Micro:Bit Electronics Kit - example code and wiring

LED - wiring and example code

Take a crocodile clip, and connect one end of it to pin 0 on your micro:bit.

Connect the other end of your crocodile clip to the positive lead of your LED (the longer one).

Connect a second crocodile clip between the GND pin on your micro:bit, and the negative lead of your LED (the shorter one).

Now try the below code... what happens to your LED?

from microbit import *

while True:
    pin0.write_digital(1)
    sleep(500)
    pin0.write_digital(0)
    sleep(500)

• What would you need to change in the code if you connected the LED to pin 1 or 2 instead of pin 0?

RGB LED - wiring and example code

Take a crocodile clip, and connect one end of it to pin 0 on your micro:bit.

Connect the other end of your crocodile clip to one of the positive leads of your LED (the shorter ones).

Connect a second crocodile clip between the GND pin on your micro:bit, and the negative lead of your LED (the longest one).

Now try the below code... what happens to your LED?

from microbit import *

while True:
    pin0.write_analog(1023)
    sleep(500)
    pin0.write_analog(0)
    sleep(500)

Now remove the crocodile clip from the positive lead you first chose, and connect it to a different positive lead instead.

The ground lead must always stay connected.

One of the leads is red, one green, and one blue!

• What happens if you change pin0.write_analog(1023) to pin0.write_analog(300)?
• What would you need to change in the code if you connected the lead to pin 1 or 2 instead of pin 0?
• If you can, get two more crocodile clips. Can you wire up all three colours, and expand the code to control them all?

Button - wiring and example code

Take a crocodile clip, and connect one end of it to pin 0 on your micro:bit.

Connect the other end of your crocodile clip to one of the leads of your button.

Connect a second crocodile clip between the GND pin on your micro:bit, and the other lead of your button.

Now try the below code... what happens when you press the new button?

from microbit import *

while True:
    button = pin0.read_digital()
    if button == 1:
        display.show(Image.DUCK)
    else:
        display.clear()

• What other images can you show on the micro:bit?
• What would you need to change in the code if you connected the button to pin 1 or 2 instead of pin 0?

Speaker - wiring and example code

Take a crocodile clip, and connect one end of it to pin 0 on your micro:bit.

Connect the other end of your crocodile clip to one of the leads of your speaker.

Connect a second crocodile clip between the GND pin on your micro:bit, and the other lead of your speaker.

Now try the below code... what happens?

from microbit import *
import music

music.play(music.ODE)

• What other tunes can you get the micro:bit to play?

If you are using Python, try the below code... what happens this time?

from microbit import *
import speech

speech.say("hello humans")

Unfortunately, speech and music cannot work at the same time.

• Change the code to say your name, or a funny phrase.