diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
index d958b89c..4b6f6da9 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!--
-  Copyright 2013,2015 IBM Corp.
+  Copyright 2013,2016 IBM Corp.
 
   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@
         <label for="node-input-arduino"><i class="fa fa-tasks"></i> Arduino</label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-arduino">
     </div>
-    <div class="form-row">
-        <label for="node-input-pin"><i class="fa fa-circle"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.pin"></span></label>
-        <input type="text" id="node-input-pin" placeholder="2">
-    </div>
     <div class="form-row">
         <label for="node-input-state"><i class="fa fa-wrench"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.type"></span></label>
         <select type="text" id="node-input-state" style="width: 150px;">
@@ -30,6 +26,10 @@
             <option value="STRING" data-i18n="arduino.state.in.string"></option>
         </select>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+        <label for="node-input-pin"><i class="fa fa-circle"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.pin"></span></label>
+        <input type="text" id="node-input-pin" placeholder="2">
+    </div>
     <div class="form-row">
         <label for="node-input-name"><i class="fa fa-tag"></i> <span data-i18n="node-red:common.label.name"></span></label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-name" data-i18n="[placeholder]node-red:common.label.name">
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@
         color:"#3fadb5",
         defaults: {
             name: {value:""},
-            pin: {value:"",required:true},
+            pin: {value:"",validate: function(v) {
+               var ct = $("#node-input-state").val() || this.state;
+               return ct === 'STRING' || (v != '');
+            }},
             state: {value:"INPUT",required:true},
             arduino: {type:"arduino-board"}
         },
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@
         outputs:1,
         icon: "arduino.png",
         label: function() {
+            if (this.state === "STRING") { return "String"; }
             var a = "";
             if (this.state === "ANALOG") { a = "A"; }
             return this.name||"Pin: "+a+this.pin;
@@ -74,10 +78,6 @@
         <label for="node-input-arduino"><i class="fa fa-tasks"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.arduino"></span></label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-arduino">
     </div>
-    <div class="form-row">
-        <label for="node-input-pin"><i class="fa fa-circle"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.pin"></span></label>
-        <input type="text" id="node-input-pin" placeholder="13">
-    </div>
     <div class="form-row">
         <label for="node-input-state"><i class="fa fa-wrench"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.type"></span></label>
         <select type="text" id="node-input-state" style="width: 200px;">
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
             <option value="STRING" data-i18n="arduino.state.out.string"></option>
         </select>
     </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+        <label for="node-input-pin"><i class="fa fa-circle"></i> <span data-i18n="arduino.label.pin"></span></label>
+        <input type="text" id="node-input-pin" placeholder="13">
+    </div>
     <div class="form-row">
         <label for="node-input-name"><i class="fa fa-tag"></i> <span data-i18n="node-red:common.label.name"></span></label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-name" data-i18n="[placeholder]node-red:common.label.name">
@@ -108,7 +112,10 @@
         color:"#3fadb5",
         defaults: {
             name: {value:""},
-            pin: {value:"",required:false},
+            pin: {value:"",validate: function(v) {
+               var ct = $("#node-input-state").val() || this.state;
+               return ct === 'STRING' || (v != '');
+            }},
             state: {value:"",required:true},
             arduino: {type:"arduino-board"}
         },
@@ -117,6 +124,7 @@
         icon: "arduino.png",
         align: "right",
         label: function() {
+            if (this.state === "STRING") { return "String"; }
             return this.name||"Pin: "+this.pin;
         },
         labelStyle: function() {
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
index 9a5ecf59..4dc4a004 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * Copyright 2013,2015 IBM Corp.
+ * Copyright 2013,2016 IBM Corp.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -134,10 +134,10 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
             node.board.on('connect', function() {
                 node.status({fill:"green",shape:"dot",text:"node-red:common.status.connected"});
                 //console.log("o",node.state,node.pin);
-                
+
                 node.on("input", function(msg) {
                     if (node.state === "OUTPUT") {
-			node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
                         if ((msg.payload === true)||(msg.payload.toString() == "1")||(msg.payload.toString().toLowerCase() == "on")) {
                             node.board.digitalWrite(node.pin, true);
                         }
@@ -146,14 +146,14 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                         }
                     }
                     if (node.state === "PWM") {
-			node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
                         msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
                         if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 255)) {
                             node.board.analogWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
                         }
                     }
                     if (node.state === "SERVO") {
-			node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
+                        node.board.pinMode(node.pin, node.state);
                         msg.payload = parseInt((msg.payload * 1) + 0.5);
                         if ((msg.payload >= 0) && (msg.payload <= 180)) {
                             node.board.servoWrite(node.pin, msg.payload);
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/README.md b/hardware/Arduino/README.md
index c08191f5..2438d138 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/README.md
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ details and examples of how to use this node.
 
 Connects to local Arduino and monitors the selected pin for changes.
 
-You can select either **Digital** or **Analogue** input type.
+You can select either **Digital**, **Analogue**, or **String** input type.
 Outputs the value read as `msg.payload` and the pin number as `msg.topic`.
 
 It only outputs on a change of value - fine for digital inputs, but you can get a lot of data from analogue pins which you must then handle.
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ You can select
  - **Digital** - accepts 0, 1, true, false, on, off
  - **Analogue** (PWM) - accepts Integer 0 to 255
  - **Servo** - accepts Integer 0 - 180
+ - **String** - to send a *String* to the Arduino
 
 Expects a numeric value in `msg.payload`. The pin number is set in the properties panel.
 
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/locales/en-US/35-arduino.json b/hardware/Arduino/locales/en-US/35-arduino.json
index b1cbe233..29154296 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/locales/en-US/35-arduino.json
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/locales/en-US/35-arduino.json
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
             "in": {
                 "digital": "Digital pin",
                 "analogue": "Analogue pin",
-		"string": "String"
+                "string": "String"
             },
             "out": {
                 "digital": "Digital (0/1)",
                 "analogue": "Analogue (0-255)",
                 "servo": "Servo (0-180)",
-		"string": "String"
+                "string": "String"
             }
         },
         "tip": {