How to Use Arduino Pro Mini v13: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

The Arduino Pro Mini v13 is a compact microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P, which is the same microcontroller used in the popular Arduino Uno. It is designed for advanced users who require a small, lightweight, and low-power board for embedded projects. The Pro Mini is ideal for applications where space is at a premium, such as wearable technology, portable instruments, and custom embedded systems.

• Wearable devices
• Portable electronics
• Prototyping IoT devices
• High-altitude balloon experiments
• Small robotics projects
• Custom embedded systems

• Microcontroller: ATmega328P
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V or 5V (depending on the model)
• Input Voltage (recommended): 5V - 12V
• Digital I/O Pins: 14 (of which 6 provide PWM output)
• Analog Input Pins: 6
• DC Current per I/O Pin: 40 mA
• Flash Memory: 32 KB (ATmega328P) of which 0.5 KB used by bootloader
• SRAM: 2 KB (ATmega328P)
• EEPROM: 1 KB (ATmega328P)
• Clock Speed: 8 MHz (3.3V model) or 16 MHz (5V model)

1. Powering the Board: Connect a power source to the RAW pin (if using an unregulated power supply) or the VCC pin (if using a regulated 3.3V or 5V supply).
2. Programming the Board: Use an external USB-to-serial adapter to connect the D0 (RX) and D1 (TX) pins to your computer for uploading sketches.
3. Connecting I/O: Attach sensors, actuators, or other peripherals to the digital and analog pins as required by your project.
4. Resetting the Board: If necessary, the RESET pin can be connected to a pushbutton to manually reset the microcontroller.

• Always ensure that the power supply voltage matches the board's requirements (3.3V or 5V).
• Do not exceed the maximum current rating of the I/O pins to prevent damage to the board.
• When using PWM outputs, ensure that the connected devices are compatible with the PWM frequency.
• Use pull-up or pull-down resistors with digital inputs to ensure a stable state when no input is present.

• Board not responding: Ensure that the board is correctly powered and that the USB-to-serial adapter is functioning.
• Sketch not uploading: Check the connections between the USB-to-serial adapter and the Pro Mini, and ensure the correct board and port are selected in the Arduino IDE.
• Unexpected behavior: Verify that all peripherals are correctly connected and that the code uploaded to the board is functioning as intended.

• Double-check wiring and solder joints for any loose connections or shorts.
• Use a multimeter to verify voltage levels at the power supply and I/O pins.
• Ensure that the bootloader is correctly installed on the ATmega328P. If not, you may need to burn the bootloader using an AVR ISP programmer.

// Blink an LED connected to pin 13

void setup() {
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT); // Set pin 13 as an output
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(13, HIGH);   // Turn the LED on
  delay(1000);              // Wait for a second
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);    // Turn the LED off
  delay(1000);              // Wait for a second
}

Note: The above code is for demonstration purposes and assumes an LED is connected to pin 13 with a suitable current-limiting resistor.

For more advanced usage and additional examples, refer to the Arduino community forums and the extensive library of shared projects available online.