diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 290e7e7..99947f4 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Secondly, running this program requires you to install a few so-called _gems_. T Installing gems is fairly easy and straightforward. Simply type `(sudo) gem install gem_name_here` into your terminal and the gem should start installing. Please note that some Ruby installations require you to be root to install gems. If that is the case, please add the `sudo` before the command. #### IDE -Thirdly, you need an IDE that is capable of uploading code to your Arduino. The most commonly used one being the official Arduino IDE that can be downloaded [from their website](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software). +Thirdly, you need an IDE that is capable of uploading code to your Arduino. The most commonly used one being the official Arduino IDE that can be downloaded [from their website](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software). I personally used the [PlatformIO IDE](https://platformio.org/platformio-ide) which is however more difficult to install for beginners. Therefore, I recommend by starting with the official Arduino IDE. #### Arduino Library Fourthly and lastly, you also need to download the LiquidCrystal library from [here](https://github.com/arduino-libraries/LiquidCrystal). The main purpose of this library is to be able to easily control LCDs. @@ -38,21 +38,20 @@ For further information on how to install libraries for your Arduino, please vis After having downloaded and installed the library and the IDE, first you need to connect the Arduino to your computer. After having done so, please open the Arduino IDE. Afterwards, click the _Tools_ tab. A small window should open in which there are two options you need to be concerned about: _Board_ and _Port_. In the _Board_ section, please select the board that you are using and in the _Port_ section you need to select the port that the Arduino is connected to (usually it tell you which one that is). Thereafter you need to upload the sketch (the program) located in `src/main.cpp` to your Arduino. To do so, press `Ctrl-O` and find the folder you extracted the repository into and open it. Once the sketch can be seen in the IDE's window, press `Ctrl-U` to upload it to your Arduino. - ----- ### Hardware -As mentioned previously, you also require some hardware to be able to run this program properly. In the following section I will explain what hardware you need, what specific hardware I use and how to connect said hardware correctly to your Arduino. +As mentioned previously, you also require some hardware to be able to run this program properly. In the following section I will explain what hardware you need, what specific hardware I use and how to connect said hardware correctly to your Arduino. Please note that your hardware will most likely not be the exact same as mine and therefore you might experience unintended issues. Should you be certain to have connected everything correctly without the program working, please file an Issue on this repository. #### Arduino -The most important hardware component you will be needing is obviously an Arduino. I believe that most Arduinos should work with this program, but I cannot be entirely sure. Therefore, the only _officially_ supported Arduino for this is the Arduino Uno. If you tried this program on any other Arduino and it worked, please contact me and I will add it to the list of supported devices. +The most important hardware component you will be needing is obviously an Arduino. I believe that most Arduinos should work with this program, but I cannot be entirely sure. Therefore, the only _officially_ supported Arduino for this is the Arduino Uno. If you tried this program on any other Arduino and it worked, please contact me and I will add it to the list of supported devices. However, I am not sure you will be able to connect the hardware with an Arduino that only supports 3.3V. #### LCD Another important component is obviously the LCD. In order for this program to function properly, please use an LCD with 16 columns and 2 rows. Using an LCD with fewer or more columns and rows will most likely result in weird glitches or it might not work at all. -These generally have 14 or 16 pins — The latter is back-lit, the former is not. I am using the `LCD 1602 Module`. +These generally have 14 or 16 pins — The latter is back-lit, the former is not — of which you only need to worry about 10 (or 12 in case of an LCD with back-light). I am using the `LCD 1602 Module`. Please connect the pins as follows: -|LCD|Arduino| +|LCD |Arduino| |------|-------| VSS |GND VDD |5V @@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ RW |GND E |Pin 8 D4 - D7|Pin 9 - 12 -If you have a back-lit screen, you might also have to connect two more pins to GND and 5V. Your LCDs pins might be named differently. In that case, please refer to your LCDs data sheet. The back-light also might have to be connected to a 220Ω resistor. +If you have a back-lit screen, you might also have to connect two more pins to GND and 5V (these are named _A_ for 5V and _K_ for GND in my case). Furthermore, your LCDs pins might be named differently. In that case, please refer to your LCDs data sheet (just looking for the model number on your preferred search engine should yield results pretty quickly). The back-light also might have to be connected to a 220Ω resistor through 5V instead of going directly to 5V. #### Active buzzer Another component is the active buzzer. It will make a sound whenever you receive an emails to notify you. The one I am using is the `TMB12A05`. Connected the negative side of the buzzer to GND and the postive side (which is usually marked by having a longer lead) to your Arduino's Pin 2.