Let’s Learn Arduino Project 4: Digital Input Push Button

Yesterday’s video was a lot of fun as I began the process to learn and understand the procedures for effectively using an Arduino.  Today’s project wasn’t necessarily as productive.

Let me explain; the project still worked – just not really as it was intended.  Project 4 of the Arduino Workshop book uses a push button as a digital input to control an LED.  Unfortunately, the kit that I got did not have a capacitor that the sketch diagram required.  So, I was forced to alter the diagram in order to get the intended process to function.  It did, but this leads me to a further dilemma.

Simply, how am I supposed to know when I’m supposed to use a capacitor?  I mean, it worked without one, so why would you want to use one in the first place?  This may seem like a stupid question, but once I get to the point where I’m creating my own sketches and I don’t have a book to guide me, I’d really like to know when and why to use certain components – not just because the book told me to.  If you know the answer to this question, please let me know.

This also brings up the point that my Arduino kit is…….functional, yet not adequate.  As with all of my other hobbies, this tends to be the case.  Bre jokes that I have “folder” upon which I fixate, but only for a short length of time.  Then, I’m off on the next fascinating discovery.  This leads me to acquiring a lot of “beginner” items of various facets, but never really delving deep enough into a subject to master it.

So as I move forward throughout the winter and, hopefully, strengthen my Arduino proficiency, I’ll have to acquire various components and hardware to complete the requisite projects.  If this is the sort of thing that interests you, please follow along and learn with me. You can pick up a copy of the Arduino Workshop book by clicking on this link.

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