Picture of Flashing LED
I recently bought an arduino and this is the first project that I have (successfully) completed. This is a super easy project and it's mostly to get beginners to understand how arduinos work. I found this project in a book called "30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genuis". It's a great book and it's very easy to understand! I hope every body enjoys this instructable! The book is slightly outdated so but I can still understand how to do everything. This instructable does the same thing that the book does but explains it in a way that is up to date. Enjoy!
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Step 1: Hardware and Software

Picture of Hardware and Software
1 Arduino Uno
1 Resistor
1 USB Chord

Arduino Software

Step 2: The Sketch

Picture of The Sketch
For all of you that aren't familiar with a lot of technology terms, like myself, a program for an arduino is called a sketch. I assume that most people that are making this have already downloaded the arduino software but in case you haven't here is a link to the site where you can download it:

Once you have downloaded the software, open it up and start a new sketch. Next,  click file, examples, digital, and blink without delay.
We are going to tweak this sketch a little. Go to the place where the sketch says "const  int ledPin=13;" and change it to say "const  int ledPin=12". That's it!

Step 3: Set Up the Arduino

Picture of Set Up the Arduino
You will see that your LED has two metal rods sticking out of it. These are called leads. Take your resistor and wrap it around the shorter lead of the LED. Next, take the one end of the resistor that is not wrapped around the LED and stick it in the arduino board next to the place that says GND. Now, take the end of the LED that is not connected to the resistor and stick into the arduino board next to the place that says 12.
aslaine1 year ago

it took 5 hours but i finally made it!!!!!!! thnx again man..!!! :D

I just got an Arduino UNO for Christmas - it came in my stocking! :D
Veda882 years ago
If you use pin 13, you don't need the resistor. Pin 13 has a resistor soldered on the arduino (100 ohm as far as i know). That's why the default blink application uses pin 13.
rrkrose (author)  Veda882 years ago
Thanks. I din't know that.
schumi232 years ago
Nice instructable!
I should look at the examples included on the arduino software - I never have tried them.