Digital technologies/Arduino/Arduino- Beginner/Connecting to an Arduino

  • There are a few ways that you can ruin or burn your Arduino, refer to this guide before starting for more information.
  • If you are using a lab computer in the Faculty of Engineering refer to this guide for additional steps to connect the Arduino.

Step 1: Download the Arduino IDE from https://www.arduino.cc/en/software. Make sure to choose the version that is appropriate for your operating system.

Step 2: Connect the Arduino to your computer via an A/B type USB cable.

Step 3: Once the Arduino is connected, your computer will recognize the Arduino board as a generic COM port. The power LEDs onboard the Arduino should light up.

Step 4: Time to find out what port number is assigned so that the Arduino and computer can properly communicate with one another. in the IDE select Tools > Ports > Select a port. If even after selecting the port the Arduino doesn't connect, try a different port.

Step 5: Open the Arduino IDE. Under Tools>Board, ensure that the correct type of Arduino board  is selected.

Step 6: Under Tools> COM, ensure that the “port” is the one shown in the step above. Check that the programmer is set as “AVRISP AKII”

Possible bugs:

If you're having trouble with your Arduino, refer to this guide: Arduino troubleshooting