Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH Starter Kit Introduction

  • Product Name: Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH Starter Kit
  • Product SKU: KZ-0083

Welcome to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH Starter Kit! This comprehensive kit is designed for beginners and enthusiasts who are eager to dive into the world of microcontroller programming and electronics. Whether you're a student, hobbyist, or educator, this kit provides everything you need to start experimenting with the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH.

Kit Contents

Item Description Quantity
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH A WiFi-enabled microcontroller board with headers soldered on 1
LED Indicator Red, white, blue, and yellow LEDs (5 each) 20
220ohm Resistor Red, white, blue, and yellow resistors (5 each) 20
Push button Tactile buttons with caps 5
Buzzer Audible alert component 2
Long Breadboard 800-hole breadboard for prototyping 1
Servo Standard servo motor for mechanical control 1
MicroUSB Programming Cable Cable for programming and power supply 1
Dupont Jump Wire (Male-to-Female) For connecting components to the breadboard 40
Dupont Jump Wire (Male-to-Male) For connecting components to the breadboard 40
Resistor Color Code Chart Reference chart for resistor values 1
Plastic Box Storage box for organizing components 1
Instruction Manual Comprehensive guide to get you started 1

Features

  • Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH: This board is equipped with WiFi capabilities and comes with headers soldered on, making it ready for immediate use.
  • Diverse Components: The kit includes a wide range of sensors and components, allowing you to experiment with various projects, from simple LED control to more complex sensor-based applications.
  • Prototyping Breadboard: The included 800-hole breadboard provides ample space for building and testing your circuits without the need for soldering.
  • User-Friendly Documentation: The instruction manual offers step-by-step guidance to help you get started with your first projects and understand the basics of microcontroller programming.

Getting Started

To start using your Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH Starter Kit, follow these steps:

  1. Unpack the Kit: Carefully unpack all the components and ensure everything is present.
  2. Read the Manual: Go through the instruction manual to familiarize yourself with the components and basic concepts.
  3. Set Up Your Environment: Connect the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH to your computer using the MicroUSB cable and set up the necessary software for programming.
  4. Start with Basic Projects: Begin with simple projects like blinking an LED or reading sensor data to get comfortable with the hardware and programming environment.
  5. Explore and Experiment: Once you're comfortable, start exploring more complex projects and combining different components to create your own unique applications.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH Experiment Guide

This guide provides a series of experiments using the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH and various sensors included in the starter kit. Each experiment includes a practical application scenario, an explanation of the working principle, circuit wiring instructions, and a MicroPython demo code with detailed explanations.

Basic Steps

Basic Demo Projects

Install Programming IDE

How to Install Thonny IDE and Flash MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH?

This guide will walk you through the process of installing Thonny IDE on your computer and flashing MicroPython onto your Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH. By the end of this guide, you'll be ready to start programming your Pico 2 WH using MicroPython.

Prerequisites

  • A Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH board.
  • A Micro USB cable (for flashing and programming).
  • A computer with internet access (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

Step 1: Download and Install Thonny IDE

Thonny is a beginner-friendly IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that supports MicroPython and is compatible with the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH.

For Windows:

  1. Go to the Thonny IDE download page.
  2. Download the latest Windows installer.
  3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

For macOS:

  1. Go to the Thonny IDE download page.
  2. Download the macOS version.
  3. Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Thonny.

For Linux:

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Install Thonny using your distribution's package manager. For example:
  3. On Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install thonny
  4. On Fedora: sudo dnf install thonny

Step 2: Download the Latest MicroPython Firmware

MicroPython needs to be flashed onto your Pico 2 WH before you can start programming it.

  1. Go to the MicroPython download page for Raspberry Pi Pico.
  2. Download the latest UF2 file (e.g., rp2-pico-20240224-v1.20.0.uf2).

Step 3: Put Your Pico 2 WH into Bootloader Mode

To flash the MicroPython firmware, you need to put your Pico 2 WH into bootloader mode.

  1. Connect your Pico 2 WH to your computer using the Micro USB cable.
  2. Press and hold the BOOTSEL button on the Pico 2 WH.
  3. While holding the button, power the board by connecting it to your computer.
  4. Release the BOOTSEL button once the board is powered.

Your Pico 2 WH should now appear as a USB drive (e.g., RPI-RP2).

Step 4: Flash the MicroPython Firmware

  1. Open the USB drive that appeared on your computer (e.g., RPI-RP2).
  2. Drag and drop the downloaded UF2 file (rp2-pico-20240224-v1.20.0.uf2) onto the USB drive.
  3. The firmware flashing process will start automatically. You will see a new file named INFO_UF2.TXT appear on the drive once flashing is complete.

Step 5: Configure Thonny IDE to Work with Pico 2 WH

  1. Open Thonny IDE on your computer.
  2. Go to Run > Select Interpreter.
  3. In the MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico) section, select your Pico 2 WH from the list of connected devices.
  4. Click OK to confirm.

ide1

NOTE: you can also install or update MicroPython firmware by clicking this: ide2

  • wait for a while:

ide3

  • Select target volume, Micropython family and variant according to your Pico type. for example, if your pico is pico W, select Raspberry Pi * Pico W/Pico WH as following figure: ide4

  • In this kit, the mainboard is Pico 2W, so just select Raspberry Pi * Pico 2 W. and then click install.

ide5

ide6

Step 6: Testing Your Setup

To ensure everything is working correctly, let's run a simple test program.

  1. In Thonny IDE, open a new script window.
  2. Enter the following code:
from machine import Pin
import time

led = Pin(25, Pin.OUT)  # Use the onboard LED on GPIO 25
while True:
    led.value(1)  # Turn on the LED
    time.sleep(1)  # Wait for 1 second
    led.value(0)  # Turn off the LED
    time.sleep(1)  # Wait for 1 second
  1. Click the Run button (green triangle) to execute the script.
  2. The onboard LED on your Pico 2 WH should start blinking.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Firmware Not Showing Up: Ensure you are in bootloader mode and that the USB drive appears on your computer.
  • Thonny Not Detecting Pico 2 WH: Restart Thonny IDE after flashing the firmware.
  • Code Not Running: Double-check your code for typos and ensure the correct GPIO pins are used.

You have now successfully installed Thonny IDE, flashed MicroPython onto your Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WH, and run a simple test program. You are ready to start exploring more advanced projects and experimenting with MicroPython on your Pico 2 WH! Happy coding!

Raspberry Pi official Documentations: