NerdKits - electronics education for a digital generation
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A NerdKits microcontroller kit is great as a:

All orders ship either the same or next business day. US orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail and arrive within 2-3 days after shipping. (International orders, please scroll down for more details.)

The USB NerdKit showing off the LCD, microcontroller, and USB programming cable

The new USB NerdKit in action!

USB NerdKit

Includes:

  • Solderless breadboard
  • Microcontroller
  • LCD screen
  • Programming cable
  • The NerdKits Guide
  • plus everything else as listed on the Kits page.

This package contains everything you need to get started learning electronics with microcontrollers!

NEW: See what reviewers on Amazon.com are saying about this kit!

Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.


If you have one of our NerdKits above in your shopping cart, or if you already have a NerdKit and are logged in, you can also purchase extra parts for your NerdKit:

The LED Array Kit

LED Array Kit

The LED Array expansion kit is an add-on to your USB NerdKit that lets you create a custom 5x24 pixel scrolling marquee.

Learn more about the LED Array Kit...

$32.99

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more of these ready to ship.

Learn more

Full-size Digital Multimeter

Full-size Digital Multimeter

  • Full size: 5-3/4" x 2-3/4" x 1-1/4", 9oz
  • Display with backlight (great visibility in the dark!)
  • Measures DC voltage (5 ranges: 200mV to 500V), AC voltage, DC current (5 ranges: 200uA to 10A), resistance (5 ranges: 200 ohms to 2M ohms), and continuity tester with buzzer
  • Bipolar transistor test mode (hFE current gain)
  • Detachable test leads, included
  • Powered by one 9V battery, included

A powerful full-function multimeter for your electronics workbench.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more of these ready to ship.

Pocket Digital Multimeter

Pocket Digital Multimeter

  • Pocket size, thin, and lightweight: 4" x 2-1/4" x 3/4", 4oz
  • Measures DC voltage (5 ranges: 200mV to 400V), AC voltage, DC current (3 ranges: 2000uA to 200mA), resistance (5 ranges: 200 ohms to 2M ohms), and continuity tester with buzzer
  • Attached leads snap and store with meter
  • Powered by one 12V 23A battery, included

A very portable and convenient multimeter for everyday use.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

Breadboard, ATmega168, Capacitor, and Crystal

Build Your Own Project Package (ATmega168)

Includes:

  • Solderless breadboard
  • ATmega168 microcontroller, with bootloader (compatible with the USB NerdKit's programming cable)
  • 14.7456MHz crystal oscillator
  • 0.1uF capacitor

This contains all the core parts you need to put together an additional microcontroller project using the knowledge from your first USB NerdKit.


Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

Breadboard, ATmega328P, Capacitor, and Crystal

Build Your Own Project Package (ATmega328P)

Includes:

  • Solderless breadboard
  • ATmega328P microcontroller, with bootloader (compatible with the USB NerdKit's programming cable)
  • 14.7456MHz crystal oscillator
  • 0.1uF capacitor

This microcontroller has double the memory space of the ATmega168 above, and is a simple upgrade for our customers, or for consideration with new projects. More details are available in the "ATmega328P Upgrade Nano-Guide" in the Members Downloads section for current customers.

This contains all the core parts you need to put together an additional microcontroller project using the knowledge from your first USB NerdKit.


Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

20x4 LCD and Resistors

LCD and Contrast Resistors

Includes:

  • 20 column x 4 row Character LCD Module with backlight
  • Resistors for contrast adjustment and backlight

An extra LCD for your NerdKits projects. (USB NerdKit owners with the smaller 24x2 displays will be provided with instructions for using this LCD.)

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

2N7000 n-channel MOSFET

2N7000 n-channel MOSFET

Includes:

  • 2N7000 (TO-92 package)

This is an extra MOSFET transistor (four of which are included in the USB NerdKit above), used in many of our projects, including Motors and Microcontrollers 101, iPhone-controlled R/C car, and Servo Squirter. It may be useful for controlling motors and other higher-power loads. See the datasheet for full details.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

Voltage Regulator

5V Voltage Regulator

Includes:

  • +5V Linear Voltage Regulator (TO-220 package)

Regulates any DC input voltage 8V-35V from a battery or wall adapter down to 5V for use by the microcontroller, LCD, and other parts.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

ATmega168 microcontroller

ATmega168 Microcontroller

Includes:

  • ATmega168 microcontroller, with bootloader (compatible with the USB NerdKit's programming cable)

This is an extra microcontroller in case you need a replacement or just need another for your projects! Also see the "Build Your Own Project Package (ATmega168)" above, which contains a breadboard, crystal, and capacitor as well as this microcontroller.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

ATmega328P microcontroller

ATmega328P Microcontroller

Includes:

  • ATmega328P microcontroller, with bootloader (compatible with the USB NerdKit's programming cable)

This microcontroller has double the memory space of the ATmega168 above, and is a simple upgrade for our customers, or for consideration with new projects. More details are available in the "ATmega328P Upgrade Nano-Guide" in the Members Downloads section for current customers.

Also see the "Build Your Own Project Package (ATmega328P)" above, which contains a breadboard, crystal, and capacitor as well as this microcontroller.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

LM34 Temperature Sensor

LM34 Temperature Sensor

Includes:

  • LM34 Temperature Sensor (TO-92 package)

This is an extra temperature sensor (one of which is included in the USB NerdKit), useful for our Digital Meat Thermometer project or your own temperature-related projects.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

SPDT Slide Switch

SPDT Slide Switch

Includes:

  • Single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) slide switch (breadboard compatible)

This is an extra switch (two of which are included in the USB NerdKit), useful as digital inputs or for power.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

NerdKits USB to Serial TTL Cable

NerdKits USB to Serial TTL Cable

Includes:

  • Assembled and tested USB to Serial adapter with TTL-voltage levels and 4-wire cable

This is an extra USB to Serial cable (one of which is included in the USB NerdKit), useful for extra projects needing to communicate with a computer, or for programming microcontroller pre-loaded with our bootloader. This is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more kits ready to ship.

Wire assortment, 3 feet each of 5 colors

Extra wire assortment, 3 feet each of 5 colors

Includes:

  • 3 feet of each of 5 colors: red, yellow, green, blue, black
  • 22 AWG solid copper wire for easy breadboarding

Our USB NerdKit includes a wire set like this one, but if you need more for your projects, pick up this handy assortment.

Temporarily sold out!

We're temporarily out of stock. Leave your e-mail on the Feedback Form and we'll contact you when we have more ready to ship.

For other parts, please e-mail us at support@THISDOMAIN and we can send you a custom PayPal invoice.

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"Thank you for putting this kit together.

I received the kit as a Christmas gift and have been playing with it for a while now. It's a great introduction to digital electronics and the way you have set it up is a real educational experience. Thanks!"

-Darrin M.
Barrie, Ontario, Canada

What are you waiting for?

This is not a pre-assembled circuit board. This is a learning experience, where you'll build the circuit for yourself, and you'll come to understand why you've done each step.

The two designers of NerdKits have spent thousands of hours in classes at MIT, learning from the best of the best about electrical engineering and computer science. We've spent years tinkering in our own basements and achieving both frustration and joy. But recently, we realized that what we're really passionate about is teaching others, seeing that spark go off in their heads, and watching them succeed.

When you look at the offerings from NerdKits' competitors, you'll find one of two things: either a development kit meant for people with formal technical training and a specific project in mind, or a dumbed-down kit that holds your hand but doesn't tell you why. We think NerdKits represents a balance, empowering you with real tools (an LCD screen and a C compiler among them), and giving you instructions plus intuition that will really send you on your way to understanding.

We've watched so many people try to get started with microcontrollers, but fail when overwhelmed with the (sometimes conflicting) information online, and the lack of intuition that is hard to teach. But we want you to feel the same thrill of engineering that has delighted inventors for centuries, and in order to do that, we need to both get you on your feet, and also give you powerful tools. We think that starting with microcontrollers the NerdKits way will save you time, money, and frustration -- and ultimately, will make it much more likely that you'll be able to successfully build something cool and not give up.

To make your decision easier, for a limited time, we're offering a guarantee that you'll get your first program written and running -- and that alone will put a big smile on your face. If you have trouble following the instructions in The NerdKits Guide, contact us at support@THISDOMAIN and we'll do our best to help. But if you're still not successful, contact us within 30 days, send the NerdKit back to us, and we'll refund your purchase price. It's as easy as that.

We want you to be successful with this new hobby. Invest in yourself. Scroll up to the "Add to Cart" button, and take action right now.

We originally sold our kits on eBay. Here's some eBay feedback we've received from the NerdKits:

Sure, it's hard to squeeze one's thoughts into an 80-character eBay feedback, but we have happy customers and we know you'll learn a lot too!

"Just wanted to thank you for speedy shipping, good packing, fine parts selection, visually exciting, well written manual, great value."

-Paul M.
Wyckoff, NJ


International shipping

Note: we're happy to ship internationally via USPS Priority Mail International or USPS First Class International. We've shipped kits to Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and US APO/FPO addresses -- 50 countries in all. (This list keeps growing!) If the "Check out with PayPal" button on the shopping cart page doesn't have shipping data for your country (or shows a placeholder like $999), please e-mail us at support@THISDOMAIN and we'll get back to you ASAP!

International buyers are responsible for any taxes or customs fees that may be assessed by their country. If you have a question about that, let us know. Based on e-mails from customers, the only countries that have levied customs fees are:

Educational discount

Registered students, faculty, and staff (both at the college and high school levels) can now receive a 10% educational discount. We'll send you a custom PayPal invoice with the reduced price. To get this discount, please e-mail us at support@THISDOMAIN and tell us your shipping address, and we'll send you the invoice with discount. Please either send this from a .EDU e-mail address (must be linked to your PayPal account), or include proof of your enrollment or affiliation -- for example, a scan of a student ID card (feel free to blur out ID numbers).

Note: We can not apply any educational discount after an order has already been placed. The educational discount also does not apply to orders placed via eBay or Amazon.

"Actually both are gifts - the first one was supposed to be for my son in Oregon, but then I decided to give his to my future son-in-law in Taiwan so I needed to then buy a replacement for my son. The NEXT one I buy will be for me.

Thanks for the help"

-Paul B.
Bedford, NH

Did you know that multiple MOSFETs can be used in parallel to switch bigger currents on and off? Learn more...