Some projects depend on a good screen to really take them to the next level or be viable in the first place. In this sense, a monitor with an integrated controller can make your life a lot easier, and this is where our pick comes in. The Nextion NX4832K035 3.5-inch touchscreen, with a resolution of 480 × 320 pixels, also has a MicroSD card slot that supports up to 35 GB of storage!

This fancy display component has an 8-pin GPIO header for the communication protocols, but the TX and RX pins of the Arduino board ports are used for the connection. The developer offers some programs for font generation and module management so you can go all-out with customization if you’re up for it. For more details, check out the datasheet.

• Purpose: Adds LED screen use
• Price: ~$50

Nextion NX4832K035 Touch Display

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If you didn’t already know about this multi-functional tool with an oscilloscope, you’re missing out. Many of us have found out the hard way while building a (supposedly simple) device that instructions are sometimes only getting you halfway to building cool projects. You also need tools to test the parts and circuits!

There was a time when an oscilloscope was an expensive piece of laboratory equipment used only by professionals. But today, even if you’re a student, you can get your hands on a portable one with great functionality, most notably and perhaps relevant to Arduino projects, a component tester and signal generator that are great for electronics with erased or illegible specifications.

• Purpose: 3-in-1 oscilloscope, transistor tester, and signal generator
• Price: ~$40

FNIRSI DSO-TC3 Multifunctional Digital Oscilloscope

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There are many different ways to power a breadboard, but having a slightly more flexible solution can be very useful in the testing and prototyping stages. This adjustable power source with a P4 connector and USB accepts input voltages from 6.5 to 12 V DC – enough for you to take advantage of any source that’s not already in use if you don’t have a more professional solution.

Speaking of convenience, this adjustable power supply has two output voltage patterns compatible with the standard working voltages of the Arduino circuit, 3.3 V and 5 V, because it can be directly inserted into the breadboard. However, feeding the Arduino directly through the pins isn’t recommended, as this bypasses the Arduino’s internal voltage regulator. With selector jumpers, you can easily adjust to the voltage suitable for your project and still have a convenient power button and USB output.

• Purpose: Feeds a breadboard
• Price: ~$10 for 3 modules

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All Arduino digital and analog communication ports are available through the connectors. It’s possible to assemble many different configurations with various modules and other accessories that can be stacked in several layers. All these connections are very convenient for building up your project but they aren’t always perfectly fitting together without using these spacers.

You should be able to use these small connectors in any model of Arduino and more likely than not you’ll need them when you least expect it, so it’s worth having a few different sizes lying around in case you depend on them to assemble a project. They can also help out when the stacked model tower on your board needs some stability to prevent toppling over.

• Purpose: Connects Arduino modules and shields
• Price: ~$12

One of the basic goals of automation is remotely controlling the power of other devices, often achievable by the use of relays. This has put Arduino circuits in great demand as they’re relatively inexpensive and consume little power – perfect for simpler tasks. You can choose smaller modules with fewer relays for smaller things but don’t forget about the possibilities to expand your projects in the future!

A solid-state relay means that there are no moving parts or electromagnetics that can either cause interference in more sensitive circuits or make an unpleasant noise with each activation. Some devices have a nice feature of LED lights to indicate which relays are active.

• Purpose: Activates and deactivates electrical loads
• Price: ~$18

Adjustable DC power supply modules aren’t specifically made for Arduino, but they can help a lot when you need to work with a lower voltage in a separate circuit or even in the supply of a component. That’s right, if you already have a power source and you just want to partially utilize that power for other purposes or circuits, you can use one of these to do the job.

A very convenient feature is that you won’t need to do calculations or use a multimeter to carry out measurements because many of these modules have a built-in voltmeter for you to read the real-time output voltage. You’ll also like the reverse polarity protection that’s great for when you need to power up an Arduino but your only available source exceeds specifications. This little guy can be a temporary solution if you have a compatible power plug.

• Purpose: Adjusts power
• Price: ~$10

Sometimes very simple things like a 3D printed bumper can help much more than you can imagine. Carrying out tests, simulations, and programming requires lots of tinkering. Even if you think you have taken all precautions, accidents can still happen. Nothing can ruin a project more than needing to buy a replacement board. Less-than-fatal accidents like scratches or even small shorts are no fun either.

Aside from protecting your board from minor drops and handling, adding a bumper or even a full case can improve aesthetics or help with mounting. Sounds like a good deal for something so simple and cheap, especially if you have a 3D printer at home! There are endless designs posted by fellow makers on 3D design repositories, so you’ll surely find one that fits your needs.

• Purpose: Protects the board
• Price: Free (STL file)

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Arduino and Raspberry Pi aren’t the same, but there may be a few projects that can benefit from using them both. An Arduino Uno to Raspberry Pi adapter can create a powerful combination for projects requiring an innovative solution. Of course, there are other ways to connect an SBC to the Arduino, but it’s hard to overlook the valuable time that this adapter could save you.

The heart of the adapter is a chip to translate voltages to Raspberry Pi HAT-style shields, allowing you to use some parts that were previously unused or to just experiment with the possibilities. For example, you can configure the I2C bus to connect to Arduino pins A4 and A5 or 16 and 17. For more details, you can check the schematic diagram.

• Purpose: Connects Raspberry Pi shields
• Price: ~$5

If you usually do smaller-scale projects, a test clamp is a great ally. Smaller and smaller micro-controllers make possible projects that were not before, but with the downside of a more difficult time handling and programming compared to their bigger brothers, especially if they have many connections and ports. Soldering wires just to test their functionality or to simply write a code can be laborious and risks causing shorts and damage to your Arduino if not enough care is taken.

Instead, having a test clamp on hand is a perfect substitute. All you have to do is secure the connections and then connect the jumpers to firm pins that are not soldered to the board. With this simple accessory, you can save yourself a lot of time that could be invested in more important things.

• Purpose: Module testing and bootloader burning without soldering pin headers
• Price: ~$7

Plenty of Project Ideas

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