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Maker Advisor

Best Tools and Gear for Makers

Tools and Gear We Love

Maker Advisor is part of the Random Nerd Tutorials website (read more here). We find and select the best tools and gear that makers, hobbyists and DIYers like. We share deals, write unbiased reviews and compare tools. Click the images and links below on something that you need to compare prices in more than 8 different stores, so you can always find the best price.

Pick a category below: Kits, Development Boards, Electronic Assortments, Tools and Test Equipment, Sensors and Modules or Arduino shields.


Kits

Best Arduino Starter Kits
Best Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kits
Raspberry Pi Zero W Kit
Arduino Sensor Kits

Development Boards

ESP8266 12-E NodeMCU Kit
ESP-01
WeMos D1 Mini
ESP32 (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth)

Arduino UNO R3 (compatible)
Arduino Mega (compatible)
Arduino Nano (compatible)
Raspberry Pi 5

ESP32-CAM
ESP-EYE
ESP32 Built-in OLED
ESP32 Built-in LoRa Chip

ESP32 with Camera + OLED
TTGO T-Camera Plus
ESP32-CAM with Antenna
T-SIM7000G ESP32

Raspberry Pi Pico W
Raspberry Pi Pico W
ESP32-CAM-MB Programmer
ESP32-CAM-MB Micro USB Programmer CH340G Serial Chip OV2640 Camera
ESP-01 USB Programmer
ESP32 CYD – “Cheap Yellow Display”

LILYGO® TTGO T-A7670G
Raspberry Pi Pico W
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
Raspberry Pi Pico W
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Electronic Assortments

Solderless Breadboard 830 Points
Jumper Wires
Resistors Kit
LEDs Kit

RGB LEDs
Electrolytic Capacitors Kit
Prototyping Circuit Board
Alligator Clips

Transistors NPN and PNP Kit
Diodes Rectifier Kit
Trimpot Kit
Potentiometer

Pushbuttons Kit
Mini DC Motor
Servo Motor
Micro Servo Motor

Female Pin Header Socket Connector
SMD LEDs
SMD Resistors
Ceramic Capacitors Kit

SPDT Slide Switch
5mm LED Bezel Holder
Pan and Tilt
MCP3008 Analog-to-digital-converter

Tools and Test Equipment

Self Adjusting Wire Stripper
Diagonal Cutting Plier
Mini Diagonal Plier
Best Precision Screwdriver Sets

Best Hot Glue Guns
Best Soldering Irons
Best Helping Hands
Solder

Soldering Wick
Rotary Tool
Best Multimeter under $50
Power Supply

Oscilloscope
Signal Generator
Digital Infrared Thermometer
Best Storage Organizers

Sensors and Modules

DHT11 Temperature and Humidity
DHT22 Temperature and Humidity
MQ-2 Smoke and Gas
PIR Motion Sensor (HC-SR501)

DS18B20
Bluetooth Module (HC-06)
5V 2-Channel Relay Module
Soil Moisture (YL-69 or HL-69)

RTC Module (DS1307)
LDR (Photoresistor)
Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)
Membrane Keyboard

nRF24L01 / 2.4GHz RF 
TSOP4838 IR Receiver
IR LED Transmitter
OLED 0.96 Display SSD1306

RF 433MHz Transmitter/Receiver
LM35/LM35DZ
NEO-6M GPS Module
3-24V Piezo Buzzer

Tilt Sensor
TCS3200 Color Sensor – GY-31
Microphone Sound Sensor KY-038
Magnetic Reed Switch

MFRC522 RFID Reader
BMP180 Barometric Sensor
YL-83 Rain Sensor
1.8 TFT LCD Display

8×8 Dot Matrix with MAX7219
Micro SD Card Module
Logic Level Converter
16×2 Character LCD

Optical Fingerprint Sensor
Best Nextion Display
BME280 Sensor Module
RFM95 – LoRa Transceiver

L298N Motor Driver
2WD Smart Robot Chassis Kit
Mini PIR Motion Sensor
TP4056 Lithium Battery Charger

Resistive Soil Moisture Sensor
DS18B20 Sensor
16×2 I2C Character LCD
HLK-PM01

HLK-PM03
3.3V Relay Module
BME680BME680 Gas sensor humidity barometric pressure ambient temperature gas air quality
MPU-6050

BMP388
TCA9548ATCA9548A I2C Multiplexer
Stepper Motor
BH1750 Ambient Light

Type-K Thermocouple
TDS Sensor
Load Cell + HX711 Amplifier
RCWL-0516 Microwave Radar

2.8″ ILI9341 TFT
Anemometer Wind Speed
DS3231 RTC Module
NEO-M8N GPS Module

APDS9960 Sensor
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Arduino Shields

Ethernet Shield W5100
Motor Driver Shield
Data Logging Shield
Relay Shield

SIM900 GSM Shield
Proto Shield

Raspberry Pi Accessories

Raspberry Pi Camera V2
MicroSD Card 16GB
Raspberry Pi Power Supply

Others

5V DC Power Adaptor
12V DC Power Adaptor 
DC Power Male Plug Jack Adapter 2.1mm
24V/12V/5V Power Supply 

IR RGB LED Lamp
DC12V RGB LED Strip
LM2577/LM2596 Step Down Buck Converter
RF Remote Controlled Sockets

Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries and Charger
Dummy Security Camera
FT232RL FTDI Programmer
White LED Strip

WS2812B Addressable RGB LED Strip
Project Box Enclosure
433 MHz RF Wall Switch
Mini 5V Solar Panel

SONOFF Wi-Fi Smart Switch
Logitech Webcam C920
4x AA Battery Holder
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