Garagebot Wiring Diagrams

[Tinman]

I was wondering if someone could post some examples of garagebot wiring diagrams to give us beginners an idea of what it takes to wire up a simple project with flashing lights/LEDs, etc. An education on some basic circuits and techniques would be invaluable. A long time ago I started this garagebot and with all of the recent work by John and robobob I've been motivated to continue the project. Last night I picked up a Robot 2000 I plan on cannibalizing for the walking function, if I can make it work.

[MrFuture]

A great question.

There are a lot of approaches to adding blinkenlights to a robot project. The three I'd recommend would be:

1) Steal one. Nothing in the world is easier, or less expensive, than borrowing a flashing light mechanism from an existing toy/dollar store find and giving it a brain transplant.

2) A venerable 555 Timer Circuit. This is probably the most popular blinking circuit component out there. There are some reasonable looking circuits online here:

http://www.cpemma.co.uk/555_throbber.html (although his mockup uses strip-board construction which is more popular in europe than the us)

http://www.electronic-circuits-diagrams.co...ightsckt1.shtml

and there's a more thorough walk through of the 555 particulars here:

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2072/proj2.htm

3) Use a microcontroller. This is my approach of choice, being a programmer by trade. It lets you trigger a variety of lights, effects, and ultimately motor control with timers, sensors, you name it.

It's surprisingly easy to get started, especially if you've ever written even a simple program in BASIC, etc. before.

A great beginner's kit and instruction book is the "What's a Microcontroller" kit from Radio Shack. It's targeted at high school students, very easy to get started with, and will have you blinking leds on your breadboard within the half hour.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search

I'm a microcontroller guy myself, so I usually use approach 3. Which is really complete overkill for a blinking project, sort of like using a flamethrower to heat up a cup of coffee. But it's the easiest, at least my mind, and gives you the greatest degree of control with the least amount of fuss. Though folks with a serious background in electronics engineering might argue otherwise.

I hope this helps!

-Mr. Future

[roboz]

I was wondering if someone could post some examples of garagebot wiring diagrams to give us beginners an idea of what it takes to wire up a simple project with flashing lights/LEDs, etc. An education on some basic circuits and techniques would be invaluable. A long time ago I started this garagebot and with all of the recent work by John and robobob I've been motivated to continue the project. Last night I picked up a Robot 2000 I plan on cannibalizing for the walking function, if I can make it work.

I can't help you on the wiring but I do want to mention

that the robot looks beautiful so far ;)

So keep @ it !

[robothut]

Simple LED circuits can be used by any one even if you have never picked up a soldering gun/pencile in your life.

Take a standard RED LED for example. You will need to use a current limit resister if runing th LED on 3 volts or more. The value is not realy critical use a 100 OHMs to 220 ohms and you will be fine. The long leg of the LED is positive or if the legs have been trimed then look for a flat spot on the side of the base of the LED this will be negative. Now other colors of LEDs do not have the same votage drop , for example a white LED or BLUE LED will some times work on 3 volts but normaly you will need at leat 4.5 volts with a current limit resistor. As you know you can get 4.5 volts by useing 3 batterys.

Now here is a flashing LED system that is even simpler. Just buy FLASHING LEDs, they have the lectronic flashing circuits built in and if you are runing then on 3 volts or up to 4.5 volts you do not need a resisitor. Just connect the long lead to the positive supply or again the lead that has a flat spot neat the LED base is the negative. You can connect as many of these LEDs as you like up to the same 3 volt or 4.5 volt supply, no resisitors required. Check out my Mr. Orbit robot project I have 5 rows of 9 LEDs some red some blue all wired to run on 3 volts. Now sometimes the battery motor that may be runing on the same 3 volts will throw some hash on the power supply lines so just put a large value CAP on the LEDs supply wires to clean this up if you leds do not operate correctly when the motor is runing.

[Tinman]

Great info John, didn't know they made flashing LEDs. Would probably be a easier than trying to construct a mechanically operated flasher box to drive a regular light bulb, although a flashing LED would be more random. By your instructions, I'm guessing all of the LEDs are wired parallel to the voltage source vice being wired in series?