Check it out — all we need to do is log in to Patchr, select the “Explorer Uno” template next to the create new project button, annnnnnnnnd… Bada bing, bada boom! It’s ready to go. You can change the board footprint, add components, or just export as is.

We've included a BOM with the correct components linked below or you can use the component section above to buy items individually.

Once you've received your components and your PCB, you're ready to assemble them. There are a lot of configurations that can work, so keep in mind the final shape of your PCB is entirely up to you and the project you are building!

Let's start with the core of the Explorer Uno, the ATmega328, the brains. This is what tells your project what to do and when to do it.

Tip: Make sure that the indent on the top of this chip is facing down. You can also use a 28 pin IC socket to make it a bit easier to program and flip in case the ATmega328 is upside down.

Button & Resistor - This helps reset your project once the software has been uploaded into the ATmega328.

Clock & Capacitors - Time! This 16 MHz beauty counts the seconds so you don’t have to.

Switch - On and off, on and off, on and off. We added a red LED so you can tell when the Explorer is on.... or off.

LED Pin 13 + Resistor - This is your proof of life light when uploading software or running simple sketches look at this light to be sure everything is running smoothly.

Voltage Regulator - This bad boy helps make sure the only thing you are blowing is people’s minds… and not the components on your PCB. We like to use a 9V battery to power our projects, and this will drop it down to 5V to keep everything running smooth.

Power - There are so many options here. You can use anything that supplies 5V or more. Just connect the positive and negative leads to the through holes as shown in the diagram above.

Headers: These are totally optional — we like to keep them open to solder directly to or you can use jumper cables and female headers to prototype with.

So here’s the fun part. Let’s upload your sketch to the Explorer Uno. We suggest you do it in one of two ways. The first is to place your ATmega328 in an empty Arduino Uno and upload how you would normally upload to your Arduino.

The second is to use an empty Arduino Uno as a bridge to the Explorer Uno to program it. You will want to wire up the Arduino using this diagram:

We hope this helps you create exactly what you’ve imagined! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! We are here to help.