EGPT
Table of Contents
Introduction
What is enjoyable? Light up a few LEDs and make some awesome projects with your Arduino.
You know what is not a hoot? Seeing your Arduino going poof, because you did not power it correctly
It is not a rare case to Google such questions as how to supply power to arduino or does arduino need a power supply.
All of us have been there: measuring volts and amps, wondering whether plugging something in is going to make it light up your project… or your board as a whole. Ahem then, so that we understand that.
This is not a dull completion of the following: connect this to that. This is a human-friendly guide, and it is a friend who fits your knowledge about the technical things over the cup of coffee. We will run it down, look at all the ways and answer the questions that you are probably too scared to ask on Reddit.
1. USB Power – The Free Ways (Until It is not)
This is the way, in which the majority begin. You connect your Arduino with a USB cable and voil a, it works.
USB is ideal when you are coding, prototyping or doing small projects which do not need much juice to run it. A majority of USB ports operate at 5V and 500mA and that is sample to drive lights blinking or reading sensors.
However, the twist is that when your project requires motors, or relays, or any other power-intensive device, you will not be able to use USB by itself. You will experience strange resets or brownouts (that is making technology jargon sound like Arduino is drunk).
2. Barrel Jack -The official version (And yet a bit unclear)
Your Arduino is likely to feature a circle-shaped port entitled barrel jack. That is to plug in a dc adapter.
Use an adapter with 7V-12V and not higher. The Arduino has a voltage regulator to step this down to 5V, and beyond 12V this regulator makes itself known by heating up. Such as, fried egg hot.
So yep, how do I feed the power supply to Arduino via a DC jack? Simple:
- Seek out a 9V, or 12V regulated adaptor.
- Center positive.
- Insert it. That is it.
3. Vin Pin – to Rebels Who Know What They are Doing
Unless you want to bypass the barrel-jack and feed uncouth voltage straight in, there is Vin pin to use.
Apply it when using regulated and safe power supply (7V 12V). You do not get the barrel jacket protection with this model though so perhaps do not do this yet until you are more familiar with it.
4. Battery Power- Freedom, But Not Could Careless
Interested in making Arduino wireless? The friend is battery.
Options:
- Its 9 V battery is simple, yet short-lived.
- AA Batteries (x6): Better runtime, more stable.
- Li-ion or Li-Po Packs: have a lot of power, but required a good charging circuit, and consistent voltage.
Does Arduino need power supply by means of the batteries? Not always. But do you want it portable, sure–and then you must be clever about it. Do not plug 3.7V Li-Po directly to 5V board. If necessary use a step up module.
5. Experts Only: the 5V Pin
This is the plug-in to the heart (or microcontroller I guess) of your arduino. By connecting power to the 5V pin you will be bypassing all the protection circuits. It is just as if you were injecting people with an IV drip yet you are not a doctor.
Just be sure that you have a controlled 5V power supply, and you really trust it.
Other than that just don’t.
6. Solar Panels Cool…, but Tricky
Yes, you can supply your arduino with solar power. This installation however requires more than a panel:
- A charge controller is a solar charge controller.
- An energy storage battery
- A step down or step up transformer
That is, it is fabulous, but not plug-and-play. Ideal when you like off-grid IoT.
7. Power supply: use Arduino (Wait, What?)
You read that right. Some people wonder how to use arduino as power supply. Sorta, you can.
Assuming you power up your Arduino (e.g. via USB), you can use the 5V pin as a source of power to drive other small-ish components through it (sensors, modules etc). However, donot get ambitious, as you will blow the regulator or break your board, should you attempt to power any motors or heavy parts.
It is okay on low-draw requirements. Imagine it the way you would borrow a charger to a friend–you would not want to plug in your electric car.
In conclusion: Don not be that guy to fry his arduino
Learning how to supply power to Arduino the correct way is akin to telling someone not to put foil in the microwave. Now you know; it is easy. Until then? One dicey game.
USB is used to test. Vin or barrel jack to get any serious work done. And what of the 5V pin? When you understand what you are doing, then only.
And that again, whether you are querying how to give power supply to arduino or what I am wondering, does Arduino need power supply or you simply want your project to go beyond the five-minute mark, then power is a factor.
Do it badly and you will be swapping boards. Get it wrong and your project dies a horrible death.
