How to program Arduino Pro Mini using Arduino UNO, Arduino Nano and TTL converter | Step by step instructions
Hello, welcome back to another tutorial from SriTu Hobby. In this tutorial, we will learn how to program an Arduino Pro-mini board using the Arduino UNO, Arduino Nano, and TTL converter. Also, through this tutorial, I will explain step by step how to program a Pro-mini board using all three of these methods. The LED blink example is used for this.
What is the Arduino Pro Mini?
It can be simply described as the smallest and most powerful board in the Arduino family. Also, this board is made by incorporating the same microcontroller called ATmega328P which is included in the Arduino UNO board. Also, everything that can be done by the Arduino UNO board can be done through this. We can buy this Pro Mini board in the market at a low cost. Therefore, using this board we can create projects low cost-effective and more effective.
Also, this board does not have a programmer and a USB port, so you’ll need another device for programming. You can use one of the three methods mentioned earlier for this purpose, which we will discuss in detail later. This board is available in two versions depending on the power supply requirements, which are as follows:
3.3v Input
- Microcontroller — ATmega 328p
- Operating Voltage — 3.3v
- Input Voltage — 5v
- Digital pins — 12 pins(6 PWM pins)
- Analog pins — 8 pins
- DC current per I/O pins — 40mA
- Flash memory — 32KB
- SRAM — 2KB
- EEPROM — 1KB
- Clock speed — 8Mhz
- Not include programmer
5v Input
- Microcontroller — ATmega 328p
- Operating Voltage — 5v
- Input Voltage — 5-12v
- Digital pins — 12 pins(6 PWM pins)
- Analog pins — 8 pins
- DC current per I/O pins — 40mA
- Flash memory — 32KB
- SRAM — 2KB
- EEPROM — 1KB
Keep this in mind when you work with the Arduino pro-mini. OK, let’s learn how to program the Pro Mini board step by step using the methods mentioned above.
1. Arduino UNO with Pro Mini
This can be done in two ways using the Arduino UNO board.
The required components are as follows.
- Arduino Pro Mini x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- Arduino UNO board x 1 —Our Store / Amazon
- LED x 1 —Our Store / Amazon
- 180-ohm Resistor x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- Breadboard x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- Jumper wires — Our Store /Amazon
Disclosure: These Amazon links are Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Step 1
Firstly, identify these components.
Step 2
OK. Connect these components. For that, use the circuit diagram below. You can try the following two methods separately. I used the first method.
1st method
2nd method
Step 3
Now, remove the RX and TX jumper wires. Then upload the empty sketch to the Arduino UNO board. After, reconnect the RX and TX jumpers.
Step 4
OK, now create the required program to upload to the Pro Mini board. For that, I’m using the LED blink example.
- The complete program of this project – Download
void setup() {
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
delay(1000);
digitalWrite(13, LOW);
delay(1000);
}Step 5
Now, select board and port. Afterward, Upload this code to the Pro Mini board. Once the upload is complete, you can disconnect the Arduino UNO from the Pro Mini and provide a separate 5V power supply to the Pro Mini. You can now test the program that was uploaded.
2.Arduino Nano with Pro Mini
The required components are as follows.
- Arduino Pro Mini x 1 —Our store / Amazon
- Arduino Nano board x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- LED x 1 —Our store / Amazon
- 180-ohm Resistor x 1 —Our store / Amazon
- Breadboard x 1 —Our Store / Amazon
- Jumper wires — Our Store / Amazon
Disclosure: These Amazon links are Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Step 1
Firstly, identify these components.
Step 2
Secondly, connect these components. For that, use the circuit diagram below.
Step 3
OK, now create the program to be uploaded to the Pro Mini board. For that, I used an LED blink example.
void setup() {
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
delay(1000);
digitalWrite(13, LOW);
delay(1000);
}Step 4
Now, select board and port. Afterward, Upload this code to the Pro Mini board. (Press the reset button on the pro-mini board once while the program is uploading) Once the upload is complete, you can disconnect the Arduino Nano from the Pro Mini and provide a separate 5V power supply to the Pro Mini. You can now test the program that was uploaded.
3.TTL converter with Pro Mini
What is the TTL converter?
This is designed by inserting a programmer with a USB port. Also through this, we can put a program into any microcontroller. Serial communication methodology has been used for that. Also, we can get 5v and 3.3v potentials using this TTL converter.
PIN structure of this TTL converter
So, let’s program the pro-mini board using a TTL converter. The required components are given below.
- TTL converter — Our store / Amazon
- Arduino Pro Mini x 1 — Our store / Amazon
- LED x 1 — Our store / Amazon
- 180-ohm Resistor x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- Breadboard x 1 — Our Store / Amazon
- Jumper wires — Our Store / Amazon
Disclosure: These Amazon links are Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Step 1
Firstly, identify these components.
Step 2
Secondly, connect these components. For that, use the circuit diagram below.
Step 3
Thirdly, now create the program that needs to be uploaded to the Pro Mini board. For that, I used an LED blink example.
void setup() {
pinMode(2, OUTPUT);//define arduino pin
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(2, HIGH);//LED on
delay(1000);//delay
digitalWrite(2, LOW);//LED off
delay(1000);//delay
}Step 4
Now, select board and port. After that, upload this code to the Pro Mini board. (Press the reset button on the pro-mini board once while the program is uploading) Once the upload is complete, you can disconnect the TTL converter from the Pro Mini and provide a separate 5V power supply to the Pro Mini. You can now test the program that was uploaded.
OK, enjoy this tutorial, The full video guide is given below. So, we will meet in the next tutorial. Have a good day.
