My Electronics Journey – Arduino, Raspberry Pi & ESP32 Experiments
My electronics journey began with a simple Arduino Uno and has evolved into complex IoT systems with ESP32, cloud servers with Raspberry Pi, and long-range communications with LoRa. Here's the progression and lessons learned.
Phase 1: Arduino Uno Basics
First Projects
- Blinking LED – The "Hello World" of electronics
- LCD Displays (16×2) – Displaying custom messages via I2C
- RFID Modules (RC522) – Reading cards for access control
- Seven-segment displays – Building digital counters
- Temperature sensors (DHT11/DHT22) – Measuring environment
Key Learnings
- Understanding breadboard connections
- Reading pin diagrams
- Basic C programming for Arduino
- Serial communication for debugging
- Importance of common ground
Phase 2: Raspberry Pi 4 – Real Computing
Projects
- Cloud storage server – Samba file sharing + remote access
- Web hosting – Apache/Nginx for personal sites
- IoT hub – Controlling devices with Python scripts
- Home automation – GPIO control of relays and sensors
Key Learnings
- Linux command line proficiency
- Python for GPIO control
- Server administration basics
- Networking concepts (static IPs, DDNS, tunnels)
- System reliability (UPS, backups, proper shutdowns)
Phase 3: ESP32 – Wireless IoT
Projects
- Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity – Wireless sensor networks
- Video streaming – ESP32-CAM for surveillance
- QR vending machine – Integrated with Firebase
- Web servers – Hosting control interfaces on ESP32
- MQTT communication – Real-time data transmission
Key Learnings
- Wireless protocol handling (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE)
- Power management for battery-operated devices
- API integration (REST, Firebase, MQTT)
- Dual-core programming on ESP32
- Camera interfacing and image processing
Phase 4: LoRa SX1278 – Long-Range Communication
Projects
- Point-to-point communication (up to 2km in urban area)
- Sensor networks without Wi-Fi dependency
- Agricultural monitoring with low power consumption
Key Learnings
- Radio frequency basics
- Understanding bandwidth vs. range trade-offs
- Antenna design importance
- Low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN)
Important Lessons Learned
1. Patience is Essential
Electronics rarely work on first try. Debugging is 80% of the process. Embrace it.
2. Read Datasheets Thoroughly
Module specifications aren't suggestions—they're requirements. Wrong voltage = fried component.
3. Build Incrementally
Test each component individually before integrating. Troubleshooting complex systems is nightmare; troubleshooting simple modules is manageable.
4. Electrical Safety First
- Never work on live mains power
- Use proper fuses and protection
- Understand current limits
- Don't short batteries
5. Documentation Matters
Comment your code, label your wires, take photos of working setups. Future you will be grateful.
Tools Every Electronics Hobbyist Needs
- Multimeter – Measure voltage, current, continuity (₹500-1000)
- Breadboard & jumper wires – Prototyping without soldering
- Soldering iron – Permanent connections (₹300-2000)
- Wire strippers – Clean wire preparation
- Power supply – Adjustable voltage/current source
- USB-UART adapter – Programming and debugging
Common Mistakes I Made
- Connecting 5V module to 3.3V pin → Fried ESP32
- Forgetting common ground between power supplies
- Using cheap jumper wires that broke during demos
- Not using pull-up/pull-down resistors where needed
- Powering high-current devices from Arduino pins
Next Steps
- PCB design and fabrication
- Advanced motor control (stepper motors, servos)
- Integration with machine learning (TinyML on ESP32)
- Custom sensor development
- Product prototyping for TripleETech
Electronics isn't just about components and code—it's about bringing ideas to physical reality. Every project teaches something new. Start simple, build consistently, never stop learning.