inconsistent digital output on simple code

Question

so im new on arduino coding, and i made this code, where i input from serial monitor and then use it as a command for digital write. the problem is, sometimes the code work perfectly but then when i input 4, both D3 ad D4 is high and that also happens in D5 and D6. but its inconsistent, and i also print the 'out' value and also which digital pin is high to make it easier.

byte b;
int out;
int D3 = 3;int D4 = 4;int D5 = 5;int D6 = 6;int D7 = 7;int D8 = 8;
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(out, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(D3, LOW);digitalWrite(D4, LOW);digitalWrite(D5, LOW);digitalWrite(D6, LOW);digitalWrite(D7, LOW);digitalWrite(D8, LOW);
 
  
}

void loop() {
  while (Serial.available() == 0) {}
  b = Serial.read() - 48;
  out = b;
  Serial.print("\n Out is ");
  Serial.println(out);
  digitalWrite(out, HIGH);
  delay(600);
 if (digitalRead(D3) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D3 HIGH");
}
 if (digitalRead(D4) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D4 HIGH");}
 if (digitalRead(D5) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D5 HIGH");
} 
 if (digitalRead(D6) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D6 HIGH");
   }
 if (digitalRead(D7) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D7 HIGH");
}
 if (digitalRead(D8) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.print("D8 HIGH");
   }
  digitalWrite(out, LOW);
  delay(1000);
  
  

 
}

does anyone know why this happens? or can anyone recommend another method to do what im tryinng to do? thank you guys!!!

Answer 1

If I look at the first 5 lines:

byte b;
int out;
int D3 = 3;int D4 = 4;int D5 = 5;int D6 = 6;int D7 = 7;int D8 = 8;
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(out, OUTPUT);

You see that pinModeout, OUTPUT)uses a variableoutwhich is not initialized (it's only declared inint out`'.

I assume D3 to D8 are all output pins, so you have to replace the last line with:

pinMode(D3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D6, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D7, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D8, OUTPUT);

Also, since you are using all pins in the same way, I suggest you use two variables: startPin and endPin. Then you can use a for loop to iterate through all pins. Also

• always initialize variables.
• use '0' instead of 48 when you convert from a byte value to a character (since you don't need to know the ASCII value of '0').

I don't have an Arduino compiler at hand, but it should look something like:

byte b = 0;
int out = 0;
const byte startPin = 3;
const byte endPin = 8;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  for (byte pin = startPin; pin <= endPin; pin++)
  {
      pinMode(pin, OUTPUT);
      digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
  }
}

void loop() {
  while (Serial.available() == 0) {}
  b = Serial.read() - '0';
  out = b;
  Serial.print("\n Out is ");
  Serial.println(out);
  digitalWrite(out, HIGH);
  delay(600);

  ...

However, from here you are using the pins as INPUT pins. You cannot change those on the fly, you might change them manually (by using pinMode(pin, INPUT)), but it does not seem normal to switch input and output pins, so maybe you should explain what you are intending with your application.