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How to Make Arduino on Breadboard – Step by Step Instructions

Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Swagatam 16 Comments

In this article I have explained how to make an Arduino on a breadboard. We are also going to see what is an Arduino, how to program it and how to assemble them as standalone microcontroller on a breadboard or PCB.

Table of Contents
  • What is an Arduino? (For noobs)
  • Some specifications of arduino:
  • How to make one on a breadboard:
  • DIAGRAM:
  • How to Program ATmega328P when it is on breadboard:

Arduino was a boon for those who wanted to learn microcontrollers and embedded system for non-engineers and beginner in microcontroller.

Before arduino came into existence, beginners had to learn microcontroller with expensive kits and some of them coded the microcontroller in Assembly language, which is a terrible language and not all understood them.

Arduino was a total game changer, which is cheap and coding can be written in higher languages like C++, and the programmer need not to be a pro in coding

What is an Arduino? (For noobs)

Arduino is an open source prototyping board which is made around ATmega328P; it has 14 GPIO (general purpose input output) pins, out of which 6 pins has capability to do analogue functions, all the 14 pins has the capability to digital functions.

A USB 2.0 type B placed right corner of arduino (depending on how you place) for powering and burn programs to microcontroller. A reset switch is placed left upper corner of arduino board for restarting the program within the arduino itself.

The Arduino board has built in programmer which burns the program to ATmega328P microcontroller via USB. A separate DC jack is provided for powering the arduino from external voltage source ranging from 7V to 12V (has built in voltage regulator).

Some specifications of arduino:

warning message: electricity is dangerous, proceed with caution
ArduinoUno R3 Front 450px 1
  • Operating Voltage: 5V on USB and 7-12V on DC jack.
  • Digital I/O pins: 14 (6 of which can do PWM operations)
  • Analogue input pins: 6
  • Flash memory for storing program: 32KB
  • RAM: 2KB
  • EEPROM: 1KB
  • Clock Speed: 16MHz
  • DC output current per I/O pin: 20mA

Note: The above specification is only applicable for ATmega328P based arduino microcontroller.

How to make one on a breadboard:

If the prototype of your project is complete and you want make it permanent on your project box? Actually you no need to place the whole bulky arduino board into your project box.

ATmega328P with few external components is enough to execute the program and control the peripherals that you connected with the microcontroller.

The arduino board is used to burn the program to microcontroller and provide some protection against the glitches that we make during prototyping.

DIAGRAM:

ATmega328P connect few external components to make Arduino on breadboard

Once the project is complete you may pluck out ATmega328P and connect few external components as shown in diagram and you may solder it to PCB to make it permanent.

For your next project you no need to buy new arduino board, instead you may purchase the ATmega328P and few other external, which cost effective and make your project more compact.

How to Program ATmega328P when it is on breadboard:

Method 1:

The easiest and laziest way program the ATmega328P is with arduino board itself. Insert the ATmega328P, burn you program and pluck it out, insert it on your project.

This method is adaptable when your project has 28 pin IC holder (so that ATmega328P can be removed easily) and the ATmega328P is easily accessible.

Here is how to do it:
Download Arduino IDE form arduino’s official website and install on your computer.
Update the driver for the arduino board on your computer (no need to do, if you are using Linux based computer).
Insert ATmega328P on arduino board in right direction and make sure it has bootloader.
Select “Tools” > “Board”> “Arduino/Genuino UNO”
Plug the arduino to your PC and select right port for your arduino (vary computer to computer. Select “Tools”> “port”).
Compile the program and click the upload button.
Remove ATmega328P and insert it on your project.

Method 2:

If you re-program the microcontroller frequently and hardware of your project is inaccessible, then this method is best for your project, especially when ATmega328P is soldered directly on PCB.

NOTE: Make sure the power supply from external circuit is disconnected before proceeding; we are going to power ATmega328P from arduino board.

Diagram:

re-program the microcontroller frequently and hardware of your project

Select “Tools” > “Board”> “Arduino/Genuino UNO”
Plug the arduino to your PC and select right port for your arduino (vary computer to computer. Select “Tools”> “port”).
Compile the program and click the upload button.

You'll also like:

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  • 5.  Monitoring State of a Switch (Digital Read Serial) – Arduino Basics
  • 6.  Make this Simple Weather Station Project for Homes and Offices

Filed Under: Arduino Projects Tagged With: Arduino, Breadboard, Instructions, Step

About Swagatam

I am an electronics engineer and doing practical hands-on work from more than 15 years now. Building real circuits, testing them and also making PCB layouts by myself. I really love doing all these things like inventing something new, designing electronics and also helping other people like hobby guys who want to make their own cool circuits at home.

And that is the main reason why I started this website homemade-circuits.com, to share different types of circuit ideas..

If you are having any kind of doubt or question related to circuits then just write down your question in the comment box below, I am like always checking, so I guarantee I will reply you for sure!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gurmel singh says

    August 5, 2017 at 11:05 am

    sir is there any time dealy relay mean to say that
    lets say a sytem gives signal to that time delay relay than that start a timer and than give a output signal to operate a small 5 v relay after ,settled time ie. ex after 1 hour or 45min.

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 6, 2017 at 4:43 am

      Hi Gurmel, for the first timer you can use the following circuit

      https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2013/02/make-this-simple-delay-on-circuit.html

      then attach the relay to switch ON the next timer which can be an timer circuit such as a 4060 timer

      Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 10, 2017 at 3:49 pm

      the link which you sent using iC 555 can also be used….

      Reply
  2. Gurmel singh says

    August 4, 2017 at 11:55 am

    sir can i didn't understand about these thing buffer etc . can u plz share step viz circuit for it like 1ohm resitoor to base of that particular transitior and all that .
    plz provide components details i will really appreciate.
    led are those which are commenly used in inverters for various indications.

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 5, 2017 at 2:16 am

      I think using an opto coupler will be a better idea than a transistor.

      you can employ the first circuit from this article:

      https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2013/02/how-to-drive-relay-through-opto-coupler.html

      remove the relay and use the collector for feeding the Arduino, replace the 12V supply with 5V.

      the opto LED with a 10K resistor can be then connected with the external blinking LED

      Reply
  3. Gurmel singh says

    August 4, 2017 at 9:05 am

    sir i have a circuit which has a led and ita blink at for on and off for 500ms continue .
    i want to tap that that on off signal from led terminal and feed it to Arduino .
    does doing this can affect to performance of circuit or to led on off performance??

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 4, 2017 at 10:59 am

      Hi Gurmel, you can extract the frequency from the LED, it will have no impact on the LED operation, but make sure to use a transistor buffer in the middle having a high resistor with the base, this resistor can connected with the LED for the extraction.

      Reply
  4. GR says

    April 26, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    Hi vijay,

    No, you can't. The above article is only dedicated for ATmega328P. If you do the same for Atmega32 you will end up in errors. Use appropriate programmer to upload the code for ATmega32. You can use Arduino UNO board to program ATmega8 and ATmega16 and some other microcontrollers, not with the above schematic, but you can find schematic around the internet.

    Best Regards.

    Reply
  5. VIJAY AJ says

    April 23, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    Sir can I able to burn 40 pin with the same circuit by using breadboard with arduino uno

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      April 24, 2016 at 5:31 am

      Vijay, I am not sure about it, Mr. GR will be able to answer this, hopefully soon.

      Reply
    • GR says

      April 24, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      Hi Vijay,

      Can you please elaborate your question.

      Reply
    • VIJAY AJ says

      April 25, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks for your reply sir. My question is by using arduino uno we can able to program the atmega328 which is a 28 pin microcontroller. As per your above tutorial configuration can I able to upload the program in 40 pin atmega32 by using arduino uno. I hope you may understand my question now.

      Reply
  6. zahid hussain says

    April 16, 2016 at 8:58 pm

    sir,can i used capacitor C1-10,000uf and 63v istead of 25v and also what am i used instead of choke 2mh its not available in market easily can imake its on bolt to do more turns on it.

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      April 17, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      zahid, which circuit are you referring to?

      Reply
    • zahid hussain says

      April 17, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      sir, please tell me in induction heatar i used a single 2uf and 400v capacitor tank instead of 6 330nf and also make a choke 2mh on iron core of 20 turn beacuse lack of avaibility in market but circuit not operate then what iam do.

      Reply
    • Swagatam says

      April 18, 2016 at 5:01 am

      zahid, no that will not do, you must go exactly as recommended in the article.

      please comment under the relevant article

      Reply

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