RFID ACCESS CONTROL GATE COMPONENT SHOPPING LIST & SPECIFICATIONS By Jan Niezgoda ============================================= RECOMMENDED: ELEGOO UNO R3 COMPLETE STARTER KIT ============================================= Price: ~£35-45 GBP / $40-50 USD Includes most components needed for this project Kit Contains (relevant items): ✓ Arduino Uno R3 board ✓ Breadboard (830 tie-points) ✓ Jumper wires (65+ pieces) ✓ LEDs (Red, Green, Yellow, Blue) ✓ 220Ω Resistors (current limiting for LEDs) ✓ Active Buzzer (5V) ✓ SG90 Servo Motor ✓ USB cable (Type A to Type B) ✓ Component box for organization Where to Buy: - Amazon UK: Search "ELEGOO UNO R3 Super Starter Kit" - Amazon US: Same search - eBay: Available from multiple sellers - Direct: elegoo.com ============================================= ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS TO PURCHASE SEPARATELY ============================================= 1. RC522 RFID READER MODULE KIT ──────────────────────────────── Specifications: - Operating Frequency: 13.56MHz - Protocol: ISO14443A / MIFARE - Communication: SPI interface - Operating Voltage: 3.3V (IMPORTANT!) - Read Range: 0-6cm - Current: 13-26mA Included in Kit: ✓ RC522 RFID reader board ✓ RFID card (usually white, credit-card sized) ✓ RFID key fob (usually blue, keychain style) Price: ~£3-5 GBP / $5-8 USD Where to Buy: - Amazon: "RC522 RFID Module Kit" - eBay: Multiple sellers - AliExpress: Cheaper but slower shipping - Local electronics shops: Maplin (UK), RadioShack (US) 2. 16x2 LCD DISPLAY MODULE (HD44780) ──────────────────────────────── Specifications: - Display: 16 characters × 2 rows - Controller: HD44780 compatible - Interface: Parallel (4-bit or 8-bit mode) - Operating Voltage: 5V - Backlight: Blue/Green LED (adjustable contrast) ⚠ NOTE: This project uses PARALLEL mode LCD (requires 6 data pins: RS, E, D4, D5, D6, D7) Alternative: I2C LCD (only 2 pins needed) - Easier to wire but requires different code - Slightly more expensive - If using I2C, modify code to use LiquidCrystal_I2C library Price: ~£3-6 GBP / $5-8 USD (parallel) ~£5-8 GBP / $7-10 USD (I2C version) Where to Buy: - Amazon: "1602 LCD Display Module HD44780" - eBay: Search "16x2 LCD Arduino" - Local electronics shops ============================================= COMPLETE COMPONENT CHECKLIST ============================================= ELECTRONICS: □ Arduino Uno R3 (1×) □ RC522 RFID Reader Module (1×) □ RFID Cards/Key Fobs (comes with RC522 kit, usually 1 card + 1 fob) □ SG90 Micro Servo Motor (1×) □ 16x2 LCD Display (1×) □ Green LED 5mm (1×) □ Red LED 5mm (1×) □ Active Buzzer 5V (1×) □ 220Ω Resistors (2×) - for LED current limiting □ 10kΩ Potentiometer (1×) - optional, for LCD contrast □ Breadboard 830 tie-points (1×) □ Male-to-Male Jumper Wires (30-40×) POWER: □ USB Cable Type A to Type B (1×) □ Computer USB port OR USB wall adapter (5V 1A minimum) □ Optional: 9V external power adapter for Arduino MECHANICAL: □ Barrier arm material (lightweight): - Plastic ruler - Cardboard strip - Wooden coffee stirrer - 3D printed part (if available) □ Servo horn (comes with servo) □ Small screws or hot glue for mounting TOOLS: □ Computer with Arduino IDE installed (free download) □ USB port □ Wire cutters/strippers (optional but helpful) □ Small screwdriver set □ Multimeter (optional, for testing) FOR PERMANENT BUILD: □ Soldering iron (30-60W) □ Solder (lead-free recommended) □ Helping hands or PCB holder □ Perfboard or custom PCB (optional) □ Project enclosure box (optional) □ Heat shrink tubing (optional) ============================================= TOTAL PROJECT COST ESTIMATE ============================================= BUDGET BUILD (Using Starter Kit): £35-45 ELEGOO Starter Kit (includes most components) £3-5 RC522 RFID Module Kit £3-6 16x2 LCD Display ───────────────────────────────── £41-56 Total (approximately $50-70 USD) INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT PURCHASE: £15-20 Arduino Uno R3 compatible board £5-8 Breadboard kit with jumper wires £3-5 RC522 RFID Module Kit £3-6 16x2 LCD Display £2-3 SG90 Servo Motor £1-2 LED assortment pack £1-2 Resistor assortment pack £1-2 Active Buzzer £2-3 USB cable ───────────────────────────────── £33-51 Total (approximately $40-65 USD) RECOMMENDED APPROACH: Purchase ELEGOO Starter Kit + RC522 module + LCD display = Best value and includes many components for future projects ============================================= WHERE TO BUY - UK ============================================= ONLINE: • Amazon.co.uk - Fast delivery (Prime available) • eBay.co.uk - Often cheaper, slower delivery • The Pi Hut (thepihut.com) - UK-based, Arduino specialist • Pimoroni (pimoroni.com) - Quality components, good tutorials • RS Components (uk.rs-online.com) - Professional supplier • CPC Farnell (cpc.farnell.com) - Wide selection LOCAL (if available): • Maplin - Electronics retailer (some stores closed) • Richer Sounds - May stock Arduino kits • University electronics labs - Sometimes have spare components ============================================= WHERE TO BUY - USA ============================================= ONLINE: • Amazon.com - Fast delivery (Prime available) • Adafruit (adafruit.com) - Quality components, great tutorials • SparkFun (sparkfun.com) - Educational focus, good documentation • Digi-Key (digikey.com) - Professional supplier, huge selection • Mouser Electronics (mouser.com) - Similar to Digi-Key • eBay.com - Cheaper options LOCAL: • Micro Center - Electronics retailer (select cities) • Best Buy - May stock Arduino starter kits • Local maker spaces - Often have components for sale • University electronics labs ============================================= WHERE TO BUY - INTERNATIONAL ============================================= BUDGET OPTIONS (Slower Shipping): • AliExpress.com - Very cheap, 2-4 week delivery from China • Banggood.com - Similar to AliExpress • Direct from ELEGOO.com - Official website ============================================= COMPATIBILITY NOTES ============================================= Arduino Compatible Boards: ✓ Arduino Uno R3 (original or clone) ✓ Arduino Nano (requires different pin numbers) ✓ Arduino Mega (works, but overkill for this project) ✗ Arduino Micro/Leonardo (different SPI pins) ✗ ESP8266/ESP32 (requires code modifications) RFID Modules: ✓ RC522 (13.56MHz) - What this project uses ✗ EM-18 (125kHz) - Different frequency, won't work ✗ PN532 (13.56MHz) - Works but requires different library Servos: ✓ SG90 Micro Servo (9g, plastic gears) ✓ MG90S Metal Gear Servo (stronger, more expensive) ✓ Tower Pro SG92R (similar specs) ✗ Large servos (360° continuous) - Wrong type LCD Displays: ✓ 16x2 HD44780 compatible (Parallel) ✓ 16x2 with I2C adapter (requires code change) ✓ 20x4 LCD (works, more display space) ✗ OLED displays (SSD1306) - Completely different code needed ============================================= QUALITY TIPS ============================================= ✓ ELEGOO kits are excellent quality for beginners ✓ Genuine Arduino boards cost more but support Arduino foundation ✓ Clone boards work fine for learning projects ✓ Buy extra jumper wires - they break/get lost easily ✓ Get resistor variety packs for future projects ✓ LED assortment packs good value ✗ Avoid extremely cheap components from unknown sellers ✗ Check seller ratings on eBay/AliExpress ============================================= SOFTWARE REQUIRED (FREE) ============================================= Arduino IDE: - Download: arduino.cc/en/software - Supports: Windows, Mac, Linux - Required Libraries: • LiquidCrystal (built-in) • SPI (built-in) • MFRC522 (install via Library Manager) • Servo (built-in) Alternative: Arduino Web Editor (online, requires account) ============================================= LEARNING RESOURCES (FREE) ============================================= Official Arduino: - arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage - YouTube: "Arduino Official" channel RFID Specific: - Last Minute Engineers: lastminuteengineers.com/how-rfid-works-rc522-arduino-tutorial/ - RandomNerdTutorials.com RFID guides - YouTube: Search "RC522 Arduino tutorial" ELEGOO Resources: - Included tutorial PDF with starter kit - ELEGOO official YouTube channel - Project examples in Arduino IDE Community: - Arduino Forum: forum.arduino.cc - Reddit: r/arduino - Stack Overflow: arduino tag ============================================= OPTIONAL UPGRADES & FUTURE PROJECTS ============================================= After completing basic project: □ ESP8266/ESP32 WiFi Module (£3-8) - Add IoT connectivity □ SD Card Module (£2-4) - Log access attempts □ Real-Time Clock Module (£1-3) - Time-based access control □ Additional RFID readers (£3-5 each) - Multiple gates □ I2C LCD (£5-8) - Simplify wiring □ OLED Display 128x64 (£4-8) - Better graphics □ GSM Module SIM800L (£5-12) - SMS notifications □ Relay Module (£2-4) - Control larger gate motors □ PIR Motion Sensor (£1-3) - Detect people approaching □ Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04 (£1-3) - Measure distance ============================================= RETURNS & WARRANTY ============================================= - Most Arduino components have 30-day return policies - Keep packaging if buying from Amazon - Test components immediately upon receipt - ELEGOO has good customer service for defective kits - IRC522 modules occasionally DOA - seller should replace - Check eBay seller return policies before purchasing ============================================= ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ============================================= ♻ Components are reusable for other projects ♻ Breadboard allows temporary circuits (no waste) ♻ Choose lead-free solder when possible ♻ Recycle packaging materials ♻ Consider refurbished Arduino boards ♻ Share components with maker community ============================================= Updated: December 2024 For complete project documentation: https://niezgodabros.com/jan/arduino-egate.html Questions about components? Check Arduino forums or email: [your contact] Happy Building! 🔧⚡ =============================================