Purchasing Micro:Bits
Should you wish to purchase Micro:Bits here is some information about what's available.
In the UK, the official supplier is Kitronik. For other countries you can find the official suppliers list on the Buy section of the Micro:Bit website.
All prices listed are from Kitronik and were true at the time of writing (26th Aug 2022)
It is possible to buy the boards, without any accessories, for £13.80 each
These starter kits come with a board, download cable (USB to micro-USB), 2 x AAA batteries, a battery pack, and a canvas pouch. These cost £16.50 each.
This club box contains the equivalent of 10 starter kits (without canvas pouches). This offers a slight discount for bulk buying at £162 per club box.
Compatible Components
There are a lot of components and robot kits available for use alongside the BBC Micro:Bit. Here are some details about those that we have successfully used.
All prices listed include VAT and were true at the time of writing (26th Aug 2022).
There are lots of component/sensor kits available on the market for home and education use. However, be aware that some adaptations may be required, mainly replacing connections with crocodile leads. Therefore, make sure that you have solder, a soldering iron, heat shrink, heat gun, and a wire stripper.
We discovered that SG90 9g Micro Servos work with a Micro:Bit, but require additional power than the standard battery pack provides. This means it needs to be connected to a power source via a USB to micro-USB cable - providing 3.6V instead of 3V. Warning: This may shorten the lifespan of the Micro:Bit.
This is one of the higher end robot kits available.
The Rover is a complex kit including rocking suspension, 6 individually motor-driven wheels, an ultrasonic sensor, 5 servos and battery pack. The kit requires assembly and does not include the Micro:Bit or batteries (4 x AA).
A block extension is available for this kit simplifying the programming process for the various components involved.
The kit can be purchased from 4tronix for £138 (including VAT).
We are fortunate to have this kit for our outreach, using it to link programming with space exploration, or simply to teach how to use the radio blocks to create a remote control.
This is a more affordable educational kit designed to learn about programming obstacle avoidance and line-following.
The kit includes an ultrasonic sensor, battery pack, and 4 RGB sensors for accurate line following. It does not include batteries (3 x AAA) or a Micro:Bit.
They can be purchased for £30.70 (including VAT) on The Pi Hut.
