Here's a better sketch that uses Software Serial.

http://imgur.com/b6bOSuH

https://codebender.cc/sketch:61723

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfaXlIDLQyQ

@Zeph I found the problem by connecting the Serial output line to analog pin 0. Low was about 320/1023, floating was about 330/1023, and high was about 340/1023. I used the internal pull-up on Serial1. Then it became possible to read the Serial data.

The embedded code in the first post was updated automatically as work progressed.

I'm going to try using Software Serial on an Uno instead of Serial(1 to 3) on the Mega

@daulagari The Arduino can be used like it was a serial to USB adapter. Just plug the wire(s) in to RX0 (Pin 0) and TX0 (Pin 1) and load up a terminal host (ex: RealTerm). The output serial line is connected to the Arduino TX0, The data passes through without the Arduino being programmed to do anything.

It works similar to one of these devices which can be used to program the Arduino Pro mini or as a general TTL serial port: http://www.ebay.com/itm/360916810060. An example use case is reading GPS data though a serial to USB adapter.

@daulagari 115200 is for the regular interface to read the serial output. Serial1 is at 600 baud and is connected to the bill acceptor.

I'm trying to get a Apex Series 5000 Bill Acceptor to communicate with an Arduino Mega 2560. When I plug the Bill Acceptor's output Serial TTL line into the raw Serial input port (TX0->1) of the Arduino and run the Windows program RealTerm, the data can be seen in the Terminal.

Screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/Nt0LyVs.png

81 (hex) means 1 dollar was inserted in the bill acceptor.

When I try to use the Arduino Mega's Serial1 input port, it doesn't recognize and display the input from the bill acceptor.

Source code: http://codebender.cc/sketch:58090

Is the config in the screenshot different from the config in the source code?

@epierre

I recommend a single or double USB 18650 battery bank. You can get a solar panel and attach the leads to a 5v USB regulator. You can use a USB cable to connect the solar panel w/ 5v regulator to the input on the 18650 battery bank.

The output of the battery bank can be connected to the micro controller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Portable-Power-Bank-Mobile-USB-18650-Battery-Charger-Keychain-f-Phone-MP3-/161300528675?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&var=&hash=item258e42be23

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Pack-for-2x-18650-Rechargeable-Battery-Mobile-Power-Bank-USB-Output-5V-/400729621411?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&var=&hash=item5d4d58c3a3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-DC-7V-24V-to-5V-3A-Step-Down-Buck-KIS3R33S-Module-Arduino-than-LM2596-/201080977521?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed15c3871

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5W-epoxy-resin-solar-panel-5-watt-12Volt-solar-battery-charger-diode-easy-carry-/171472266424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ec8b24b8

Autodesk is offering a tool similar to Fritzing: http://www.123dapp.com/circuits

http://fritzing.org/home/

They are tools to design a diagram of a circuit.

@epierre The SI1145 can measure IR, visible, and UV light: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-si1145-breakout-board-uv-ir-visible-sensor/overview

This project uses an Arduino pro mini 3.3v 8mhz. The power and pin 13 LEDs have been desoldered to save battery life. The battery used is a 18650 lithium and a single 18650 battery bank.

XAMPP server: http://www.jbcse.com/weather-graph.php

All sensors and the transceiver powered through an IRL520 mosfet. The Jeelib power library is used to make the arduino sleep for about 10 seconds which uses about 1 mA. Measuring takes about 2 seconds and uses 5 mA.

Sensors used: DHT22, BMP185, SI1145
Transceiver used: NRF24L01+

@gregl said:

Goood stuff! What is it your making?
Is it a spark core??

A Wifi bridge so I can use $1 NRF24L01+ modules to send data to my database or to the internet.

I found the solution on this page: http://mathertel.blogspot.com/2013/04/using-spi-bus-with-ethernet-sd-card-and.html

The key is setting the Chip Select (CS) line to be different for each module.

For the CC3000...
"#define ADAFRUIT_CC3000_CS 7"
Pin 7 is being used exclusively to select the Wifi module.
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-cc3000-wifi/cc3000-breakout

For the NRF24L01+...
"RF24 radio(9,10);"
Pin 9 is being used for Chip Enable (CE) and Pin 10 is Chip Select (CS).
http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo
http://maniacbug.github.io/RF24/classRF24.html

The other SPI pins: CLK, MISO, MOSI, are shared by the two modules and get wired in parallel.

Anyone know how to connect two SPI devices to an Arduino Uno?

Separately, the CC3000 Wifi module and NRF24L01+ work normally.

However, if I wire them in parallel, like for i2c, only the CC3000 works.

Is there some type of input-output connection for one master and multiple slaves?

Digitally tuned FM receiver: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Sales-New-TEA5767-Philips-Programmable-Low-power-FM-Stereo-Radio-Module-RY-/310964644633?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4866efeb19

Powered GSM cell phone signal detector: http://www.ebay.com/itm/390851034766
Unpowered GSM cell phone signal detector: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GSM-Signal-Electromagnetic-Radiation-Sensitive-Detector-Electronics-DIY-Parts-/400710053337?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4c2e2dd9

Lightning: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331309870885
Wind: http://moderndevice.com/product/wind-sensor/
Bill Acceptor
Coin Acceptor