How to Power any Arduino Project and Make it Portable!

Learning how to power your Arduino Projects is essential for making project which are portable and versatile!

Components

What you need:

A suitable power source
Your Arduino Project

Steps to follow when making your first Ultrasonic Distance Meter

Know how powering your Arduino Works
- When you upload your code to the Arduino, the processor runs the code continuously as long as it has power. That means that no matter how you power the Arduino, it is simply running the code on the Arduino.
Know how much Power you need for your Project
- Generally, most projects will be powered using a 9V battery
- The easiest and safest way to power an Arduino project is using a power bank, where you simply plug the Arduino into the power bank.
- However, for projects which have many motors, ie an RC Car, a dual power system will be required. This means using a 9V battery to power the Arduino, and a separate battery (either a 9V or 4 AA batteries) for the motors
- The Maximum Voltage which the Arduino can take is 12V, so avoid exceeding this. No matter how much power you put into the Arduino, all it can output is 5V from the 5V pin.
Power your Arduino
- Connect the Red Wire (Positive) from the Power Source to the VIN Pin, and the Black Wire (Negative) to the GND Pin on the Arduino.
- If you are using a powerbank, simply plug it into the Arduino
- If using a dual power system, connect the Red and Black wires to the Red and Blue on a power rail on the breadboard, and connect all of your components to that power rail. Connect your Arduino to a separate power rail, using a separate battery/ power supply. Make sure you connect together all Ground Rails on all breadboards! This creates a common reference voltage and prevents erratic behavior or permanent damage to components.