LEDs
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are small, powerful lights that are used in many different applications. Blinking an LED is the classic starting point for learning how to program embedded electronics. It's the "Hello, World!" of microcontrollers. We recommend looking at the LED tutorial and SIK experiment guide to get started.
Non-Addressable RGB LED Strip Hookup Guide
February 19, 2020
Add color to your projects with non-addressable LED strips! These are perfect if you want to control and power the entire strip with one color for your props, car, fish tank, room, wall, or perhaps under cabinet lighting in your home.
Origami Paper Circuits
May 26, 2015
A quick tutorial to get you started in the world of light up origami flowers.
PicoBuck Hookup Guide v12
February 18, 2016
The PicoBuck board is a high-efficiency three-channel constant-current LED driver.
Powering LilyPad LED Projects
December 17, 2016
Learn how to calculate how many LEDs your LilyPad project can power and how long it will last.
Prototype Wearable LED Dance Harness
February 8, 2018
A project tutorial to add an extra effect for dancers performing a choreographed piece. The harness can be added quickly under a costume.
Quick Illuminated Boxes
December 16, 2013
A quick tutorial to show you how to add LEDs to gift or holiday bags or boxes.
QuickLogic Thing Plus (EOS S3) Hookup Guide
July 22, 2021
This guide provides users with functional descriptions, configuration options for the QuickLogic Thing Plus EOS S3. It also serves as a “Getting Started” and “How To” guide.
Qwiic Digital Desk Sign with MicroMod
June 30, 2022
Make a Qwiic-enabled digital desk sign with a MicroMod SAMD51 Processor Board's USB Host and a USB keyboard!
Qwiic LED Stick - APA102C Hookup Guide
July 15, 2021
Add some I2C RGB to your project with the SparkFun Qwiic LED Stick - APA102C
Qwiic SHIM Kit for Raspberry Pi Hookup Guide
February 16, 2021
Get started with the Serial LCD with RGB backlight and 9DoF IMU (ICM-20948) via I2C using the Qwiic system and Python on a Raspberry Pi! Take sensor readings and display them in the serial terminal or SerLCD.
Qwiic Twist Hookup Guide
December 13, 2018
Take your volume knob beyond 11 with the Qwiic Twist digital RGB LED encoder via I2C!
RedBoard Edge Hookup Guide
June 1, 2018
The RedBoard Edge is a RedBoard that's been rebuilt around the idea that projects are eventually put into an enclosure to help clean up their look.
RedBoard Turbo Hookup Guide
January 24, 2019
An introduction to the RedBoard Turbo. Level up your Arduino-skills with the powerful SAMD21 ARM Cortex M0+ processor!
RGB Panel Hookup Guide
December 12, 2013
Make bright, colorful displays using the 32x16, 32x32, and 32x64 RGB LED matrix panels. This hookup guide shows how to hook up these panels and control them with an Arduino.
Rotary Dial Kit Assembly Guide
June 22, 2018
Put together your Rotary Dial Kit and light it up with our Arduino example code!
RP2040 Thing Plus Hookup Guide
January 21, 2021
Want to take a stab at advancing your programming skills? Check out the Thing Plus - RP2040, with the first microcontroller from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. This guide will get you started working with the RP2040 and programming in MicroPython and C/C++.
Simon Says Assembly Guide
January 20, 2011
No matter what flavor of the Simon Says Through-hole Soldering Kit you've purchased, this tutorial is here to guide you through the entire build process.
Simon Says Experiments
October 21, 2010
So you've built up a Simon Says kit? What next? This tutorial will get you up and running with Arduino software, guide you through a few example sketches, and send you on your way to create your own. Careful, this stuff is highly addictive. :)
Sound Detector Hookup Guide
February 27, 2014
The Sound Detector is a microphone with a binary output. This guide explains how it works and how you can use it in your projects.
SparkFun Arduino UNO R4 WiFi Qwiic Kit Hookup Guide
July 11, 2023
The SparkFun Arduino UNO R4 WiFi Qwiic Kit is a great way to get started with Arduino and the Qwiic-connect system - use this guide to get started!
SparkFun ESP32 DMX to LED Shield
March 28, 2019
Learn how to utilize your DMX to LED Shield in a variety of different ways.
SparkFun gator:bit v2 Hookup Guide
January 31, 2019
The gator:bit v2 is a breakout board for the BBC micro:bit. The gator:bit exposes almost every pin on the micro:bit to clippable pad with circuit protection. It also has as built-in addressable LEDs and a built-in buzzer.
SparkFun gator:particle Hookup Guide
June 13, 2019
The gator:particle is an I2C heart-rate monitor and pulse oximeter that can be used as a particle sensor. This tutorial will get you started using the gator:particle with the micro:bit platform.
Old Tutorials
Looking for the old, archived tutorials? Head on over to the
archived tutorials on the main
SparkFun site.
Please be aware that the tutorials you find there are no longer
actively maintained.