Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?

No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.

Which components are used?

Arduino UNO board, 5 mm LED, 220 Ω resistor. They are already available in the simulator library.

How long does it take?

About 25 minutes, expert level, in 3 guided steps.

What should I know before starting?

The previous tutorial in the series, “Relay and mains load”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.

Is the code provided and checked?

The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.

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3 · Outputs & actuators

Expand outputs (74HC595)

Expert25 min

Goal

Drive 8 LEDs with only 3 pins using a shift register.

Why it matters

When pins run out, you serialise: that is the principle behind every bus.

What you need

Arduino UNO board
5 mm LED
220 Ω resistor

Nothing to buy: every component below is simulated in the browser.

Steps

01Wire DATA, CLOCK and LATCH to 11, 12 and 8.
02Pull LATCH LOW, send a byte with shiftOut(), pull LATCH HIGH again.
03Scroll the bits with shifts (1 << i).

This tutorial runs inside the Circuitly simulator: your wiring and your code are checked automatically at every step.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?: No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.
Which components are used?: Arduino UNO board, 5 mm LED, 220 Ω resistor. They are already available in the simulator library.
How long does it take?: About 25 minutes, expert level, in 3 guided steps.
What should I know before starting?: The previous tutorial in the series, “Relay and mains load”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.
Is the code provided and checked?: The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.

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