Moonbase Otago - Dunedin Arduino project

Moonbase Otago - Dunedin Arduino project - WeMOS D1 page

Introduction

This page is for those people who have a kit with a WeMOS D1 in it - it looks like this:

If you don't have one of these you probably have an Arduino Uno and the page you are looking for is over here.

Getting started

Welcome - chances are you've come here because you were given an Arduino kit - these pages are still changing, we'll have more information over the next few weeks explaining not only how to use everything in your kit, but also how to add other things to work with it.

If you want to get started now hunt down a USB A to USB micro cable that looks like this:

There are lots of them around, one comes with almost every cell phone. If you don't have one then ask around, someone will have one.

Next download the free Arduino IDE software from http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software and follow the instructions from the Arduino pages to install it on your computer. Next you need to install the 'boards package' to support the WeMOS D1 - start the Arduino app and:

open the 'Preferences' dialog from the File menu and enter this "http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json" (without the quotes) in the box marked "Additional boards manager URLs" - close the dialog box
next open the Tools menu, choose "Board: "... and "Boards Manager ..."
enter "wemos" into the Search box, and then choose the entry "esp8266 by ESP8266 community"
Now click "Install"
Once it has finished installing close the Boards Manager dialog box
finally open the Tools menu again, choose "Board: "... and search down the menu and select "WeMOS D1 R2 & Mini"

Before you plug your D1 into your computer have a look at the "Port" entry in the Arduino program's Tools menu, remember which entries are there. Now plug one end of the USB cable in the D1 and the other end in your computer, the computer will provide power to the D1 and the light on the D1 should flash for a short time. Check the "Port" entry in the Tools menu again there should be a new entry, this is the port your D1 is connected to - select it now - on some computers this may change from time to time.

If your D1 didn't show up in the Port menu and if you have a Windows machine or a Mac you may have to install drivers - these instructions may help:

Recent Linux distributions already contain working drivers.
For Windows download the driver installer CH341SER.EXE (click on the big blue download button) and run it to install the Windows drivers on your system - Here's a video of instructions for Windows
Instructions for Macs - Added instructions for the latest 'El Capitan' MacOS release

Components

What's in the kit?

This section will eventually talk about all the components in the kits and show examples of how to use them.

Getting help

Paul helps run Dunedin Makerspace it's open most Saturday afternoons from 1pm-5pm and you can usually find him there (check the DSpace calendar to make sure). You can mail him at paul@taniwha.com - we will likely create a mailing list in the near future

Notes for teachers

Most of the parts in the kits were bought from http://www.aliexpress.com class set sized orders are likely to get similar sorts of prices here's a list of places I bought parts, note that prices and availability will change, search around for better deals, make sure you get the free shipping