Current max for GPIO pins should be more visible
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- Dominant language
- JavaScript
- Stars
- 48
- Forks
- 75
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
A lot of BBB users are likely coming from Arduino, where the maximum current per IO pin is 40mA, and they don't have to worry about it so much.
The BBB is 4mA to 6mA, depending on the pin, but nowhere in the hosted documentation does it mention this. It takes a bit of time to find out even if you look for it on google.
One of the hosted demos is an "external LED", and in that demo, it mentions using a resistor. The value of the resistor is not mentioned, though the one pictured is 220ohm. Depending on the forward voltage drop of the LED, you're most likely already exceeding the max current right out of the box. The user should be warned not to exceed the maximum current per IO pin.
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First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Review the hosted documentation and the external LED demo mentioned in the issue, including the pictured 220-ohm resistor. First locate where GPIO electrical limits and the demo instructions are documented. Done means the 4–6mA per-pin limit and a suitable resistor warning are clearly visible to users.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- documentation
- Issue type
- Documentation
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100