CHAPTER 3Connecting to the NXT

Before you can start homebrewing sensors and extending the outputs, you need to understand how to connect to the NXT. In this chapter, we'll describe the unusual connector used on the NXT and define the electrical signals found on the ports. We'll even show you some simple ways to build sensors and adapters.

NXT Ports

The four sensor input ports are on the bottom of the NXT, and they're numbered from 1 to 4. The three motor output ports are on the top of the NXT, and they're labeled A, B, and C. If you look through the clear plug on the end of an NXT cable, you can see the six pins and wires that make up the interface. The wires are color coded: white, black, red, green, yellow, and blue. The function of the wires ...

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