down to the bottom of what HIGH and LOW actually mean. This Tutorial Will Include: ...

Floating Pins on Arduino have always been a bit of mystery to me.  It just never made much sense.  I did this video more for my own sake - just to concrete it in my brain.  I hope it can add some solidarity to  your understanding as well...

Let's not be duped by people trying to sell us authentic Arduino's that are counterfeit.  This video will show you the one way to be sure you get the real deal, and five methods of telling if you bought a counterfeit or not.