Beginner's Guide to Electronics: Essential Arduino Kits & Tips to Get Started ⚡

Everything you need to get started in electronics! What to buy, how to start.

Links below! No affiliate links.
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⚖️ Which board for you?

Your first board doesn't really matter, it is cheap, teaches you the basics, and you figure out what specifically interests you

If you don't know, then just get an Arduino starter kit with good documentation and code, aka the ones from KeyeStudio or Elegoo.

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💸 Price Point Examples

$25 - Arduino Uno R3 clone + sensor kit from AliExpress: Good enough to get started but you wait 3 weeks

$50 - Arduino Uno R3 clone or ESP32S3 + sensor kit + multimeter from Amazon: Start in 2 days

$100 - Same as $50, soldering kit, accessories, then get stuff from AliExpress you don't mind waiting for

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🚀 Starter Kits (everything needed to start)

$18 - Great first kit for less than $25, used an old ESP32 model - https://www.amazon.com/LAFVIN-Starter-Development-Tutorial-Compatible/dp/B0BVZBTP8V

$31 - Great Arduino kit, enough to figure out if you like electronics or not - https://www.amazon.com/LAFVIN-Project-Starter-Mega2560-Tutorial/dp/B07CTFVM1L

$45 - Great ESP32 sensor kits by KeyeStudio that has great documentation and code examples - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256807563311295.html

$45 - I hate Elegoo, but good Arduino starter kit for less than $50 - https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Project-Tutorial-Controller-Projects/dp/B01D8KOZF4

$60 - Huge Arduino kit for less than $100 (also be Elegoo) - https://www.amazon.com/EL-KIT-001-Project-Complete-Starter-Tutorial/dp/B01CZTLHGE

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🧠 Individual Boards

$3 - Search AliExpress for 'Arduino Uno R3' clones. This is the 'standard Arduino' in my mind. - https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-arduino-uno-r3-board.html

$3 - Search AliExpress for 'Arduino Nano' clones. Plugs into breadboards well. - https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-arduino-nano-board.html

$5 - Search AliExpress for 'ESP32S3' clones. - https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-esp32s3-board.html

$9 - Cheap Arduino Uno R3 clone - https://www.amazon.com/ATmega328P-Arduino-Compatible-Arduino-Voltage-Compatible/dp/B0D83J2TJJ

$15 - Official ESP32S3 developer board, hard to find better build quality and parts - https://www.amazon.com/Espressif-ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1-N8R8-Development-Board/dp/B09MHP42LY

$18 - 3x ESP32S3 dev boards, headers not soldered, GREAT DEAL - https://www.amazon.com/Teyleten-Robot-ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1-N8R2-Development-Integrates/dp/B0B6HT7V7P

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📡 Sensor Modules & Kits

$16 - Cheap sensor kit with good variety, great to pair with an Arduino or ESP32 board, little instructions - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256808670935761.html

$24 - THE BEST SENSOR KIT - 37 modules for $24 but TONS OF DOCUMENTATION! And code!!! - https://www.amazon.com/KEYESTUDIO-Compatible-Raspberry-Programming-Temperature/dp/B0BDR2P5CZ

$36 - Decent 37 in 1 sensor kit from the company I hate Elegoo, still recommend it though. Decent instructions and code provided. - https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Upgraded-Tutorial-Compatible-MEGA2560/dp/B01MG49ZQ5

$50 - 48 modules by KeyeStudio, GREAT documentation and code - https://www.amazon.com/KEYESTUDIO-Pressure-etc-Programming-Beginners-Learning/dp/B07K6L2VRB

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🧰 Tools

$3 - Search AliExpress for 'Aneng Multimeter' for $3-5, get the box shape - https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-aneng-multimeter.html

$6 - Aliexpress based Aneng Multimeter - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256806491689014.html

$10 - Amazon based Aneng Multimeter - https://www.amazon.com/ANENG-Multimeter-Resistance-Continuity-Automotive/dp/B0BYD32JZV

$13 - My personal favorite multimeter, by AstroAI - https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Multimeter-Voltmeter-Resistance-Continuity/dp/B0CLV8R7QF

$30 - My favorite clamp style multimeter by Aneng - https://www.amazon.com/ANENG-Multimeter-Capacitance-Resistance-Continuity/dp/B0B9RKFJ2R

$12 - My favorite cheap digital 80W soldering iron with stand, sponge, and solder - https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Digital-Welding-Portable-Electric/dp/B08R3515SF

$19 - Soldering starer kit, 60W and dial temperature gauge and lots of gear to get started - https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Kit-Temperature-Desoldering-Electronics/dp/B07GTGGLXN

$9 - Rosin Solder Flux Paste - https://www.amazon.com/SRA-Soldering-Electronics-Lead-Free-Electrical/dp/B008ZIV85A

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🧩 Accessories

$8 - 6 pack of wire cutters - https://www.amazon.com/Cutters-Carbon-Crafting-Electronics-Jewelry/dp/B0DZ6C7SD7

$7 - Heat shrink tubes - https://www.amazon.com/Shrink-Tubing-Industrial-Heat-Shrink-Wires/dp/B0BG6V4HV4

$7 - Jumper wires - https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-EL-CP-004-Multicolored-Breadboard-arduino/dp/B01EV70C78

$14 - Wire Strippers - https://www.amazon.com/WGGE-WG-014-Self-Adjusting-Insulation-Stripper/dp/B071CKX2MT

More links at https://fluxbench.com

How to use solder wick and a desoldering pump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG7yW9FigJA

00:00 Intro
00:30 TLDR
01:45 Starter Kits
03:27 Arduino or ESP32?
05:05 Tools
08:18 Accessories