Arduino Nano
The most commonly used Arduino boards for learning or hobby projects are the Arduino Uno and the Arduino Nano. They are both quite similar in function but are very different in size and shape. The UNO is larger and does not need a breadboard wheras the Nano is smaller and fits into a breadboard.
We will be using an Arduino Nano in most of our projects. The physical board and its pinout diagram are shown below, followed by an explanation of all pins.
The basic Nano does not have WiFi or Bluetooth communication capability. If you need that, an external module will have to be added. If you need in-built WiFi or Bluetooth use the ESP32 board.
The pins on the Arduino Nano are explained below.
| Board Pin | Function | Type | Recommended Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| TX1/D1 | UART Transmit | GPIO | Keep free for code upload and serial communication with the computer. |
| RX0/D0 | UART Receive | GPIO | Keep free for code upload and serial communication with the computer. |
| RST | Reset (LOW will reset the board) | Use if a Programmable alternative to the physical reset button is required. | |
| GND | Ground | Circuit ground. | |
| D2 | Interrupt | GPIO | Use for Interrupt Service Request (ISR). |
| D3 | Interrupt | GPIO (PWM) | Provides 8-bit PWM signal or Use for Interrupt Service Request (ISR). |
| D4 | I2C SDA | GPIO | Use for I2C communication. |
| D5 | I2C-SCL | GPIO (PWM) | Provides an 8-bit PWM signal. |
| D6 | GPIO (PWM) | Provides an 8-bit PWM signal. | |
| D7 | GPIO | ||
| D8 | GPIO | ||
| D9 | GPIO (PWM) | Provides an 8-bit PWM signal. | |
| D10 | SPI-CS | GPIO (PWM) | Provides an 8-bit PWM signal. |
| D11 | SPI-COPI | GPIO (PWM) | Provides an 8-bit PWM signal. |
| D12 | SPI-CIPO | GPIO | |
| D13 | SPI-SCK | GPIO | This is also the on-board LED pin. |
| 3V3 | 3.3V output | 3.3V power to circuit components. | |
| AREF | ADC reference | Advanced usage. | |
| A0 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A1 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A2 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A3 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A4 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A5 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A6 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| A7 | Analog input | Use for any analog input. | |
| 5V | 5V output | 5V power to circuit components. | |
| RST | Reset (LOW will reset the board) | Use if a Programmable alternative to the physical reset button is required. | |
| GND | Ground | Circuit ground. | |
| VIN | Alternative supply voltage input. Not regulated. | Advanced usage. |
Recommended Pin Usage
