I know how hard it is to find solutions when you are just starting out in the field of engineering, and you had your first Arduino board. It’s frustrating.
Don’t worry.
I had this feeling so many times, but it was worth it in the end. This guide of Arduino problems will sum up all your beginner Arduino problems, and will give you solutions to how to solve all the issues within no time.
Here are 10 common Arduino issues I will discuss later
- Errors In Connection
- Outdated Drivers
- Servo Problems
- Grounding Errors
- Programming Errors
- Bootloader Problem
- Wrong Com Port
- Arduino IDE Issue
- Serial Monitor Not Working
Table of Contents
Why can’t I upload my programs to the Arduino board?
There may be many reasons, but here are some of the most common problems people usually face it when they starting working on the Arduino as a beginner:
Outdated Drivers
The drivers of your board shown in your computer are capable of running outside equipment gadgets such as I/O pins, printers, and Arduino boards. An Arduino driver issue is additionally a common issue. It happens when the Arduino drivers shown in your computer aren’t consequently upgraded, and your PC doesn’t recognize your Arduino board.
source: arduino.cc
Solution
To settle the issue of obsolete drivers:
- Go to the control board, and press on the “Device Manager.” Then, discover your Arduino’s USB port on that list.
- You won’t discover your Arduino by its title since your computer does not recognize it. Right-click on the USB port where the Arduino is displayed and tap on “update drivers.”
- If that doesn’t work, at that point to illuminate this Arduino driver issue, you’ll need to introduce them manually.
Programming Errors
If you are running away from the code, and don’t like playing with the code, then Arduino is not for you (sorry for the harsh words), but Arduino requires coding. When you code, you will face errors. Most of the programming glitches are pointed out by the compiler, but a few of the minor ones go unnoticed, which is exceptionally annoying. Here are a few of the foremost common Arduino programming blunders that the compiler doesn’t point out.
Equals and Comparison
If you’ve been programming your Arduino board recently, you’d know the distinction between the rise to “=” administrator and the comparison “==” operator. Using the two traded isn’t an alternative since they have distinctive parts. In case by botch, you sort one “=” sign at a put where you had to compare two factors, your code won’t work the way it is assumed to, and you might never discover why your venture is acting this way.
Errors with float and integers
Coast and Integer are the standard information sorts utilized in C/C++ programming. Floating-point numbers are those which contain a decimal, whereas integrability, on the other hand, are entire numbers. If your program is performing a numerical calculation of separating 20 by 6, the reply would be a decimal number (3.33). In the event that you utilize numbers to store the reply to 20/6, then you’d get a ‘3’ rather than 3.33.
The 0.33 contrast appears like nothing, but on the off chance that you wish accuracy in your venture, at that point this contrast is progressing to be significant. The compiler won’t check this botch as a mistake, but it can take a toll on your parcel by preventing the way your extension works.
Error with Array size
An array may be a collection of values put away one after another. The measure of an array tells you how numerous components are present in it. For occurrence, in the event that you have got an assortment of estimate 6, it implies there are six components in it.
They can be numbers, strings, or letter sets. What’s imperative to note is the component numbering inside the array. The tallying continuously begins for clusters, which implies in case you have got six components, they go like 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In case you need to get to the primary component of a cluster, it would be component 0, not 1.
The final component of this cluster would be 5 and not 6, as numerous individuals erroneously believe. Many individuals make the botch of not numbering the array components accurately, which renders off base values when getting to the array.
Solution
To avoid these programming botches, you must continuously double-check your code, sometimes recently uploading it to the board since the compiler doesn’t capture the blunders specified here; consequently, you would like to keep your perception aptitudes sharp and redress these mistakes. Running your code with these botches will influence the execution of your extension, and you wouldn’t effectively discover what’s causing these problems.
Always make beyond any doubt to distinguish between the comparison and assignment operators. In case you think you’re confused between them, you’ll be able to continuously compose them down on a sticky note and place it on your workstation. Also, store decimal values in a drift variable and non-decimal values within the numbers variable since this will increment the exactness of your project. Furthermore, whereas working with clusters, keep in mind that the component check begins from 0, not 1, as this will spare you from confronting issues in your code.
Bootloader Problem
The Arduino bootloader could be an imperative piece of code that permits the microcontroller board to study the program that’s displayed in its memory when the board is turned on or after reset. The bootloader empowers you to alter the program by composing and uploading an unused one. It waits for instruction from the Arduino software.
In case you’ve got a bootloader issue, your Arduino won’t perform the overwork, and neither will a modern code transfer to the board. The Arduino bootloader issue is one of the foremost common issues confronted by beginner-level clients as well as experienced Arduino specialists.
Solution
To fathom this issue, you must begin with getting it that the bootloader computer program, moreover called firmware, isn’t working any longer, meaning you wish to supplant the adulterated firmware with an unused one. To replace the adulterated firmware, you’d have to download the Arduino bootloader record from the web and transfer it to the board.
Wrong Com Port
Another common Arduino issue that fledglings confront as often as possible is the Arduino COM port issue. The Arduino COM port issue happens when you’ve chosen the wrong COM port within the Arduino IDE whereas your microcontroller board is displayed at a different port. If this happens, you won’t be able to transfer your program to the board. To avoid this issue, you would like to urge the practice of checking your COM port once you interface the Arduino to your computer.
Solution
The arrangement is direct; you would like to check which COM port your Arduino is utilizing. On the off chance that the correct port isn’t chosen, at that point you’ll be able to effectively choose it through the Arduino IDE:
- Open the devices menu display on the beat of the screen and drift your mouse over the “Ports” menu.
- You’ll see the title of your Arduino board in conjunction with the COM ports that it is using.
- If you see a little tick next to your Arduino title, this implies it’s shown on the proper port. In the event that not, at that point select the right COM port by clicking on it.
Arduino IDE issues
Now and then, an Arduino IDE issue causes issues and doesn’t let you transfer the program to the board. How can you know that it’s an Arduino IDE issue that you’re confronting? Well, in the project that you get a “launch4j” window popping up on the screen each time you tap on something within the IDE, at that point you could be having an Arduino IDE issue.
This problem happens because of a glitch within the backend of the Arduino IDE. It may be a java application that allows apps to run in Windows OS.
Solution
You don’t need to worry about your project, or the board, or you may be thinking of the board damage, but a quick restart of your computer, and Arduino IDE would solve this issue. I had done it multiple times, and every time it was resolved with the restart.
Serial Monitoring not working
A serial monitor is a screen that pops up when you aren’t sure about the board that is working or not. It permits you to communicate between your computer and the Arduino board. You can send messages and study them utilizing the serial screen within the Arduino IDE.
So, having an Arduino serial screen issue implies that the serial monitor won’t show any information. It won’t work, indeed in spite of the fact that the Serial.print() and Serial.printIn() commands are shown within the running program.
Solution
To resolve the Arduino serial screen issue, firstly, you start it by checking the connections of your circuit. After deep analyzing the connections make sure you are not leaving any soldering mishap, or faulty connections.
Secondly, Check the COM port within the Arduino IDE and check if it’s the same at which your Arduino board is present.
There is a high possibility that you are getting errors in your code; check your code. See the serial commands. It can get blocked from sitting inside an if-else explanation, where the “else” condition never fulfills. If the issue holds on, attempt changing the baud rate of the serial screen with that of the Arduino serial port. Ordinarily, the baud rate is 9600, which works fine in serial communication. Coordinating the baud rate will unravel the issue.
Common Arduino hardware problem
Servo Problems
Servo Motors might seem simple to work with, but in reality, they cause a parcel of mistakes. One such Arduino servo issue is that the servo motor doesn’t begin when associated with the Arduino board.
Servo Motors require a tall beginning current, and typically where the issue starts. The motor needs more current, which brings down the voltage on other pins of the Arduino board, and it resets itself. This cycle proceeds to go on, and it shows up that the servo motor isn’t beginning.
Solution
- To settle the Arduino servo issue, you would like to supply a legitimate source of current to the servomotor. One way is to include a capacitor between the 5V and ground associations on the breadboard.
- The capacitor acts as a charge supply, providing additional current to the servo to permit it to begin without any bother. Be beyond any doubt that the capacitor must be of tall esteem. Anything more noteworthy than 470 uF can fathom the problem.
Another solution: A common practice is to use external batteries to control servos. Doing so will fulfill their tall beginning current prerequisites and spare you from managing servo issues.
Grounding Errors
This is really the most common problem, and people waste a lot of time figuring it out when you are just busy making your own Arduino projects, and you just forgot to ground the circuit. Your circuit will not complete, and it will not give you the required result.
Most of the time students, and beginners first make their projects on the breadboard, and the wire doesn’t go inside the breadboard properly. Do check out all your connections, and wires are properly inserted into the breadboard.
Bonus tip: Make sure you use different colors of wire to differentiate the Ground, power and other connections.
Solution
Arduino, establishing issues by first checking the GND pin voltage employing a voltmeter. The control comes into a 24V control conditioner. This keeps control as of now at 24V and cleans out any spikes or surges. The 24V ground and hot at that point go to connectors where they depart out to the other gadgets.
There’s a 9V controller that brings the 24V down to 9V and powers the Arduino by means of the Vin pin. The Arduino is additionally connected to the ground from the 24V. There’s also a 5V controller that powers the sensors. This can be associated with the 24V control, the ground from the 24V conjointly associated with the Arduino PWM Computerized Stick 9.
The Arduino triggers the 5V controller by putting a stick 9 tall. This fundamental turns on the 5V controller so that the 5V controller can control the sensors. Usually required as the sensors require more control at that point the 5V yield from the Arduino PWM pins.
Bonus and the easiest hack: Just check out the ground connections if they are good, and if you are making them on the Vero board just check out the soldering wire connecting. If you find any faults or lose connections, you just make it tight. Make sure with continuity with the voltmeter; all connections are good.
Recommended Reading:
Grounding is the most important and key take away note that none project would work out if the grounding is not properly. So I would recommend you to give this article about basic engineering quantities a read; this would help you a lot to understand in a better way.
Errors In Connection
The main issue is that numerous individuals go through blunders in association, meaning there’s an issue in interfacing the board to a computer. Utilizing the off-base sort of cable is one of the reasons why there’s a blunder in the association. We tend to utilize our versatile charger as a USB cable for Arduino since it fits well, but the charging cable can’t transmit information.
Charging cables don’t have information lines; consequently, you ought to contribute a unique Arduino USB cable. An association issue can pop up in the project that the USB port of your computer or your Arduino board isn’t working. Investigating this mistake is necessary since usually one of the reasons why your Arduino code won’t upload.
Solution
To illuminate the Arduino association issue, you’ll be able to purchase a unique Arduino USB cable, made particularly for information transmission. You’ll be able to discover one from a hardware store close to you. Secondly, in case your computer’s USB port is causing issues, at that point attempt interfacing the Arduino board through another USB port.
In the project that doesn’t help, try connecting it to another computer. In case it connects, that implies you would like to urge your computer’s USB ports to settle. In case the USB jack on your Arduino board is defective, you can replace your Arduino board.
Recommended reading: There is a whole community of Arduino where people ask different questions related to it, and beginners don’t know much about the community. So, here’s a link of it,