Light

Connect, power, and control your APA102 addressable LED strip!

Read humidity, pressure and luminosity quickly and easily. Add wind speed, direction and rain gauge for full weather station capabilities.

The gator:UV is an I2C based UV sensor. This tutorial will get you started using the gator:UV with the micro:bit platform.

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.

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.

The SparkFun Inventor's Kit (SIK) Experiment Guide contains all of the information needed to build all five projects, encompassing 16 circuits, in the latest version of the kit, v4.1.2 and v4.1.

Learn MicroPython with the micro:bit.

Getting started guide for the Large Digit display driver board. This tutorial explains how to solder the module (backpack) onto the back of the large 7-segment LED display and run example code from an Arduino.

This guide contains all the information you will need to explore the twelve circuits of the SparkFun Inventors Kit for micro:bit.

An introduction to the concept of Pulse Width Modulation.

A weather station kit that is built on top of the inexpensive, easy-to-use micro:bit and Microsoft MakeCode.

Get started clipping sensors and lights to the micro:bit with the gator:starter gator:board from SparkFun!

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.

Take your volume knob beyond 11 with the Qwiic Twist digital RGB LED encoder via I2C!

An introduction to the Qwiic Micro SAMD21E. Level up your Arduino-skills with the powerful SAMD21 ARM Cortex M0+ processor!

Learn how to hook up the LilyPad RGB LED and use a common cathode RGB LED in e-textile projects.

Learn the basics about LEDs as well as some more advanced topics to help you calculate requirements for projects containing many LEDs.

An overview of each component in the SparkFun Sensor Kit, plus links to tutorials and other resources you'll need to hook them up.

Learn how you can use the SX1509 to control 16 LEDs or up to 64 buttons with just two pins.

Use this IR LED/phototransistor fusion to sense objects in close proximity or even the color of a surface!

An overview of passive infrared (PIR) motion detecting sensors, and how to hook them up to an Arduino.

How to create a pixel string with the WS2812 and WS2812B addressable LEDs!

A quick overview of SparkFun's LED light bars, and some examples to show how to hook them up.

The pHAT to sit above your other HATs. Does that make it the "king" of the pHATs? This guide will help you get started using the Top pHAT with the Raspberry Pi.

In this tutorial, we will connect different RGB LED matrix panels to PixelMatix's SmartLED shield and Teensy.

Use the Tessel 2 and the Johnny Five Inventors kit to explore the world of JavaScript enabled hardware through 14 awesome experiments!

Add some I2C RGB to your project with the SparkFun Qwiic LED Stick - APA102C

Learn how to utilize your DMX to LED Shield in a variety of different ways.

The SparkFun Qwiic Proximity Sensor is a great, qualitative proximity (up to 20 cm) and light sensor. This hookup guide covers a few examples to retrieve basic sensor readings.

The SparkFun Photodetector - MAX30101 (Qwiic) is the successor to the MAX30105 particle sensor, a highly sensitive optical sensor. This tutorial will get you started on retrieving the raw data from the MAX30101 sensor.

Learn how to wield the power of 18 channels of UV to NIR spectroscopy with AS72651 (UV), AS72652 (VIS), and AS72653 (NIR) sensors!

Connecting the Garmin LIDAR-Lite v4 to a microcontroller just got easier! Check out our hookup guide to get started.

This is an assembly guide for the SparkFun Flashlight Kit, a basic learn to solder kit.

Light is a useful tool for the electrical engineer. Understanding how light relates to electronics is a fundamental skill for many projects.

An introduction to the RedBoard Turbo. Level up your Arduino-skills with the powerful SAMD21 ARM Cortex M0+ processor!

Learn how to get started with our fiber optics breakout boards

How to hook up and use the OpenSegment display shield. The OpenSegment is the big brother to the Serial 7-Segment Display. They run on the same firmware, however the OpenSegment is about twice as big.

Check out Hacker in Residence, Jesse's awesome Harmonic Skew Zoetrope in this project tutorial.

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.

How to quickly and easily set up the Serial 7-Segment Display and the Serial 7-Segment Display Shield.

Build a Boss Alarm that alerts you of anyone walking into your office and automatically changes your computer screen.

Find out your oxygen saturation level or check out your heart rate using the MAX30101 biometric sensor and MAX32664 Biometric Hub via I2C!

Get up and running quickly with this simple to use UV sensor.

Learn how to connect your VEML6075 UV Sensor and figure out just when you should put some sunscreen on.

Control LEDs based on your movement using an accelerometer! Make your LEDs breathe by fading in and out when laying on the floor, turn off the LEDs when moving to your side, or make the LEDs blink in a headstand!

A series of Blynk projects you can set up on the Blynk Board without ever re-programming it.

This tutorial will show you how to build a magnetic levitation circuit using common parts.

It's now easier than ever to measure and characterize how different materials absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light. The AS726X spectral sensors allow you to detect wavelengths in the visible range (VIS) and near infrared range (NIR)!

Let's take a look at different materials we can use to combine paper crafting and electronics.

Let's have some fun with LEDs! We'll explore LEDs once again with the SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic, making cool effects, and putting those effects to work using a sensor.

The VEML6030 is a high accuracy ambient light sensor with 16-bit resolution. This I2C sensor can detect light similar to the human eye response. Start detecting light levels in your environment!

Learn how to build a simple paper circuit using copper tape, a 5mm LED, and a 3V coin cell battery.

Use GPS to have two objects, a base and a target, point towards one another. This can be used to aim a directional antenna (or in the case of this project, a laser) from one object to the other object at a distance that is only limited by your ability to provide the base station with the target's GPS location.

Learn how to turn our 64x64 RGB LED Matrix Panel into a display for your current Spotify album art using an ESP32.

This tutorial provides everything you need to know to make your own light up high top sneakers!

Make an RGB colored cloud light! You can also control it from your phone, or hook up to the weather!

In this digital fabrication project featuring 3D printing, laser cutting, and DIY electronics, you will build a beautiful design object for your desktop or night stand.

The LumiDrive LED Driver is SparkFun’s foray into all things Python on micro-controllers. With the SparkFun LumiDrive you will be able to control and personalize a whole strand of APA102s directly from the board itself.

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.

In this tutorial, we will sew standard electroluminescent (EL) wire to a hoodie.

This tutorial explains how common infrared (IR) communication works, as well as shows you how to set up a simple IR transmitter and receiver with an Arduino.

The SparkFun Inventor's Kit (SIK) Experiment Guide contains all of the information needed to build all five projects, encompassing 16 circuits, in the latest version of the kit, v4.0a.

How to crack an unknown safe in under an hour.

Learn how to use the SparkFun Touch Potentiometer to control lighting, volume or other inputs in your daily life.

Lumenati is our line of APA102c-based addressable LED boards. We'll show you how to bring the sparkle to your projects!

This tutorial shows you how to get started with the ESP32 Thing Power Control Shield.

The LuMini 8x8 Matrix (APA102-2020) are the highest resolution LED matrix available.

The LuMini Rings (APA102-2020) are the highest resolution LED rings available.

The addressable (UCS1903) LED neon flex rope adds cool lighting effects for outdoor and indoor uses including in hallways and stairs, holiday lighting, and more! In this hookup guide, you will learn how to connect, power, and control the LED segments with an Arduino and the FastLED library.

A quick tutorial to get you started in the world of light up origami flowers.

In this tutorial, we will sew standard electroluminescent (EL) wire to a pair of pants.

In this tutorial, we will learn about how to create a theatrical prop for a performance by 3D printing a wand and adding an LED.

Having issues viewing your print in a dark lit room? In this tutorial, we will be using LED strips to light up a print bed's area on a LulzBot 3D printer!

Learn how to hook up the LilyPad Tri-Color LED and use a common anode RGB LED in e-textile projects.

Getting started guide for the Avago APDS-9960 color, proximity, and gesture sensor.

Hook a light-sensing photocell up to an Arduino to create an ambient light monitor.

Build a wireless glove controller with Arduinos to trigger an LED using XBees!

Learn how to connect that sweet transparent OLED.

The APDS-9301 sensor is an I2C connected luminosity sensor which returns measurements in lux.

See the invisible world of infrared radiation using the FLIR Dev Kit and Raspberry Pi.

Make a Breakout clone with the BadgerHack Gaming Add-On Kit.

Get to know the LP55231 9-channel LED driver., and learn how to configure and program this surprisingly flexible IC.

The TFMini is a ToF (Time of Flight) LiDAR sensor capable of measuring the distance to an object as close as 30 cm and as far as 12 meters! The TFMini allows you to easily integrate LiDAR into applications traditionally reserved for smaller sensors such as the SHARP GP-series infrared rangefinders. With the added Qwiic feature, you can quickly connect to the sensor via I2C!

A project tutorial to add an extra effect for dancers performing a choreographed piece. The harness can be added quickly under a costume.

Bring the ability to detect light levels to any project with the SparkFun TEMT6000 Ambient Light Sensor Breakout.

The SparkFun MAX30105 Particle Sensor is a flexible and powerful sensor enabling sensing of distance, heart rate, particle detection, even the blinking of an eye. Get ready. Set. Shine!

This scarf is embedded with a ribbon of LEDs that illuminate when it gets dark out, making yourself more visible to vehicle and other pedestrians.

Add changing colors to your wearable projects using LilyPad Pixel Boards.

How to get the most out of the infrared receivers and transmitters included in the IR Control Kit.

The TFMini is a ToF (Time of Flight) LiDAR sensor capable of measuring the distance to an object as close as 30 cm and as far as 12 meters! The TFMini allows you to integrate LiDAR into applications traditionally reserved for smaller sensors such as the SHARP GP-series infrared rangefinders.

In this tutorial, we'll find out how to use Resolume Arena, a popular video jockey software, to control custom-made ArtNet DMX fixtures.

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. :)

Put together your Rotary Dial Kit and light it up with our Arduino example code!

This guide will help you get started with electroluminescent (EL) wire, tape, panel, chasing wire, and bendable wire to let your project glow!

An addition to a previous project, this time using a PC and a custom Java app to create your own music visualizer using a RGB LED matrix.

Get started with your VL6180 based sensor or the VL6180 breakout board.

How about that humidity? This tutorial shows how to add sensing capability to the 21st Century Fashion Kit's RGB flower project.

How to hook up the LilyPad Light Sensor as well as some project ideas and example code.

How to hook up the LilyPad Light Sensor as well as some project ideas and example code.

How to take a solar powered pathway light from a hardware store and make it into a crude soil moisture sensor.

Craft your own paper circuit holiday greeting using the LEDs, a Chibi Chip, Love to Code!

A quick tutorial to show you how to add LEDs to gift or holiday bags or boxes.

Craft a glowing card for friends and family this holiday season with paper circuits - no soldering required!

Craft a paper circuit pop up card with a cycling RGB LED, battery, and copper tape.

Light up your love with paper circuits - no soldering required!

Craft an illuminated butterfly pop up card with copper tape, two LEDs, and a battery.

A fun project that uses a Raspberry Pi and a custom Java app to create your own sound visualizer using a RGB LED matrix.

Embedded with heating pads and four Neopixel rings, these earmuffs do more than your average winter accessory to keep you warm while still looking good.

A teardown of the SCiO, a pocket molecular scanner.

Combine a silk flower with a built-in RGB LED and some LilyPad Switches to create a customizable accessory.

All the information you need to use the Spectacle Light Board in one place.

All the information you need to use the Spectacle Light and Sound Kit in one place.

All the information you need to use the Spectacle Light Kit in one place.

Follow this tutorial to make your own Crystal Goddess Crown with LEDs!

Follow this tutorial to make your own light up PomPom headband! Try the beginner version if you are new to electronics or the advanced version if you have some more experience!

This tutorial provides everything you need to know to make your own Marquee Party Bag!

A guide to help you integrate the ISL29125 RGB light sensor breakout board into your electronic projects.