ELEGOO MEGA 2560 R3 Project The Most Complete Starter Kit

This is an outstanding kit! When I decided to dive head-first into the Arduino world, I did my research. I was looking for a kit that would get me the most varied list of supplies possible (and from a company with a good reputation, as it's so easy to end up with a pile of barely functioning electronic knock-off junk that was made on Mars or some far-away place with no quality-assurance). This was the kit I settled on, and I'm glad I did. For the money spent, it had the greatest spread of different kinds of devices and supporting equipment. I paired it with the Elegoo 37 Sensor Kit, to round out my supplies. (There was a bit of cross over between the two kits, but it's nice to have extras to play and experiment with.) In addition to having so many devices to experiment with, I found two further pluses for this kit: Elegoo's Arduino boards are incredible! They are exactingly labeled, flawlessly put together, and use quality equipment. Even the unused areas of the board have "dimple printing" to help reduce cross contamination of the signals. I've researched several brand names of Arduino boards, and aside from the actual original Arduino brand, no one came close to Elegoo's level of quality. After seeing this, all of my Arduino boards will be Elegoo from now on. The only issue I've encountered with it, is because the boards are so nice, I almost don't want to use them; I want to keep them in their box looking nice. I end up grabbing some other lower-quality board to fiddle around with, because I don't care if I wear out/burn those boards out. But I suppose that's just the collector in me. When shopping around for individual boards, I found that Elegoo was one of the more expensive manufacturers, but only by a couple of bucks. However, the quality level was orders of magnitude higher; which I think makes those couple extra bucks more than worth it. The second plus: The container that the kit comes in is actually very nice. It is a genuinely quality case, not just a poorly constructed plastic snap case, like some of the other brands use. When I was showing the kit to my family at a get-together, my mother kept eyeing the case, wanted to nab it to hold her scrapbooking supplies. I have ordered a few different Elegoo kits and products, and they've all come in the same quality style case (in different sizes and configurations, of course). I know it doesn't sound like it should matter all that much, and it is hard to describe, but once you hold this kit in your hand, you'll understand what I mean. Because of how many little pieces there are to this kit, I recommend taking an inventory when it arrives. Of the hundreds of parts, I did notice one, very small, and non-vital part missing. I sent the company an email asking if they could drop one of those little parts in an envelope headed my way. Two days later, a whole new replacement kit arrived with a return label for the original kit, and a letter apologizing for the mistake and making sure I was happy with the result; which I very much am. All of the different Elegoo products and kits I've bought have been remarkably designed and crafted, are as user-friendly as this subject can be, and while I haven't had to make a lot of use of their customer support line, I've heard it's second-to-none. A company that really stands by its products and values its customers. Having seen how much work and quality Elegoo puts into its products and services, they have gained a dedicated customer in me.

Really fun and huge kit. This has a ton of projects to do and most of them are pretty easy to set up. The kit comes with a library disc or you can visit their site and download the libraries for all of them there. There is a PDF file with the walk through on most of the items in the kit. You get a few extra items that are not used in the projects but are nice to have when working on additional projects (Extra: Capacitors, diodes, 9V battery w/cable, prototype expansion board). I was able to successfully complete almost all of the projects in the kit except for the (4 digit number display, IR remote to control the stepper motor and MPU-6050 module). The MPU-6050 module wouldn't display any information, it is pretty easy to wire up and check the readings in the serial monitor so I don't think It was wired incorrectly-I found a crack on the MPU-6050 so I think it may just be broken. I broke the IR sensor by wiring it wrong (it made a 'pop' noise and a funny burning smell) so I couldn't use it to control the stepper motor on one of the last projects so watch out for that. The four digit display also could be due to "user error" because it has a ton of pins that need to be connected and I wasn't sure everything was wired correctly. The PDF manual goes over how to set things up and explains what to expect when the component is powered on and describes the code but doesn't go into super fine detail over what every line means or what variables to change to change the component action so it can be a little difficult to understand. A few of the example pictures in the manual were different from the wiring diagram which can throw you off if you are not careful. I was very impressed with the quality and accuracy of all the information provided as well as the HUGE assortment of items it came with. I am super happy with all my stuff and am definitely getting another kit to add onto if all Elegoo's kits are is this organized and made! The kit was really well put together and has a good flow from easy to more challenging projects and includes everything you need to do all of the projects in the kit. If you have little experience with Arduino you can get through this pretty quickly and helps to understand installing and using the libraries and the Arduino IDE. I put pictures of the kit after I was done using everything and of the MPU-6050 I think was broken. I would've liked to see more detail on the actual writing code to set up other projects using the same components in the kit-like turning on other components from a sensor(buzzer with the motion detector, motor with the joystick) but it does a good job explaining what the code is actually doing for the individual projects and is overall really well written.

I bought this for myself so I could learn more about circuits and programming. This kit is really cool and challenging. If you're a big kid or have a kid, or grandkid, or just know a smart kid who could use some inspiration - whatever, get this kit and dig in. There are a lot of fun projects that will challenge the brain and if you get it right, will serve up some rewarding moments. I found just initiating the kit, like just the beginning steps, getting it to work on my Mac, getting the files properly loaded, navigating the instructions to be a challenge and at times a bit of a puzzle in and of itself. It felt like a litmus test, as in, if you can't figure THIS out, you probably shouldn't be messing with this. And that made me smile. All of it is a test, a challenge, and compared to pushing buttons on the remote to watch more Netflix, I found this rewarding. So like I said - get this for yourself, get it for your kid. Have some fun making lights light up, and buzzers buzz.

I purchased this kit to get familiar with the Arduino controller in preparation for making some home automation projects for our pool, fountain, and landscape controls. I am familiar with electronic components, and I am an experienced programmer, so this review comes from that perspective. I have worked my way through the entire sequence of projects included in the kit. The controller board seems to be reasonably good quality, and works reliably. The other components in the kit were not heavy-duty, or of commercial quality, but I don't think it would reasonable to expect that given the price. I can say that everything did work pretty much as expected. The miscellaneous parts and sensors are adequate for experiments and learning, but you would probably not want to use these parts in anything that required a high degree of durability or reliability. On the plus side, there was a wide variety of devices, giving a broad overall view of what one can do with an Arduino. I did not experience any of the hardware issues that have been described by others. The tutorial and documentation was not up to U.S. standards, but significantly better that what you get from most Chinese companies. It was quite understandable, with only occasional confusing or inconsistent lapses. There were very few outright errors, most of which were minor, and easily detected and corrected if studied carefully. The software examples worked as described, although one project had a defective library file. The library was embedded inside of the duplicate directory, and would not compile...I have to say that figuring this out added to the learning experience for me, but could be frustrating for a beginner. I did send an inquiry about this error by Email to the company's support, and have not yet (after 1 week) received any reply, so I would not count on significant support...but everyone knows that is pretty much a given with Chinese companies, and it did not come as a surprise. This kit served its purpose in orienting me to the Arduino. Overall, I think this is reasonable value for the price and consistent with the product description, but do not expect significant company support or high-quality components. UPDATE 5/5: I did finally receive an Email from support, and they were responsive in looking into the error.

This little starter kit is fantastic. If you're someone like me, who engineering experience typically goes no further than taking something apart and trying to figure out say, how a remote control works, or maybe you've replaced computer parts or upgraded your RAM, then this little kit is just what you need. So far, I've built two circuits. I shorted out one LED, and the first day I was tinkering with my set, it took a good 6 hours to feel my the kit. The instructions on the CD ROM are like old school data transfers. By old school, I mean back in the day, about 10 years ago, when we had to manually transfer data onto our computers. Still, it's really just drag and drop. The Arduino software is basic, so it will take some getting used to. These days, when we use software, EVERYTHING is done for you. The set up, how it works. But the software is basic old school like the software data. Meaning, Zip files for the CD ROM, things like that. The instructions that come with the program are clear and easy to follow. But if you're new to circuitry building, you have to go slow, you have to take your time and learn. But it does not take long before you are so comfortable with the environment and how it works that you are already experimenting in your head with new ideas. I probably got to that point on the second day. Also, the sheer amount of supplies that come with this kit, for $50 bucks is amazing. I mean this is something that can keep a busy mind learning and occupied for hours, days, weeks. It is very rewarding to be able to follow the instructions, download the arduino software, and then use your MAC or Windows laptop to control the behavior of the circuit board. One quick tip that may help you pass a stumbling block that I hit. Remember, just like the back of your TV there are analog hookups and digital hookups. Make sure, when you are using this kit, that if you are using the Arduino software that you are hooking your controls up to the Digital hookups and not the analog hook ups. Took me like two hours to figure out where my mistake was. Often times, if your board is not behaving the way you anticipate, this problem is almost uniformly a simple wiring problem, and you just need to make sure you have everything wired in the correct spot. Overall I am very pleased with this product, and was so happy, I donated some money to the Arduino people to keep them going. It is wonderful to know that there is a whole community of people out there like this that just try to keep science and engineering going for the sheer sake and joy of learning. You will be very pleased. Just take your time at first, and expect to stumble a little. But it doesn't take long before you love this product.

I bought the ELEGOO Mega R3 Ultimate Starter Kit to get hands-on experience with Arduino, and I’m really happy with the purchase. The kit comes with a Mega 2560 board and a huge variety of components like sensors, motors, LEDs, and more. Everything was well-organized in a plastic case, making it easy to keep things sorted. One of the best things about this kit is the tutorial. The step-by-step guides are clear and easy to follow, which is really helpful for beginners. The sample codes work well, and you can tweak them to understand how each component works. The quality of the components is good for the price. Some jumper wires were a bit flimsy, but they still did great job. The Mega 2560 board itself works just like the official Arduino board, and I had no issues connecting it to my laptop. Overall, this is a great kit for anyone who wants to learn electronics and programming with Arduino. It has everything needed to start experimenting and building projects. I would definitely recommend it to beginners and hobbyists.

I plan to automate the air intake control on my wood stove, and that means taking temperatures from two thermocouples, analyzing them, and moving a lever. An Arduino can do that very easily. But I know nothing about Arduinos other than they exist. UNTIL NOW. I just finished Lesson 5, Digital Inputs. The PDF instructions explain what is going on and warn you that in this particular section things seem a bit backwards, a good thing to make you aware of so you can learn. Each lesson is brief with excellent pictures and diagrams and just enough explanation. Follow and HAVE FUN. The kit already contains a lot of what I will need to build my project someday: Arduino and power supply; LCD display; motors; motor controllers; buttons; LEDs and other electronic bits; remote controller and sensor. I will need to add thermocouples and the associated interfaces, and the information for those is available everywhere on the 'net. I may also add Bluetooth and WiFi, using BLYNK to create an app for the phone...someday. The kit comes neatly packed in a nice plastic container with a bunch of compartments. You get your development environment from the 'net, and the included CD contains all the code you'll need, which is EASY to upload to the Arduino. There are breadboards to let you lay out your parts, do the lessons, and experiment. You do not need to solder. You just need a PC with a USB port, and you install the development environment there and plug the board in. The Arduino already has a program loaded and running to blink an LED, and you will modify that program by changing a number, then you'll upload it and see the results. That is how easy this is to get going. Additional parts are easy to get and relatively inexpensive, and when your project is all designed, you can get boards where you can solder everything permanently. I have a long way to go to get to that point. This kit, though, has been a wonderful learning experience so far. About the only things I found with the kit, which are MINOR: - It is tough to discern the colors on the resisters. This isn't the fault of Elegoo. I suggest getting a stand with a magnifying glass and light. Note that the tape from which the resisters come is labeled, so you can just go by that. - I needed a longer USB cable than what was included. I had one on hand. Again, not Elegoo's issue, as they supplied a USB cable in the kit. Plug and play. Overall: Lots o' stuff in a fun kit with great instructions! Note: I do have some basic familiarity with electronic components and programming. Having these basic skills does help, but I think a beginner can follow along. Just take your time to follow the pictures, and take even more time to understand the programming examples (the "sketches"), which are short and fairly clear. And HAVE FUN.

Hands down, this is the best experience that Ive had on Amazon so far. The hardware that comes inside of this box is Top-Notch, and the project lessons that they send you are easily done. I am a complete noob (almost) to the Arduino Maker scene, but the lessons on the CD that Elegoo sends along with this kit are amazingly simple, yet theyre capable of teaching even someone who has NO prior experience to things like this. I seen a few comments where people were having trouble using the CD, or the tutorial that comes on the CD... but I have NO clue what is going on with that. MINE worked. Completely. I almost want to say that those are user errors, because EVERYTHING that ive bought from Elegoo has been Top-Notch, and of immensely great quality. By the way, if you DO end up having any kind of issue, their customer service is VERY quick to respond, as they responded within like...3 hours of me sending them an email, and they were ready to send me something for my troubles, after helping me through my issue. Although I did politely decline this gift, them offering it has earned them a life time customer. Did i mention that the boxes they send stuff in are amazing?? Even the wires and resistors that they sell, come in a very high quality box! All in all, this was hands down the best purchase that ive made in my life. If youre wanting to get something to entertain you and someone special for weeks to come, and actually learn something along the way... this product and this company are HIGHLY recommended. Actually, I wouldnt recommend ANY one else. Elegoo all the way! dps EDIT: So, after a long and tough battle with thieving neighbors (this has NOTHING to do with Elegoo, its not their fault), Elegoo decided to be a champion and send me the item that was missing.... FREE OF CHARGE! Even though it wasn't their fault in the first place, Elegoo, out the the kindness of their heart's are replacing the item that is missing. I do not usually write reviews about companies, because they don't usually inspire me to do so, but Elegoo as a whole has done something that I will never forget, and has earned themselves a lifetime customer! The biggest thing is, that the products themselves are EXTREMELY high quality. Honestly, it's almost an addiction. I love the DuPont wires that they sell (which I have MANY of now), and the packaging that everything comes in is just utterly amazing! All in all, if you're looking for a company that you can trust, that has a VERY quick and responsive customer support team, backs ALL of their products, packages that have meaning and usefulness to them... then look no further. This is that company, and they sell even more unique and high quality products on their website! I believe even 3d printers! TO ELEGOO: Thank you, and I look forward to working with you guy's (and girls and everything in between) again!

Me agradó mucho lo que ofrece este kit y utilicé el 100% de lo que viene incluido para mis clases.

Very good for kids learning, my 8 years boy loved it.

Good

Hours of learning and fun for my teenager and myself. We are new to Arduino and this set is an amazing starter set for our journey into electronics.

This was my first foray into anything Arduino and I'm more than happy that I went with Elegoo! The kit came with everything advertised, all the online documentation was fairly updated and easy to understand with some patience and I was able to go through all the examples while learning how everything works. Some of the examples could have a little more explanation for beginners but I was easily able to find YouTube videos that helped with most of my questions. Overall this kit helped me learn the basics and I've now moved on to creating my own sketches and I have designed a few cool little devices for my home. I even had an issue with the included servo not fully functioning and all I had to do was email the Elegoo service department. I told them that I had a broken piece in the kit, they asked me for a few order details and sent a brand new one no other questions asked. Nive and easy, I love it!