The Arduino Duemilanove is a 5 V, 16 MHz Arduino USB microcontroller board introduced in 2008. Its two processor versions—ATmega168 and ATmega328P—look much alike, but differ in memory and bootloader settings. Check the chip fitted to your board before choosing its software configuration or buying a replacement.
What the Arduino Duemilanove is
Arduino introduced the Duemilanove on October 19, 2008, as the revision replacing the Diecimila. “Duemilanove” means “2009” in Italian. Its notable product-era change was automatic selection between USB power and an external adapter, eliminating the power-selection jumper used on earlier boards. Arduino also documented a cuttable trace to disable auto-reset and a solder jumper to re-enable it. Arduino’s launch announcement
The Duemilanove is a legacy board rather than a current Arduino model. DFRobot marks its archived Duemilanove listing as discontinued; that describes this vendor’s product, not the availability of every used board or clone. DFRobot’s archived product listing
Duemilanove specifications
DFRobot’s archived listing describes its board as having a 16 MHz crystal, USB connection, power jack, ICSP header, and reset button, along with the following I/O:
#1 Best Overall
- for Nano I/O EXPANSION SENSOR --- Lead out all digital IO ports and analog IO ports, each IO port has a standard positive and negative power supply interface Lead out the I2C interface on the main board to facilitate the connection with the I2C device
- Increase the DC power interface - the power supply current of the USB interface on the board is actually only 50MA, which is not enough when a high-current device is needed. In this case, an external power supply is provided at the DC power interface to ensure the stable running of the device.
- 8-PIN ANALOG OUTPUT --- with output power and GND,1 Servo power input, the barrel connecter input voltage range is 6-12 volts producing a stabilized 5v at 1A
- 14 I / O Pin --- servo type with GND, power and signal,Lead I2C interface to main board, convenient and I2C device connection
- OUTPUT --- 3.3V output,Size:6x5.3x1.5cm(2.36 x 2.08 x 0.59inch)
- 14 digital I/O pins, six of which support PWM.
- Six analog inputs.
- Dimensions of 75 × 54 × 15 mm and weight of 25 g, as listed for that vendor’s board. Clones and other revisions may differ.
These are historical product specifications, not a guarantee that a particular used board or clone has the same components or condition. DFRobot’s archived product listing
ATmega168 vs. ATmega328P: identify the chip first
Duemilanove boards were produced with either an ATmega168 or ATmega328P. Arduino says the transition to ATmega328P boards began around March 1, 2009, but a board’s age is not a reliable substitute for reading the marking on its microcontroller. Arduino’s AVR core keeps separate Duemilanove/Diecimila configurations for the two chips. Arduino’s retired-board notes Arduino AVR core board configuration
Rank #2
- This is a commonly used DC motor drive module, using a small current 293 chip DC motor driver chip.
- Using this chip you can use DC motors and power supplies of up to 10 Volts, that some pretty big motors and the chip can supply a maximum current of 600mA per channel.
- Tested compatible for Arduino Mega, Diecimila & Duemilanove.
- 2 interface for 5V Servo connected to the Arduino's high-resolution dedicated timer - no jitter.
- Multi-function, easy to operate, a strong driver library support and feature updates.
| Attribute | ATmega168 | ATmega328P |
|---|---|---|
| Flash | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes | 1 KB |
| Bootloader upload speed | 19200 baud | 57600 baud |
| Configured maximum sketch upload size | 14336 bytes | 30720 bytes |
| Configured maximum data size | 1024 bytes | 2048 bytes |
Arduino’s 2009 upgrade announcement gives the chip memory capacities; the upload speeds and configured upload maxima are listed in Arduino’s AVR core. Configured upload capacity is not the same as raw flash or SRAM: the bootloader and board configuration affect the space available to a sketch. Arduino’s ATmega328 upgrade announcement Arduino AVR core board configuration
Choose the matching board setting when uploading
- Read the marking on the microcontroller installed on the Duemilanove: ATmega168 or ATmega328P.
- In the Arduino IDE, open Tools > Board and select the Duemilanove/Diecimila entry matching that processor. Menu wording can vary by IDE version; consult the current board configuration if the exact label differs.
- Connect the board over USB and upload a small test sketch. A processor or bootloader mismatch can prevent a successful upload even when the board is otherwise connected correctly.
The distinction matters because Arduino’s configuration specifies a 19200-baud bootloader for the ATmega168 and a 57600-baud bootloader for the ATmega328P. Do not select a variant based only on an approximate manufacture date. Arduino AVR core board configuration
Rank #3
- Has been assembled, and electrical test passed.
- Led indicator for each relay.
- FR-4 Fiber glass PCB (Double Layer); Size: 155 x 55 x 24 mm (approximately 6.1 x 2.17 x 0.95 inch)
- Input control signal voltage: 0V - 0.5V Low stage (SSR is OFF), 0.5V - 2.5V (unknown state), 2.5V - 20V High state (SSR is ON); SSR Output (each channel); Load voltage range: 75 to 264VAC (50/60Hz); Load current: 0.1 to 2 AMP
- Standard interface that can be controlled directly by microcontroller (Arduino , 8051, AVR, PIC, DSP, ARM, ARM, MSP430, TTL logic)
Can an ATmega328 upgrade an ATmega168 board?
Arduino said a Duemilanove fitted with an ATmega168 could be upgraded by replacing it with a bootloaded ATmega328. The announcement described the newer chip as compatible with the previous ATmega168 and specified twice the memory in each listed category: 32 KB flash instead of 16 KB, 2 KB RAM instead of 1 KB, and 1 KB EEPROM instead of 512 bytes. Arduino’s upgrade announcement
This is a microcontroller replacement, not a complete board purchase. Before buying a chip, confirm its package fits the socket on your particular board and that it has a suitable Duemilanove bootloader; Arduino’s announcement notes that a chip could be bought pre-bootloaded or programmed using a hardware programmer. A bare, unbootloaded microcontroller may require that extra programming step.
Rank #4
- Product Type and Chip: Common DC Motor Driver Module,Utilizes a low - current 293 - series DC motor driver chip.
- Power and Current Capacity: High - Voltage and Current Support,Allows the use of DC motors and power supplies up to 10V, with a maximum current of 600mA per
- Compatibility: Compatibility with Arduino Boards,Tested and compatible with Arduino Mega, Diecimila, and Duemilanove.
- Interface Feature: 5V Servo Interfaces,Two interfaces for 5V servos, connected to Arduino's high - resolution dedicated timers for jitter - free operation.
- Functionality and Support: Multifunctional and Easy-to-Use,Offers multifunctionality, easy operation, strong driver library support, and regular feature updates.
Power and shields: check the specific hardware
A technical reference describes the barrel jack as 2.1 mm, center-positive, and recommends an external input of 7–12 V. It cautions that below 7 V the 5 V rail may be low or unstable, while above 12 V the regulator may overheat. These are recommendations from that reference, not a current Arduino safety notice. ElectroSchematics Duemilanove reference
The same reference warns of a potential power-switching issue when USB and VIN power are both involved. Treat that as an attributed third-party caution; avoid assuming that simultaneous supplies are safe for every board or clone, and check the documentation for your exact hardware before connecting them. ElectroSchematics Duemilanove reference
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DFRobot’s historical compatibility list named prototype, I/O, LCD, motor, and Ethernet shields. That list does not establish present-day stock or guarantee that every modern shield will work. Before using a shield, check its pin layout, voltage requirements, and documentation for compatibility with the Duemilanove’s 5 V design. DFRobot’s archived product listing
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