How to get started with basic Raspberry Pi electronics?

Question

I have received a RPi 3 kit as a gift with tons of sensors, cables, resistors, etc.

I have managed to get the typical LED demo working by following literal instructions but I don't understand how to e.g. connect of the sensors.

How do I know which resistor to use, and to which GPIO pins to connect them?

Welcome to Raspberry Pi! Please take the tour and visit the helpcenter to see how things work here. This question is pretty broad and thus likely a bad fit for Stackexchange. However I would like to recommend to check the MagPi for some inspiration and plenty of tutorials. Really worth a look! — Ghanima, Commented Aug 28, 2017 at 19:23

MatsK · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-28 19:15:08Z

2

To calculate the resistor you need to know some parameters regarding the LED.

Normally a red LED has a forward voltage of approx 2volt and a current of 20mA and the output from the Raspberry Pi is 3,3volt.

This means that 1,3volt (Raspberry voltage - LED voltage) and 20mA is the values for the resistors. then lets take 1,3v/0,02A = resistor (65ohm).

And what GPIO pin to use, well that's up to which pin you fancy in the programming.

Take a look at this video series, that will explain a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR5h0UnMcUE

Table for LED,voltage vs. color

answered Aug 28, 2017 at 19:15

MatsK

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There is also a some well written books, search for "electronics for makers"
– MatsK
Commented Aug 28, 2017 at 19:17
Thank you, those are the figures I was looking for to get started.
– Bob Dem
Commented Aug 28, 2017 at 19:17

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