Education Shield

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Web Site: www.parallax.com

Forums: forums.parallax.com

Sales: sales@parallax.com

Technical: support@parallax.com

Office: (916) 624-8333

Fax: (916) 624-8003

Sales: (888) 512-1024

Tech Support: (888) 997-8267

Board of Education Shield (#35000)

Plug this shield into your own Arduino

module to give it the useful features and form factor of the

original Board of Education

. This shield makes circuit prototyping simple and convenient with a 2 row x

17 column breadboard. Headers along the side. top, and bottom provide easy access to supply voltages

and the Arduino module’s digital I/O and analog inputs. The Board of Education Shield’s four corner

mounting holes and servo ports make it compatible with the Boe-Bot robot chassis, continuous rotation

servos, and many sensors and accessories from Parallax.

The 3-position power switch allows you to turn on power in stages, first to the power header above the

breadboard, and then to any servos plugged into the ports. This is especially useful for cutting servo

power so that you can monitor sensors on your breadboard while keeping motors from moving. This

board also has a RESET button for restarting the program and pass-through headers for stacking more

shields on top.

Features



17 row x 2 column breadboard with adjacent headers for Vin, 5 V, 3.3 V, GND, digital I/O and

analog in

 Onboard 5 V regulator supplies up to 1 A for robotics and animatronics applications

 Onboard 3.3 V regulator supplies up to 250 mA for project circuits and accessories such as Digi’s

XBee

RF modules

 4 servo ports with power selection jumper for regulated 5 V or Vin (Arduino’s supply voltage)

 3-position power switch for power header or header + servo ports

 RESET button resets the Arduino

 Supply indicator LEDs for breadboard

and servo power

Key Specifications



Power Requirements: 7 to 12 VDC

 Communication: Serial over USB through

Arduino (sold separately)

 Operating temperature: 32 to 158 °F

(0 to 70 °C)

 Dimensions: 4 x 3.05 in (102 x 77.5 mm)

Application Ideas



Mount your Arduino microcontroller brain on the Boe-Bot robot chassis—see

Robotics with the

Board of Education Shield for Arduino

at http://learn.parallax.com/ShieldRobot.

 Use in the classroom for electronics, robotics and STEM lessons with the Arduino.

 Make an inexpensive Propeller microcontroller prototyping platform with the Propeller ASC

module from MGH Designs (http://mghdesigns.com).

Summary of content (8 pages)

PAGE 1
Web Site: www.parallax.com Forums: forums.parallax.com Sales: sales@parallax.com Technical: support@parallax.com Office: (916) 624-8333 Fax: (916) 624-8003 Sales: (888) 512-1024 Tech Support: (888) 997-8267 Board of Education Shield (#35000) Plug this shield into your own Arduino® module to give it the useful features and form factor of the original Board of Education®. This shield makes circuit prototyping simple and convenient with a 2 row x 17 column breadboard. Headers along the side.
PAGE 2
Assembly Instructions (Arduino module not included) Step 1 The four groups of pins under the Board of Education Shield plug into the four Arduino socket headers. If you have an Arduino Mega, the four pin groups fit into the four headers closest to the USB and power connectors. If your Arduino is Revision 3 it will have UNO R3 or MEGA R3 on the back. When you have socketed the shield, Revision 3 and newer revisions will have two empty pairs of sockets at the far left, closest to the USB and power connectors.
PAGE 3
Step 3 Make absolutely sure you have the pins correctly aligned before continuing! If the pins are aligned wrong, your Arduino module could be damaged when you connect power. GOOD: pin alignment correct. BAD: pin alignment wrong! Uno R3 Correct: gap in pins lines up with gap in sockets. WRONG! STOP! There’s a pin between the gap in the sockets, so it’s not correctly aligned. Unplug it and try again. Uno R2 and older Correct: gap in pins lines up with gap in sockets. Copyright © Parallax Inc.
PAGE 4
Step 4 Press firmly to insert the Board of Education Shield into the Arduino board’s sockets. Press the BOE Shield onto the Arduino Standoff Assembly Options (additional hardware sold separately) Tabletop standoffs are recommended to keep your board from tipping while you build circuits.
PAGE 5
Board-connection standoffs attach the two boards together. They are recommended if you frequently connect and disconnect the Arduino’s programming cable or external power. They are also useful for applications that involve vibration or acceleration forces.
PAGE 6
Functional Description 3. Servo and Breadboard power lights 1. Ground plated corner mounting holes 4. Servo Ports Control signals from Digital 13, 12, 11, 10 2. Arduino digital I/O 16. Arduino mounting holes 5. Power select jumper: 5V or Vin 6. Vin from Arduino Onboard regulated: 3.3 V, 5 V 15. Shield headers 14. 3.3 V regulator 7. Breadboard 2 column x 17 row 13. 5 V regulator 8. Arduino analog reference 12. Reset button 11. Power switch 10. Ground sockets 9. Arduino analog inputs 1.
PAGE 7
Precautions  Disconnect programming cable and batteries when not in use. Since most Arduino modules do not have on/off switches, they keep running as long as power is connected. So, you may notice some circuit activity, even when the shield’s power switch is set to 0. If your application is battery powered, make sure to disconnect the batteries when not in use.  Supplying your Arduino with power from USB will result in lower voltages at the Vin and 5V sockets.
PAGE 8
Resources and Downloads Go to www.parallax.com/BOEShield for the latest version of this document and links to a variety of Board of Education Shield resources. Revision History Version 1.0: Original document, 2/22/2012 Version 1.1: Replaced prototype A2 photo with Rev A production unit photo. Added item regarding breadboard sockets, to Precautions, page 7. Version 1.