Use Arduino as ISP on MacOs

This article shows how to use the Arduino Pro Mini as a ISP (In-Circuit Serial Programmer) for AVR microcontrollers or another Arduino board.

  1. Install brew installer

    1

     ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)" < /dev/null 2> /dev/null

    PS: If the screen prompts you to enter a password, please enter your Mac’s user password to continue. When you type the password, it won’t be displayed on screen, but the system would accept it. So just type your password and press ENTER/RETURN key. Then wait for the command to finish. 

  2. Install the avrdude 
    1

     brew install avrdude

    avrdude is the software used to communicate with the Arduino and upload the software to the slave microcontroller_ 

  3. Load the ArduinoISP sketch

    ArduinoISP Sketch can be found on the Arduino Editor examples

  4. Uncomment the line:

    1
2

     define USE_OLD_STYLE_WIRING

  5. Change the BAUD RATE to 38400 That was the fastest speed the worked for me.

    1

     define BAUDRATE 38400

  6. Compile and Upload the Sketch

  7. Connect the PROGRAMMER and the TARGET as the picture below:

  8. Execute avrdude

    1

     avrdude -p m328p -P /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART -c avrisp  -V -b 38400 -U flash:w:TransistorTester.hex -U eeprom:w:TransistorTester.eep

    PS: replace the /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART option by the serial port to be used.

The avrdude software documentation can be downloaded Here

More information to how to use an Arduino as ISP can be found Here

comments powered by Disqus