Electronic modules
Sensors, actuators, and modules for your own projects.
Frequently asked questions about modules and microcontrollers
Arduino or ESP32 — what’s the difference, and which is best for what?
The Arduino Uno runs on 5 V, is robust and ideal for getting started. The ESP32 runs on 3.3 V, is considerably faster and comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. Rule of thumb: if your project needs to go online or transmit data wirelessly, use the ESP32. If it’s about learning and simple circuits, the Arduino is all you need.
How does PWM work, and when do you use PWM instead of DC voltage?
PWM stands for pulse-width modulation: instead of reducing the voltage, the microcontroller switches it on and off very quickly. The ratio of on to off determines the average power. This makes motors run slower and LEDs glow dimmer without energy being lost as heat — which is why PWM is used instead of simply reducing the voltage.
What is a Raspberry Pi, and how does it differ from Arduino?
The Raspberry Pi is a fully fledged mini computer with an operating system; the Arduino is a microcontroller without an operating system. The Pi is suited to cameras, networking and displays, the Arduino to anything that needs to control sensors and motors directly and start up instantly.
What is an Arduino, or a microcontroller?
A microcontroller is a small computer on a circuit board that runs exactly one program. Arduino is the best-known platform for this: a board, a free programming environment and a large library of ready-made code. You connect sensors, upload your program to the board, and it runs — even without a PC.
What is an H-bridge?
An H-bridge is a circuit made of four switches that lets you reverse the direction of current through a motor. This allows a motor to run forward and backward — controlled by a microcontroller that on its own would supply far too little current.
CH340 or CH341 — what’s the difference, and where can I find the driver?
Both are USB-to-serial converters found on many Arduino-compatible boards. The CH341 can also handle interfaces such as I2C and SPI; for Arduino use, the two are equivalent. On Windows, you usually need a driver — you’ll find the guide for this in our guides section.