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Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Automation Blog. We have been working our way through the various starter kits available for those looking to get into working with Aruinos and doing our best to compare them to the official kit available on the Arduino website. We picked out three we thought were a good variety based on value, and today, we’ll be looking at the most popular Arduino kit on Amazon, the Elegoo R3 “Most Complete” Starter kit. You can find the kit for between $45 and $65 depending on the day and the discount, and with everything you get in this kit, you won’t turn your nose up at that price.
Lets go over the packaging. It arrived in this bubble wrap packaging with custom Elegoo print. Whenever I see a company go the extra mile with its packaging, it lets me know they invested a bit more into the appearance. At least, that’s what I thought until I opened it up and saw the kit itself. Inside was a big plastic container, no dissimilar our previous two kits, although this one is much larger. I was rather disappointed with the presentation of the kit’s title sleeve, as font looks like something a elementary school teacher would put on a cork board poster, not something you’d expect from a tech company’s premier Arduino kit.
Here is a complete list of the included components, vetted by myself for accuracy:
- 1pcs Keypad Module
- 1pcs 5V Relay
- 1pcs IR Receiver Module
- 1pcs UNO R3 Controller Board
- 1pcs Breadboard
- 1pcs Servo Motor (SG90)
- 1pcs Stepper Motor
- 1pcs ULN2003 Stepper Motor Driver Board
- 1pcs Prototype Expansion
- 1pcs Power Supply Module
- 1pcs HC-SR501 PIR Motion Sensor
- 1pcs Ultrasonic Sensor
- 1pcs GY-521 Module
- 1pcs 3V Servo Motor
- 1pcs MAX7219 Module
- 1pcs Remote
- 1pcs 9V 1A Power Supply
- 1pcs 65 Jumper Wire
- 1pcs Water Lever Sensor
- 1pcs USB Cable
- 1pcs 9V Battery with DC
- 1pcs RC522 RFID Module
- 10pcs Resistor (10R)
- 10pcs Resistor (100R)
- 30pcs Resistor (220R)
- 10pcs Resistor (330R)
- 10pcs Resistor (1K)
- 10pcs Resistor (2K)
- 10pcs Resistor (5K1)
- 10pcs Resistor (10K)
- 10pcs Resistor (100K)
- 10pcs Resistor (1M)
- 20pcs Female-to-male DuPont Wire
- 5pcs White LED
- 5pcs Yellow LED
- 5pcs Blue LED
- 5pcs Green LED
- 5pcs Red LED
- 1pcs RGB LED
- 5pcs 22pf Ceramic Capacitor
- 5pcs 104 Ceramic Capacitor
- 2pcs Photo resistor
- 1pcs Thermistor
- 5pcs Diode Rectifier (1N4007)
- 2pcs Electrolytic Capacitor (10UF 50V)
- 2pcs Electrolytic Capacitor (100UF 50V)
- 5pcs NPN Transistor (PN2222)
- 5pcs NPN Transistor (S8050)
- 1pcs Tilt Switch
- 5pcs Button (small)
- 1pcs 1 digit 7-segment Display
- 1pcs 4 digit 7-segment Display
- 1pcs Sound Sensor Module
- 1pcs LCD1602 Module ( with pin header)
- 1pcs IC L293D; 1pcs IC 74HC595
- 1pcs Active Buzzer; 1pcs Passive Buzzer
- 1pcs RTC Module
- 1pcs DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Module
- 1pcs Potentiometer
- 1pcs Rotary Encoder Module
Now, lets take a look at Elegoo’s custom Uno R3. It comes on a dark blue PCB, easily distinguishable from Arduino’s greenish blue board. Like the other R3s, it features a Type B port, and an Ac power jack. With the contents summarized, lets go ahead and show off some of the projects from the kit. Unlike the other two, this kit only offered about eight total projects, with 6 of them being duplicates of the ones I have already covered. For today, I’ll show off the remaining two projects, as well as a third I found online utilizing parts inside this kit.
First, we have a simple RGB LED cycling through its color array. This simple project demonstrates the Arduino’s ability to utilize the full color array of the LED which could be taken advantage of for any project which requires running complex LED lighting, such as running the lighting effects of a small studio.
For the next project, we have a program that cycles through a series of LEDs. Eight of the LEDs are lined up on the breadboard, all being run through a driver ship which is then wired into the main board.
The code for this project was pretty short, as the LED driver did most of the heavy lifting. This project demonstrated how efficient you could make commands and lighting work when utilizing driver chips and other microprocessors when paired with the Arduino as the brain.
For the final project, I went online a found a free tutorial on how to make your very own oscillating sonar! Using the servo motor and the included ultrasonic module, I secured the two together and wired them into the Arduino through a breadboard circuit. Loading up Processing to run our sonar screen, the servo motor moved back and forth in 45 degree intervals, turning the ultrasonic module, and generating a sonar image on our computer screen. This project really demonstrates how far you can take these kits and push their components to the limit. Unique modules like the ultrasonic sensor, humidity sensor, or the water level sensor offer different avenues for exploring your crafts and projects for use in measuring the outside world. One user even made a fully automated greenhouse using these sensors and an Arduino, which you can read about in our previous article here. If you would like to follow the same tutorial I did to recreate your own sonar, check out the video here.
So, having looked over this kit, and having already gone through the others that’ll we demonstrated in our previous videos, I can confidently say that this kit is the perfect middle-ground for a maker looking to get their hands dirty playing around with an Arduino. Unlike the cheaper kit, you get far more modules and components to play around with, making a whole litany of special projects that you couldn’t otherwise. The more expensive Uno R4 kit from Sunfounder has almost all of the same pieces of kit, but since it comes with an official arduino R4, the price is much, much higher at almost $100. For about half that, you can get all of the same modules and jumpers and what not, with the only downgrade being the Uno R3, which is a bit slower, uses Type B instead of Type C, and lacks the LED array. That means no playing snake for us. Overall, I think for those who are looking for a kit with a ton of potential for future projects are gonna want to give this one a look. If you just want something basic, Id stick with the cheaper kit, but with everything you get here, you can’t go wrong spending a bit more for this haul of components. To make sure you catch those articles and videos as they come out, be sure to keep coming back to this site, and follow us across our social media – you’ll find links to all our accounts here.
That’s all we have for now, so please have an amazing and creative day!
Written by Joseph Tierney Have a question? Join our community of pros to take part in the discussion! You'll also find all of our automation courses at TheAutomationSchool.com. Sponsor and Advertise: Get your product or service in front of our 75K followers while also supporting independent automation journalism by sponsoring or advertising with us! Learn more in our Media Guide here, or contact us using this form.
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and finally, the Arduino Uno R4. It lists the chip’s specs on the back of the box like the R3 had. Inside the box, you get the standard Arduino sticker pack and a warranty booklet. The R4 slides out, and comes pre-applied to a small plastic shield. Looking over the chip, the differences to the R3 become apparent with the array of LEDs on the top face of the chip, along with the smaller USB Type C connector on the side, replacing the old Type B interface.
Next, we have something unique to the R4. Snake! That’s right, the favorite game of millennial flip phone users, now played on the LED array of the R4 itself. An LED lights up, with a small string of LEDs, the player, moving across the chip in the direction you press the joystick. As you cross over the rogue LED, your snake grows longer, and a new LED lights up elsewhere on the chip. This little game could only work on the new R4 thanks to the new LED array, and is a fantastic project to utilize the limited space and functionality.
Finally, we have a simple program running text to our OLED display, both static, and moving, as well as displaying a simple ASCII logo. First, we displayed our company name as a static text, then after a handful of seconds, it transition to the link to our blog. However, the text is now moving back and forth on a two second timer! After a couple iterations, the screen shifts a simplified version of our gear logo, converted to ASCII for use on Arduino powered architecture. I could see someone driving a much larger screen with this little chip, displaying directions, information, or images for various jobs
First, we have a neat little Traffic light setup, working off of predetermined intervals. The Green light starts off solid and shining, then after five seconds, it switches to the yellow light, which blinks on and off in half second intervals, before turning red for five seconds. The red then cycles back to green and it repeats. I’d love to try and rework it to change based on proximity input, maybe using a sensor to detect an approaching object. If you would be interested in a course from us experimenting with the different possibilities of the Arduino chip, make sure to leave a comment down below.
For our next project, we have a rather difficult to maneuver circuit, where we have three buttons acting like responders in a game show. Upon pressing a button, the corresponding LED next to it lights up, and once lit, the others cant be lit until the reset button is pressed. This type of circuit allows you to replicate games like jeopardy or family feud, where different players must rush to press their button, the first to light up getting the chance to answer. It’s honestly a pretty cool idea, but with all the wires, resistors, and LEDs in the way, it became quite cramped on the small breadboard provided. I would definitely recommend getting a larger breadboard for projects such as this in the future.
So, having looked over this kit, and having already gone through the others that’ll we be demonstrating in later articles, I can confidently say that for $20, you wont find a better deal with as much potential for fun and creative maker crafts, all powered by a capable piece of Arduino kit! If all you want to do is play around with the chip to see if its something that you are interested in, I see no reason why you shouldn’t save your hard earned cash and go for this budget bundle over the official starter kit, and you can take that to the bank!
Thankfully, starter kits like the one I’m using in this article (see my 
The next project I tried was the “Keyboard instrument,” which produces four different tones based on which of the four buttons they press.
There are several other projects in t he book that you may want to check out if you pick up this kit, but for the sake of time (and getting my video and article done on time) these were the three I decided to focus on.
Siemens has officially announced the release and availability for sale of the SCALANCE MUM853-1 (A1), a cutting-edge device designed for seamless integration into both public and private 5G networks. This launch represents a significant milestone in the evolution of industrial 5G applications, offering unprecedented opportunities for enhancing connectivity and data management across various sectors.
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has introduced the R86TB teach pendant, a significant evolution from traditional high-performance models, offering enhanced customization and user-friendly features for both OEMs and end users. Sporting a spacious 10.1-inch high-definition display, the R86TB ensures optimal visibility and accessibility of functions, conveniently navigable via the customizable HOME screen or page list. Notably, it seamlessly integrates key functionalities of MELSOFT RT ToolBox3, Mitsubishi Electric’s PC-based robot programming software, providing comprehensive program support, parameter and program screens, 3D monitoring capabilities, and more.
Softing announced an expansion to its SmartLink product line with the introduction of two innovative additions: the smartLink HW-PN and the smartLink SW-PN, designed to facilitate access to PROFINET networks. These new products are set to be unveiled at the forthcoming Emerson Exchange event in Düsseldorf, running from February 27 to 29. They will be showcased alongside Emerson’s AMS Device Manager, marking a significant collaboration between Softing Industrial and Emerson.
Today, Emerson made headlines with the announcement of their latest innovation, the PACSystems™ IPC 2010 Compact Industrial PC (IPC). Engineered with resilience in mind, this rugged industrial computer stands ready to tackle a diverse array of tasks within machine and discrete part manufacturing automation. Tailored to meet the demands of manufacturing sites and OEM machine builders, Emerson’s IPC 2010 emerges as a compact yet robust solution, primed to efficiently support Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) endeavors and facilitate digital transformation initiatives.
In a recent development, Banner has expanded its Q2X series of miniature photoelectric sensors with the introduction of two innovative modes: the Laser Measurement mode and the Fixed-Field mode. These additions mark a significant enhancement in Banner’s product lineup, offering advanced sensing solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
Expand your system’s capabilities with always free software and a free PLC with these specs:
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