I have loved making projects with Arduinos, but at $30 a piece your projects can get expensive. So I want to show you how you can make your own Arduino from scratch and save money doing it. Make your own Arduino for around $8. For this instructable I show you how to make one on a breadboard and with it make a digital thermometer.
Step 1: Parts you need for the Arduino:
- Full Size Breadboard ($8 adafruit.com)
- 22 AWG Wire or jumper wires ($6 adafruit.com)
- 1 - 7805 Voltage Regulator ($0.18 taydaelectronics.com)
- 2 - LEDs ($0.02 each taydaelectronics.com)
- 2 - 220 Ohm Resistors ($0.10 each taydaelectronics.com)
- 1 - 10k Ohm Resistor ($0.10 taydaelectronics.com)
- 2 - 10 uF Capacitors ($0.01 each taydaelectronics.com)
- 1 - 16 MHz Clock Crystal ($0.07 taydaelectronics.com)
- 2 - 22 pF Capacitors ($0.10 for pack of 10 taydaelectronics.com)
- 1 - Small Momentary Normally Open "off" Button ($0.05 taydaelectronics.com)
- 1 - Breadboard-friendly 2.1mm DC barrel jack and 9V Wall Wort with 2.1mm Plug (2.1mm jack $0.95 adafruit.com)
- 1 - ATMega328 with Bootloader ($6 adafruit.com or cheaper other places if you can add your own bootloader)
Assuming you have a breadboard, wire, and a way to program (see step 4) the Arduino parts cost a total of $7.71 +shipping.