In the last couple of months, many Arduino boards have been added to our product range. But what is the difference between every board? And what can they be used for? Look no further and follow this ultimate Arduino guide!

For those of you who are just getting started with programming and Arduino, we will start off by sharing some great links that will explain Arduino.

If you are already familiar with Arduino, you can scroll down to our extensive overview of all available Arduino boards. And when we say extensive, we mean extensive!

Lastly, we will help you decide on which board to choose for your project and inspire you with some cool Arduino accessories. Sit back, relax and enjoy!


Arduino explained

Who better to explain Arduino, than the people from Arduino themselves?!
On the introduction page of the Arduino website, you can find a thorough explanation of what an Arduino is exactly. If I were to describe it, I’d say that it is a credit-card-sized computer or microcontroller that can receive inputs and turn them into outputs. An input can be the light that shines on a sensor, a sound captured by a microphone or even a text message. Whereas an output can be lighting up an LED, activating a buzzer, rotating a motor and so on.

On that same page, you can also find out why you should choose to use Arduino for your next project! In short, it’s inexpensive and simple to use because of its clear programming environment.

You can tell the Arduino what it needs to do by writing a set of instructions in the Arduino programming language by using the Arduino development environment. Sound difficult? No way! Just go to the getting started page on the Arduino website where you can find all instructions and loads of tutorials to help you on your way!


Overview of the available boards

In the previous chapter, we talked about the different Arduino hardware boards. At Velleman, we have 3 different types of boards:

  • Original Arduino boards  designed & produced by Arduino, traded by Velleman
  • Velleman alteration boards  designed by Velleman for Makers, produced & sold by Velleman
  • Velleman cloned boards  reviewed by Velleman for Makers, produced & sold by Velleman

Each type of board that is sold by Velleman is presented in the following chapters.
Velleman makes a selection of certain boards, based on their own experience and market research. More boards exist on the market.

Original Arduino boards – Arduino UNO (rev 3)

This board is your entry to the unique Arduino experience: great for learning the basics of how sensors and actuators work, and an essential tool for project prototyping.

Arduino Uno is the ideal board for getting started with electronics, through fun and engaging hands-on projects.

Arduino Uno is the most used and documented board in the world. Thanks to the lively and helpful community surrounding the Arduino Uno, advice and inspiration are easy to find. Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P, an 8-bit microcontroller with 32 KB of Flash memory and 2 KB of RAM.

It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.

Why buy it?
Your first Arduino board: the best way to get started with electronics and coding.

USBStandard type B
CHIPATMEGA328P
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2KB SRAM / 1 KB EEPROM
INTERFACESI2C / SPI / SERIAL
VOLTAGES5V OPERATING
PINOUT14 DIGITAL / 6 PWM / 6 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS68.6 X 53.4 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino LEONARDO

Arduino Leonardo is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega32u4.

It has 20 digital input/output pins (of which 7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a rest button.

The Leonardo differs from all preceding boards in that the ATmega32u4 has built-in USB communication, eliminating the need for a secondary processor.

This allows the Leonardo to appear to a connected computer as a mouse and keyboard, in addition to a virtual (CDC) serial/COM port.

Why buy it?
Simulate a keyboard or a mouse using this Arduino classic board

USBMicro type B
CHIPATMEGA32U4
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2.5KB SRAM / 1 KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-11V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT20 DIGITAL / 7 PWM / 12 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS68.6 X 53.4 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MICRO

Arduino Micro is based on the same architecture as Arduino Leonardo, but with a smaller form factor, which allows an easy placement on breadboards.

Developed in conjunction with Adafruit, the Leonardo has 20 digital input/output pins (of which 7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, an ICSP header, and a rest button.

Just as the Leonardo, the Micro can simulate a mouse and a keyboard, in addition to a virtual (CDC) serial/COM port.

Why buy it?
A small powerful board for your tiny projects.

USBMicro type B
CHIPATMEGA32U4
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2.5KB SRAM / 1 KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-11V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT20 DIGITAL / 7 PWM / 12 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS48.6 X 18 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MEGA 2560 (rev 3)

Don’t limit your projects, think big, think MEGA!
The Arduino Mega 2560 has been designed with bigger and more ambitious projects in mind.

The large number of analog and digital pins, together with a larger memory makes it ideal for devices like 3D printers and other demanding applications. The Mega 2560 is a board based on the 8-bit AVR microcontroller ATmega2560.

It has 54 digital input/output pins (15 of which can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (i.e., hardware serial ports).

It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable. The Mega 2560 board is compatible with most shields designed for the Arduino Uno.

Why buy it?
Think big, thing Arduino Mega! Designed for your most ambitious projects which require additional pins and extra memory.

USBStandard type B
CHIPATMEGA2560
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 8KB SRAM / 4 KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT70 DIGITAL / 15 PWM / 16 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS101.52 X 53.3 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino DUE

Arduino Due is a microcontroller board based on the Microchip SAM3X8E with an Arm Cortex-M3 processor. It was the first Arduino board based on a 32-bit Arm microcontroller.

It has 54 digital input/output pins (12 of which can be used as PWM outputs), 12 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (i.e., hardware serial ports), a 84 MHz clock, an USB OTG capable connection, 2 DAC (digital to analog), 2 TWI, a power jack, an SPI header, a JTAG header, a reset button and an erase button.

The board contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a micro-USB cable or power it with an AC adapter or battery to get started.

The Due is compatible with all Arduino shields that work at 3.3V and are compliant with the 1.0 Arduino pinout.

Why buy it?
Fly high with Arduino Due to control high-performance applications from drones to cnc-manchines!

USBMicro type B
CHIPAT91SAM3X8E
CLOCK80MHZ
MEMORY512KB FLASH / 100KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / CAN / UART
VOLTAGES7-20V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT70 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 12-2 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS101.52 X 53.3 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MKR ZERO

Arduino MKR Zero offers everything you need to release your creative potential: advanced audio and analog processing capabilities, low power consumption, and a real-time clock, all at a convenient price.

Robotics applications, art installations, and other sophisticated projects will also benefit from the MKR Zero’s capabilities.

The board is powered by the Microchip ATSAMD21 microcontroller, which features a 32-bit Arm Cortex®-M0+ processor. The board contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a micro-USB cable or power it by a Lithium battery.

Why buy it?
Express your creative potential, from music to robotics, with the most accessible Arduino board based on a 32-bit ARM processor.

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYUSB
CHIPATSAMD21
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 32KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT22 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 7-1 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS61.5 X 25 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MKR WiFi 1010

Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 is the evolution of the MKR1000 and is equipped with an ESP32 module from u-blox. The Board is composed of three main blocks:

  • Microchip ATSAMD21 MCU based on an Arm Cortex-M0+ processor
  • u-blox NINA-W10 series low power 2.4GHz IEEE® 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • ECC508 CryptoAuthentication

The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 aims to accelerate and simplify the prototyping of WiFi-based IoT applications thanks to the flexibility of the ESP32 module and its low power consumption.

The design includes a Li-Po charging circuit that allows Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 to run on battery power or external 5V, charging the Li-Po battery while running on external power. Switching from one source to the other is done automatically.

Why buy it?
The newest version of the MKR boards with an ESP32 module form U-Blox. Ideal for IoT applications!

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYWIFI
CHIPATSAMD21
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 32KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT22 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 7-1 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS61.5 X 25 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MKR WAN 1300

Arduino MKR WAN 1300 is a practical and cost-effective solution to add LoRa connectivity to your projects. It is based on a Microchip ATSAMD21 MCU and Murata CMWX1ZZABZ LoRa module. This board is ideal for projects that require low power consumption over long distances, in dense urban or indoor areas, or rural regions. You can check www.lora-alliance.org for operators covering your area, or set up your own gateway.

The design includes the ability to power the board using two 1.5V AA or AAA batteries or external 5V. Switching from one source to another is done automatically. MKR WAN 1300 is able to run, however, with or without the batteries connected.

Why buy it?
The effective solution to add LoRa connectivity to your project!

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYLORA / LORA WAN
CHIPATSAMD21
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 32KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT8 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 7-1 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS67.4 X 25 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino MKR GSM 1400

Arduino MKR GSM 1400 has been designed to offer a practical and cost-effective solution to add 3G/2G connectivity to your projects. It’s based on the Microchip ATSAMD21 and u-blox SARA-U201 GSM module.

The SARA-U201 module is ideal for connected automotive, transport, wearables, smart cities, smart home, and buildings. It supports HSPA/GSM for global coverage.

The design includes the ability to power the board using a LiPo battery or external power source rated 5V. Switching from one source to another is done automatically.

Why buy it?
A powerful GSM module embedded into a MKR board ideal form automotive to smart cities applications.

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITY3G – 4G
CHIPATSAMD21
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 32KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT22 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 7-1 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS67.4 X 25 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino NANO EVERY

Arduino Nano Every turns your ideas into a reality quickly. This small, robust and powerful board has the same classic Nano footprint loved worldwide and operates on the easy to use Arduino IDE.

Get started in minutes with the sketch you need available from open-source, making it the perfect choice for your everyday projects.

Based on the ATMega4809 AVR processor, the Arduino Nano Every is flexible to the requirements of your design. It can be used in a breadboard when mounting pin headers, or as an SMT directly soldered on a PCB thanks to its castellated pads.

An SAMD11 ARM Cortex M0+ processor acts as a high-performance USB to serial converter that can be re-programmed by skilled users to achieve even more opportunities.

Why buy it?
Perfect for everyday projects, this compact board is robust and great value!

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYUSB
CHIPAVR ATMEGA4809
CLOCK20MHZ
MEMORY48KB FLASH / 6KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT12 DIGITAL / 5 PWM / 7 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS45 X 18 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino NANO 33 IOT

Arduino Nano 33 IoT has easy to use WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity which when combined with its low power consumption make it a practical cost-effective solution for your connected projects.

Go from unboxing to a working device in minutes through the seamless integration with the Arduino IoT Cloud-enabling you to benefit from automatically generated sketches and dashboards, along with full TLS secure transport.

Secure and flexible to your IoT solution requirements the Arduino Nano 33 IoT is a miniature sized module containing an Arm Cortex-M0+ SAMD21 processor, a WiFi & Bluetooth module based on ESP32, a 6 axis IMU, and a crypto chip which can securely store certificates and pre-shared keys.

An SAMD11 ARM Cortex M0+ processor acts as an high-performance USB to serial converter that can be re-programmed by skilled users to achieve even more opportunities.

Why buy it?
With WIFI & BLE, a more powerful microcontroller and a security chip, this compact board packs in everything you need for connected projects.

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYWIFI, BLUETOOTH
CHIPM0+ ATSAMD21
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 32KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT12 DIGITAL / 8 PWM / 8-1 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS45 X 18 MM

Original Arduino boards – Arduino NANO 33 BLE SENSE

Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense is a miniature sized module containing a NINA B306 module, based on Nordic nRF52840 and containing a powerful Cortex-M4F and a large set of sensors.

The module can either be mounted as a DIP component (when mounting pin headers), or as a SMT component, directly soldering it via the castellated pads.

Built for low power consumption, Nano 33 BLE Sense is designed for environmental sensing and human interface applications thanks to the embedded microphone and proximity/gesture sensor.

Why buy it?
A low-power Bluetooth 5.0 board with a powerful ARM Cortex-M4F processor that can handle more demanding projects.

USBMicro type B
CONNECTIVITYBLUETOOTH 5.0
CHIPM4 NORDIC NRF52840
CLOCK48MHZ
MEMORY1MB FLASH / 256KB SRAM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART / I2S
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT12 DIGITAL / 12 PWM / 8 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS45 X 18 MM

Velleman alteration boards – Nibble kit

Velleman Nibble KIT is a DIY soldering board based on the original Arduino UNO.

Build your own – fully Arduino® compatible microcontroller and enhance it with 4 built-in buttons and blue LEDs. The nibble only requires through hole soldering skills and is preprogrammed with a working memory game (SMD components are already assembled).

The Velleman Nibble is fully compatible with the Arduino ecosystem, so you can use all the available shields, sketches and software after you have soldered one together!

Why buy it?
Now you can solder your own compatible Arduino board!

USBSTANDARD TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA328P
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2KB SRAM / 1KB EEPROM
INTERFACESI2C / SPI / SERIAL
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT14 DIGITAL / 6 PWM / 6 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS68.6 X 53.4 MM

Velleman alteration boards – BRIGHTDOT wearable development board

This BrightDot wearable development board is an ATmega32U4 based, Arduino® compatible development board that you can use as a wearable or e-textile.

Be creative and use the multicolored RGB LEDs to brighten up your wardrobe, decorations, backpack or even make Christmas ornaments!

The alligator friendly pads/holes enable you to quickly prototype your creation. The pads were also made bigger to ease the use of conductive wire and they are gold plated to ensure durability. The integrated single cell LiPo charger makes the LED badge more versatile, even though it has an existing open system.

The 24 BrightDot LEDs (WS2812) enable you to display bright and colorful animations with just a single pin!

Why buy it?
It’s wearable, has 24 addressable RGB LEDs, has a built-in RTC and is Arduino compatible!

USBMICRO TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA32U4
CLOCK8MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2KB SRAM / 1KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT10 GPIO
DIMENSIONS80 MM DIAMETER X 9 MM

Velleman alteration boards – ESP32 wearable development board

Meet the most versatile wearable and ESP32 based development board of the moment! It’s 100% Arduino compatible and it’s easy and invisible to wear thanks to its uniquely thin PCB with 8 x sewable pads. 4 Of the pads are even capacitive touch-enabled! You can easily connect this wearable with a battery thanks to the JST connector. Thanks to the deep sleep modus, you can run projects for a long time!

As for the versatility; this little development board packs a lot of features such as a Hall effect sensor, a temperature sensor and an ultra-low power analog pre-amplifier. But the neatest on-board feature is undoubtedly the ability to connect the board to WiFi and Bluetooth®.

Getting any ideas? Here’s one: connect the board with our BirghtDot wearable LEDs collection and make them react to text or social messages, magnets, sounds, time, temperature and more!

Why buy it?
It’s wearable with low power consumption, has onboard WIFI & Bluetooth, has a lot of processing power & memory and is Arduino compatible!

USBMICRO TYPE B
CONNECTIVITYWIFI, BLE
CHIPESP32
CLOCK240MHZ
MEMORY520KB SRAM / 448KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT17 GPIO
DIMENSIONS56 X 50 X 7.5 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ATmega328 UNO Dev. Board

This ATmega328 UNO development board is a perfect clone of the original Arduino UNO. It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header and a reset button.

This board contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.

We made sure this board is produced with the original ATmega328 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original Arduino UNO development board with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBSTANDARD TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA328P
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2KB SRAM / 1KB EEPROM
INTERFACESI2C / SPI / SERIAL
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT14 DIGITAL / 6 PWM / 6 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS68.6 X 53.4 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ATmega32u4 LEONARDO Dev. Board

This ATmega32u4 LEONARDO development board is a perfect clone of the original Arduino LEONARDO. It has 20 digital input/output pins (of which 7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button.

This board contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.

We made sure this board is produced with the original ATmega32u4 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original Arduino Leonardo development board with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBMICRO TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA32U4
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY32KB FLASH / 2.5KB SRAM / 1KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT20 DIGITAL / 7 PWM / 12 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS68.6 X 53.4 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ATmega328 NANO Dev. Board

This ATmega328 NANO development board is a perfect clone of the original Arduino NANO. It is a small, complete, and breadboard-friendly board based on the ATmega328 (Arduino Nano 3.x) orATmega168 (Arduino Nano 2.x). It has more or less the same functionality of the Arduino Duemilanove but in a different package. It lacks only a DC power jack and works with a mini-B USB cable instead of a standard one.

We made sure this board is produced with the original ATmega328 or ATmega168 chips, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original Arduino NANO development board with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBMINI TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA168 / ATMEGA328
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY16KB-32KB FLASH / 1KB-2KB SRAM / 0.5KB-1KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT14 DIGITAL / 6 PWM / 8 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS45 X 18 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ATmega2560 MEGA Dev. Board

This ATmega2560 MEGA development board is a perfect clone of the original Arduino MEGA. It has 54 digital input/output pins (of which 15 can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (hardware serial ports), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button.

It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.

We made sure this board is produced with the original ATmega2560 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original Arduino MEGA development board with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBSTANDARD TYPE B
CHIPATMEGA2560
CLOCK16MHZ
MEMORY256KB FLASH / 8KB SRAM / 4KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES7-12V INPUT / 5V OPERATING
PINOUT70 DIGITAL / 15 PWM / 16 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS101.52 X 53.3 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ATtiny85 MICRO Dev. Board

The ATtiny85 MICRO development board  is a great option for running simple Arduino programs, it’s really small, cheap and relatively easy to use. If your project requires only a few simple inputs or outputs, you’re probably fine using a VMA108.

We made sure this board is produced with the original ATtiny85 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original ATtiny development board, really small, with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBMICRO TYPE B
CHIPATTINY85
CLOCK20MHZ
MEMORY8KB FLASH / 0.5KB SRAM / 0.5KB EEPROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3-5V OPERATING
PINOUT6 DIGITAL / 3 PWM / 4 ANALOG
DIMENSIONS17.5 X 19 MM

Velleman cloned boards – NODEMCU V2 LUA BASED ESP8266 Dev. Board

The NODEMCU V2 LUA BASED ESP8266 development board is a perfect clone of the original ESP8266 development board.

The NodeMcu is an open-source firmware and development kit that helps you to prototype your IOT applications via onboard Wi-Fi within a few Lua script lines. And… it’s fully Arduino compatible!

We made sure this board is produced with the original ESP8266 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original esp8266 development board, has onboard WIFI, a lot of processing power, with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBMICRO TYPE B
CONNECTIVITYWIFI
CHIPESP8266
CLOCK80MHZ
MEMORY520KB SRAM / 64KB ROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT10 GPIO
DIMENSIONS58 X 32 X 12 MM

Velleman cloned boards – ESP32 Dev. Board

The ESP32 development board is a perfect clone of the original ESP32 development board.

The NodeMcu is an open-source firmware and development kit that helps you to prototype your IOT applications via onboard Wi-Fi & Bluetooth within a few Lua script lines. And… it’s fully Arduino compatible!

This versatile module has a hall effect sensor, temperature sensor, an ultra-low-power analog pre-amplifier, 2x 8-bits DACs, 12-bit SAR ADC, deep sleep mode to lower power consumption when preferable and many more features!

We made sure this board is produced with the original ESP32 chip, ensuring the quality of the board.

Why buy it?
It’s a perfect clone of the original esp8266 development board, has onboard WIFI, a lot of processing power, with the original chips and an affordable price.

USBMICRO TYPE B
CONNECTIVITYWIFI, BLE
CHIPESP32
CLOCK160-240MHZ
MEMORY520KB SRAM / 448KB ROM
INTERFACESUSB / I2C / SPI / UART
VOLTAGES5V INPUT / 3.3V OPERATING
PINOUT28 GPIO
DIMENSIONS28 X 54.5 X 19 MM

Boards decision guide

The amount of Arduino boards might seem overwhelming, but there are certain differentiators to look for when choosing a board. To help (new) users, we have created a board decision guide.


Arduino accessories

Arduino projects have a board as the central brain, but you need additional accessories to complete a project. Velleman has a wide selection of shields, interfaces and sensors to assist makers with this.

Our engineering team is constantly inventing, adopting, altering and cloning products on the market. We focus on quality products that enable users to easily adapt technology into their projects. Therefore, we provide a basic Arduino example code with our products and always sell them with original chips.

A perfect example of combining Arduino boards with accessories is the VM211 Earth Listener, an Arduino based sensor device that reads multiple environmental values to indicate the air quality.

The Earth Listener has a pre-programmed VMA101 ATmega2560 MEGA development board as the central brain, combined with the VMA412 2.8 Inch Touch Screen shield, the VMA212 Sensor shield for Arduino Mega, the VMA342 Air quality sensor combo board and the VMA343 Lightning sensor. Together, they make one functional product.

For the full selection of our Arduino compatible shields, interfaces and sensor, have a look at our online Development boards and accessories catalogue.

Some of the most popular accessories are listed below. If you need help finding the right product for your project, be sure to have a look!


Getting started with Arduino

The fastest way to get started with Arduino is by getting your hands on the Arduino starter kit. The Starter Kit includes the components you need to make 15 fun projects following the step-by-step tutorials on the Project Book. The starter kit is available in English and French.


The Blink program is the easiest and most famous Arduino program. It’s the “Hello world” of Arduino programming!

Even advanced users will try this program first since it tests the basic functionality of an Arduino board & the Arduino software. It is also the program that is pre-programmed into most Arduino boards.

This program shows the simplest thing you can do with an Arduino to see physical output: it blinks the on-board LED. The only thing you need for this workshop is an Arduino UNO board, a USB cable, and a computer.

Follow these steps to create your first project:

  • Select port
  • Start coding
// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() 
{
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() 
{
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}
  • Upload code to the board
  • Enjoy your blinking LED!

Now that the LED on your board is blinking, change the code so it mimics an SOS signal:

  • short-short-short:   3x   LED on for 500ms, LED off for 300ms
  • long-long-long:   3x   LED on for 1500ms, LED off for 300ms
  • short-short-short:   3x   LED on for 500ms, LED off for 300ms
  • pause for 3000 ms

Resources