Reddit reviews ELEGOO Upgraded Electronics Fun Kit w/Power Supply Module, Jumper Wire, Precision Potentiometer, 830 tie-Points Breadboard for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, STM32

This might sound a little discouraging but the only reference I used when making this thing was an Imgur album of someone else's shiny hunting machine: https://imgur.com/gallery/fsRkv

I actually did all the code myself using arduino C/C++ code and I would share it but it's hot garbage that barely works and you actually need to edit the code for every new Pokemon you want to hunt.

There are also no real guides on this (or at least there weren't any that were easy to follow when I made mine about a year ago) so I just used a lot of trial and error. I spent a solid two weeks working on this and tweaking it daily before it was functional and it was an extra week before I managed to find a shiny with it.

What I can help with is where I got the parts:

Breadboard and electrical components:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ERPEMAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Servo motors:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015H5AVZG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RGB light sensor:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077QF7SR3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Arduino controller:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1X5B7Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got the elegoo super starter kit. It has tons of great add-ons. I think there's a kit with just sensors too. Search elegoo on Amazon.

EDIT:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MG49ZQ5/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1493525142&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=elegoo&dpPl=1&dpID=61y%2BI7tQbyL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01D8KOZF4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493525142&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=elegoo&dpPl=1&dpID=615S0N50XHL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01ERPEMAC/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1493525291&sr=8-15&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=arduino+kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CXMMDZI/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1493525291&sr=8-12&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=arduino+kit

hmm! Looks like I was using the wrong pins.
I was trying to power it with just pins 1&2.

I've switched over to pins 2 & 39 now though, and I just get a green light flickering every once and a while.

I guess I'll go back to powering it over usb for now!
Thanks for your help

Edit: I actually have a USB port on the little breadboard adapter, so I tried to plug the usb cable that I normally powers the pi into that, and I also get the flickering green light. So it looks like I get the same results with the GPIO as I do on the USB when using the breadboard adapter.

Without the breadboard adapter, the usb port on the pi powers it up.

Looks like the breadboard adapter thing is junk if it can't even power the pie? Seems like it's a pointless device?

This is the device I'm using https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01ERPEMAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this elegoo electronics fun kit a while back and it's been good to me. The breadboard powersupply is very useful, and it offers lots of fun components.

Thanks!

Would it be possible to use these motors/drivers with the NodeMCU?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CP18J4A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2WWHQ25ENKVJ1

"Elegoo 5 sets 28BYJ-48 ULN2003 5V Stepper Motor + ULN2003 Driver Board for Arduino
"

I was thinking about getting the NodeMCU, that motor pack, and this conglomeration of parts to get started:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ERPEMAC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2WWHQ25ENKVJ1

What do you think?

What's your budget? If you really want something decent, I'd recommend a breadboard, jumper cables, and some power source connector to put everything together. Electrical tape isn't an effective way to keep things together and solder isn't necessary if you want to disassemble it. A started kit might be a good idea too as it is much more useful if she doesn't have any/many electronics components.

All of these are under $20 (I think reasonable for a student) and would be a better fit:
https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Electronics-Potentiometer-tie-points-Breadboard/dp/B01ERPEMAC

https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-EL-CK-002-Electronic-Breadboard-Potentiometer/dp/B01ERP6WL4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGD2GAO

It's absolutely possible, but not worth it. Back in the old days (like...70's and before) scrounging for parts from old TVs and Radios was mandatory because there was nowhere else to get stuff. Nowadays, you can get parts from amazon for a couple of dollars (or ebay for cheaper, or aliexpress for even cheaper) and you know what you're getting, plus you get an assortment of things.

For example, you can get a basic starter kit with things like this:
https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Electronics-Potentiometer-tie-Points-Breadboard/dp/B01ERPEMAC

No soldering or tools needed, and it has pretty much all you need to get started.

Note, that it doesn't come with a 9V adapter for the power module, so you'll have to get one separately.

I would recommend buying individual components for insurance of quality, but a kit is definitely cheaper...
If you are looking for basic components, my friend bought this:
https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Electronics-Potentiometer-tie-points-Breadboard/dp/B01ERPEMAC/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1510684316&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=breadboard+starter+kit&psc=1
However, if you are looking for a sensors, I recommend you buy those separately.