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Solderless breadboard
A plastic board full of little holes connected inside, so you can build circuits by pushing parts in. No soldering needed! A "half-size" one is perfect for starting.
๐งฐ Starter Kit Guide
Wondering what to get to start building? Here are the parts that power almost every beginner project on this site. You don't need everything at once. Start with a breadboard, LEDs, resistors, a battery holder and wires!
We don't sell anything or use affiliate links. Prices vary a lot between stores, so compare at local electronics shops or online retailers in Canada. Tip: "electronics starter kits" often bundle many of these parts together for less than buying separately.
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LEDs (assorted colours)
Little lights for almost every project. Get a mixed pack of standard 5 mm LEDs in red, green, yellow and blue.
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Resistors (assorted pack)
Protect your LEDs! A mixed pack with common values like 220 ฮฉ, 330 ฮฉ, 1 kฮฉ and 10 kฮฉ covers most beginner projects.
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Coin-cell holders (with switch)
Holders for CR2032 coin cells. Great for nightlights and wearables. Coin cells must be kept away from young children and pets.
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AA battery holders
2ร or 4ร AA holders with wires (and ideally a switch) power buzzers, motors and more.
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Active buzzer
Beeps on its own when powered. Look for a 3โ5 V "active" buzzer.
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Small DC hobby motor
A little motor rated around 1.5โ6 V, plus a few small propellers or wheels that fit its shaft.
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Alligator-clip & jumper wires
Clip wires connect things quickly; male-to-male jumper wires plug into a breadboard.
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Push buttons & slide switches
Little switches to turn your creations on and off.
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Arduino Uno-compatible board
A small programmable computer for when you're ready to code. Official boards and compatible clones both work with the free Arduino software. Many starter kits bundle a board with parts.
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Digital multimeter
A tool that measures volts, amps and ohms. An inexpensive basic one is plenty to start, and it's a real engineer's tool! Use it only on battery projects.