Arduino relay board : beginner friendly kit build

This kit is a beginner friendly soldering project that can expand the capabilities of an Arduino Uno or Mega board to allow for controlling higher current (or voltage) loads.
CANADUINO 8-Channel Stackable I2C Relay Shield for Arduino - DIY Kit
universal-solder.ca/product/8...
circuit board holder
pileofstuff.ca/r/uy9gj (Ebay)
pileofstuff.ca/r/nld1s (Aliexpress)
pileofstuff.ca/r/ny1lv (Banggood)
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This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I did it.

[@canaduino]

Great video again, thank you. Just two notes: 1. There is an explanation for the "spacer issue" in the product description: "We include a set of short and long Nylon spacers (M3) that can easily be modified (cut) to fit. Unfortunately, the design flaws of Arduino UNO and MEGA boards make it impossible to use “stock” spacers in all four corners" 2. The ULN2802 is a 4-channel Darlington driver from Lanker Semi. The datasheet you pulled is the ULN2802A from STMicroelectronics. Basically the same thing but with 8 channels and for 20x the price.

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

I alternate too between brass and sponge. 9:30 Getting behind on the beer!

[@Bianchi77]

Creative video, thanks :)

[@stephenhookings1985]

So Lead was certainly deprecated if not banned in soldering some time ago right? But recently I got back into retro Atari ST and that leaded solder is sure easier to (de)solder. Is leaded solder still available or you have a large stockpile? Any special usage notes?

[@j.f.christ8421]

Leaded solder was banned for new products (with a few exceptions). You can still use it for non-commercial (ie hobby) stuff or for repair work. I'm in Australia, my local hobby electronics store sells it but YMMV, apparently in Europe it's hard to find. Nothing special about using it aside from don't eat too much of it, and don't copy the "drown everything in flux" trend. As an aside, the non-leaded solders are fine these days. The complaints seem to be idiots parroting what other idiots wrote on the internet.

[@frankowalker4662]

I use 60/40 lead/tin flux core solder, it's available from ebay. (I'm in the UK)

[@AnnaVannieuwenhuyse]

@@j.f.christ8421 I'm currently able to buy it from a national electronics retailer, no-problemo. In fact, I can even buy the mega cancer juice ones, with high halide contents. Stuff is good for old gear repairs. It has no trouble at all breaking through tough crud and crust.

[@pileofstuff]

Yes it's still available, but also yes, I do have a stockpile

[@j.f.christ8421]

I should add that locally the leaded solder is about 25% cheaper than the unleaded stuff. Very odd. I'm pretty sure it was the other way 'round years back, but then again it's been a long time since I've purchased any (besides paste).

[@kyleallred984]

Is your cool sub counter still in sync with KZbin? It's been the same number for a decent amount of videos.

[@pileofstuff]

KZbin changed their API a few years ago. KZbin only updates the publicly retrievable number every hundred subscribers.

[@drfenomeno]

We make similar content, you in English and I in Spanish hahahahaha 😁 Greetings.

[@borisjevic6338]

Hmm, interesting.

[@Bob_Burton]

The I2C pins (SDA and SCL) are different on the Uno and Mega. How does the shield manage to work with either ?

[@AnnaVannieuwenhuyse]

The hardware ones are, but you can redirect the hardware interfaces to other GPIO pins in software configuration -- with a small penalty on top speed. This is still different from bitbanging, however.

[@Bob_Burton]

@@AnnaVannieuwenhuyse Is that what the library does and, if so, which pins does it use ?

[@canaduino]

The UNO has 2 sets of I2C pins: A4+A5 and the first 2 closest to the USB port. The MEGA doesn't use A4+A5 for I2C but also has I2C on the 2 pins behind the power jack. And these are the ones we are using - not A4 and A5. Therefore, the module works on UNO and MEGA (or Leonardo, or Zero) without any modifications. Just select the proper voltage.

[@Bob_Burton]

@@canaduino Thanks for the clarification It should be noted that although 2 sets of I2C pins are available they both use the same I2C interface. This means that on the Uno, for instance, you cannot use the I2C interface and also use pins A4 and A5 for other purposes

[@canaduino]

@@Bob_Burton You are right, of course. But this is UNO-specific and can be found in the UNO documentation. It is not related to our module.