Using a Microcontroller in my Project

[Kamkut17]

I have been searching around the web for information on how to build a good Bench Power supply, and alot, if not all designs had some sort of display which acted as a voltmeter. I read into this, and all the information given to me was that they used a microcontroller, then they went ahead and gave me the code. But I was wondering, with microcontrollers like the Arduino Uno or the Raspberry Pi, how would I use them practically in my project? I have only ever seen somebody play around with it, flashing LEDs or whatever on Youtube, but of course it was only short term. An Arduino Uno is quite pricey (36 or so bucks) so I highly doubt I just throw the board in there and make it act as a second board, I've had a look around google myself and I have found nothing, If anybody could help in telling/showing me how to actually use a microcontroller in a long-term project, that would be very helpful!

[AustinTxBob]

Welcome to the forum.

There are so many long-term projects that one could use a micro-controller or a rPi.  Signal generator, weather station for example.  I have a rPi installed at my parent's ranch that controls the lights and gate opener for them.

[Zeyneb]

Hi,

Enter "digital voltmeter" in ebay and you'll fiind what you're looking for. These modules contain a microcontroller which senses the voltage on the analog input and take care of displaying it on the seven segment display.

So for just displaying the voltage you don't need to know anything about that microcontroller. Just figure out the correct wiring.

If you do want to start with microcontrollers. I would recommend a microchip PIC in a DIP package on a breadboard. Then you can change the circuit you build around the microcontroller as well as changing the embedded code.

It is my preference to completely master first a simple microcontroller and then design a PCB myself and never deal with stuff like Arduino Uno or the Raspberry Pi. But hey, that is MY preference.

Ok very short, suggestions to get started:
I've a MPLAB ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger to get my code into the microcontroller.
I design analog electronics with LTSpice to keep my silly mistakes from ruining actual electronics.
My suppliers are Digikey and Mouser.
Buy at least a complete kit of resistors. Type "resistor kit" at Digikey and the select Through hole in the mounting type column.
And capacitors 10nF, 100nF also Through hole
look up some schematics of power supply designs that suit your needs and buy the components from the suppliers I just mentioned.

Regards,
Zeyneb

[Kamkut17]

Found exactly what I was looking for thanks to you guys, thanks!

[macboy]

...An Arduino Uno is quite pricey (36 or so bucks) ...

Arduino is fully open source H/W and S/W, so you can build you own, or let some thrifty Chinese outfit do it for you. You can buy Uno clones on ebay etc. for about $6. These usually have a surface-mounted microcontroller rather than the socket mounted DIP one on the genuine thing. That means that if you blow the micro, you usually end up replacing the entire board. But at $6 a pop, that's a low risk. Arduino nano or micro are usually cheaper if you don't need the larger form factor to plug shields onto it.

[Ian.M]

Alternatively, use an Arduino as an AVR ISP programmer and use it to program bare ATMega328P chips for your own boards: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoISP