I2C between Arduinos

Maybe sometimes we want to share the workload of one Arduino with another. Or maybe we want more digital or analog pins. Inter-Integrated Circuit or I2C (pronounced I squared C) is the best solution.

I2C is an interesting protocol. It's usually used to communicate between components on motherboards in cameras and in any embedded electronic system.

Here, we will make an I2C bus using two Arduinos. We will program one master Arduino to command the other slave Arduino to blink its built-in LED once or twice depending on the received value.

Getting ready

Following are the ingredients needed for this recipe:

• 2 Arduinos

• Jumper cables

How to do it…

Follow these steps to connect two Arduino UNOs using I2C:

1. Connect pins A4 and A5 on one Arduino to the same pins on the other one.

2. The GND line has to be common for both Arduinos. Connect it with a jumper.

Schematic

Here is a simple implementation. There is no need for a breadboard.

Here is a possible breadboard implementation:

Note

Remember never...