[PD] Arduino, any feedback to help me choose the model?

[Pierre Massat]

Hi,
I just got my Uno in the mail today. It's so cool! I'm all excited.
I've been searching their website for some basic info regarding he
components i should use, but haven't found anything.
Do you know if i could use just any pot? Or is there a specific value i
should use? Also, can i use a battery for power?
It seems like their tutorials are mainly about programming the boards, and
not so much about interfacing them with the real world. And as of 2011 Tron
is still just pure fiction, and guess what, i'm still plain real.

Thank you all very much for your advice!

Pierre

2011/4/16 Martin Peach <martin.peach at sympatico.ca>

> On 2011-04-16 07:09, Pierre Massat wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I just ordered a Uno, i think it will suffice.
>>
>> Martin, I'd like to replace my pot with an optical sensor if it's
>> quieter. Only i've never used one. How does it work? How do i put this
>> in the pedal?
>>
>>
> I got a reflective sensor which consists of an IR LED and a photo
> transistor in one package, with both components facing in one direction like
> the Vishay TCRT5000L:
>
> http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=751-1034-5-ND
>
> You put a 10 kOhm or so resistor to 5V on the collector of the transistor
> (bigger resistor = more sensitivity but adds noise) and a 330 Ohm resistor
> from 5V to the anode of the LED (smaller resistor = more sensitivity but
> don't burn out the LED), the other two pins to ground. Then connect the
> transistor collector to an arduino analog in.
>
> Mechanically, mount the device so it's looking up at the underside of the
> pedal and adjust things until you get a good range of values. It may help to
> stick some reflective material on the pedal, for greater sensing range.
>
> These kinds of sensors are used a lot in printers to detect paper, so if
> you pull apart old printers that's one thing to look for, besides the
> motors.
>
> Martin
>
>
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