Tutorials
Using GitHub to Share with SparkFun
August 19, 2013
A simple step-by-step tutorial to help you download files from SparkFun's GitHub site, make changes, and share the changes with SparkFun.
Using the Serial 7-Segment Display
August 13, 2013
How to quickly and easily set up the Serial 7-Segment Display and the Serial 7-Segment Display Shield.
MetaWatch Teardown and Arduino Hookup
August 13, 2013
Tearing down the nifty Bluetooth-enabled MetaWatch. Then building an Arduino sketch to control it.
Dungeons and Dragons Dice Gauntlet
August 13, 2013
A playful, geeky tutorial for a leather bracer that uses a LilyPad Arduino, LilyPad accelerometer, and seven segment display to roll virtual 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, and 100 side dice for gaming.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
August 12, 2013
Learn the basics about LEDs as well as some more advanced topics to help you calculate requirements for projects containing many LEDs.
RedBoard vs. Uno
August 6, 2013
In this tutorial we discuss the differences and similarities between the RedBoard and the Arduino Uno (SMD and PTH). The development platforms
WS2812 Breakout Hookup Guide
July 24, 2013
How to create a pixel string with the WS2812 and WS2812B addressable LEDs!
Analog vs. Digital
July 18, 2013
This tutorial covers the concept of analog and digital signals, as they relate to electronics.
Integrated Circuits
July 15, 2013
An introduction to integrated circuits (ICs). Electronics' ubiquitous black chips. Includes a focus on the variety of IC packages.
How to Read a Schematic
July 12, 2013
An overview of component circuit symbols, and tips and tricks for better schematic reading. Click here, and become schematic-literate today!
Metric Prefixes and SI Units
July 11, 2013
This tutorial will explain how to use and convert between the standard metric prefixes.
I2C
July 8, 2013
An introduction to I2C, one of the main embedded communications protocols in use today.
Leap Motion Teardown
June 27, 2013
Let's see what's inside the amazing new Leap Motion input device!
Electric Power
June 26, 2013
An overview of electric power, the rate of energy transfer. We'll talk definition of power, watts, equations, and power ratings. 1.21 gigawatts of tutorial fun!
Capacitors
June 19, 2013
Learn about all things capacitors. How they're made. How they work. How they look. Types of capacitors. Series/parallel capacitors. Capacitor applications.
Polarity
June 14, 2013
An introduction to polarity in electronic components. Discover what polarity is, which parts have it, and how to identify it.
What is Electricity?
June 13, 2013
We can see electricity in action on our computers, lighting our houses, as lightning strikes in thunderstorms, but what is it? This is not an easy question, but this tutorial will shed some light on it!
How to Install FTDI Drivers
June 4, 2013
How to install drivers for the FTDI Basic on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Si4707 Hookup Guide
May 29, 2013
Instructions on hooking up to and communicating with the Si4707 Weather Band Radio Breakout using an Arduino.
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.