Challenge Build 1- Blinking LED

 For our first challenge we were to build a circuit that contained a resistor, an LED, and an Arduino board.  The LED was supposed to Blink on and off every second if we compiled the program correctly.  Below you will see my attempts at programming.  I have included the failed attempts and the final working program, along with my sketch of how to build the circuit, a picture of the finished circuit, and a video of the "Blinking LED".

First Failed Program

First attempt at uploading the program got this error message.  I had forgotten the semicolon at the end and I also put the wrong pin number in the program.

Another Failed Programming Attempt

Another attempt at uploading the program got a different error message. I had the correct pin but forgot the semicolon again.  In all I had 4 failed attempts at getting the program to upload.  Each time I got an error message I had forgotten the semicolon at the end of a line somewhere in the program.

Working Program for Blinking LED

I am not an artist, but I tried to draw a diagram of what the circuit would look like when assembled.

  

LED Circuit

I ran into another problem after I finally got the program de-bugged.  I had installed the LED with the polarity wrong.  I discovered it when I started checking all my connections to see if I had plugged the wires or components into the wrong position.  It is now “Blinking” as it should.

Blinking LED Working 

I tried 5 different videos to explain what I did through out this project.  I finally had to cut it very short to show you the functioning circuit, but I will have to explain through text.  All but the last video were too big and would not upload to the blog.  

My first challenge was not having a working Arduino kit to work with.  I finally received the first kit I ordered on Friday afternoon. (It was supposed to be here Wednesday.)  Then when I opened it the Arduino would not power up.  God was watching over me because the replacement kit arrived at 3pm today, and I have worked steadily since to get this done.

I had several failed attempts at programming.  I am not an experienced programmer with code.  I am more familiar with icon driven programming.  I was very relieved when I eventually got the code to upload without getting an error message.  I continually forgot to put semicolons at the end of lines and initially programmed to the wrong pin number on the Arduino.  Then when I did get the program to upload, the LED did not turn on.  So I went back to the basics and started checking wiring connections.  Eventually I realized that I had the LED installed in the wrong direction.  Once I changed that the circuit started working.

The first example of a real world circuit that is similar to this project is actually in my utility room.  The charger for my Ryobi tools has blinking LEDs that tell you if the battery is bad, if it is charging, and then when it is fully charged.  

Overall I enjoyed this project, but I know I would have liked it more if I had not had so many complications before I ever got to start it.