FYP Electronics Parts List: How to Plan, Budget and Buy Your Final Year Project Parts
15 November 2026 9 min readBy the PakCircuit team
Most final-year projects (FYPs) do not get delayed by code. They get delayed by a missing part, a sensor that does not match the tutorial, or a power supply that cannot run the motors on demo day. After helping many students with their parts lists, we have written down the method that saves the most time and money.
It works for electrical, electronics, mechatronics, computer and software engineering projects alike, and for school science exhibitions too. Prices in the tables are read from our catalogue when this page is built, so the totals are realistic.
1. Draw the block diagram before you buy anything
Take one page and draw five boxes: inputs (sensors, buttons, camera), the brain (Arduino, ESP32 or Raspberry Pi), outputs (motors, relays, display, buzzer), power (adapter or battery, plus converters) and communication (WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, LoRa). Next to every box, write the voltage it needs and the current it draws. This one page answers most of the questions you would otherwise discover after ordering.
If you are unsure which controller to use, read Arduino vs ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi first. In short: Arduino for offline projects, ESP32 for anything with WiFi, Bluetooth or a phone app, Raspberry Pi when you need a camera with recognition or a full computer.
2. Check that the parts can talk to each other
- Voltage levels. Arduino Uno and Nano use 5 V signals; ESP32, ESP8266 and Raspberry Pi use 3.3 V and can be damaged by 5 V on their pins. Mixed projects need a logic level converter.
- Interfaces. Count the I2C, SPI, UART and analog pins your modules need. A GSM module, a GPS module and a fingerprint sensor all want a serial port; an Uno has only one hardware UART, which is also used for uploading code.
- Libraries. Before buying an unusual sensor, check that an Arduino or Python library exists and that the example compiles. Common parts like the DHT22, HC-SR04, MPU6050 or RC522 save days of work.
- Network. GSM projects in Pakistan need a 2G-capable SIM and a module powered properly; a SIM800L draws current bursts of up to 2 A while transmitting, so give it its own regulated supply and a large capacitor. An unregistered module can also stop working once PTA's DIRBS system flags its IMEI, so for a project that must keep running, choose a PTA-registered module.
3. Do a simple power budget
Add up the current of everything that runs at the same time and choose a supply rated at least 1.5 times that total. Typical figures: an ESP32 with WiFi on draws up to about 250 mA, each 5 V relay coil about 70 to 80 mA, an SG90 servo a few hundred mA when it moves, and small DC gear motors several hundred mA each, more when they stall.
Power rules that prevent most demo-day failures
Never run motors or servos from the 5 V pin of an Arduino or ESP32. Use a motor driver and a separate supply.
Connect all grounds together. Most "the sensor gives random values" problems are a missing common ground.
Step a 12 V adapter or battery down with a buck converter such as the LM2596, and set its output with a multimeter before connecting the board.
9 V PP3 batteries cannot run motors. For portable robots use rechargeable 18650 cells with a holder and a protection board (BMS), charged with a proper Li-ion charger.
4. The core shopping list
Whatever the project, you will need a controller, a way to prototype, power and a few tools. This base kit covers an Arduino-based project:
| Part | Why | Qty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino Uno R3 with USB cable | The brain; DIP chip can be replaced if damaged | 1 | Rs 1,579 |
| Breadboard, 400 points | Prototype without soldering | 1 | Rs 179 |
| Jumper wires, male to male (40) | Breadboard wiring | 1 | Rs 185 |
| Jumper wires, male to female (40) | Board to module pins | 1 | Rs 179 |
| 12 V 2 A adapter | Main supply for motors and relays | 1 | Rs 299 |
| LM2596 buck converter | 12 V down to a clean 5 V | 1 | Rs 149 |
| Digital multimeter | Check voltages and continuity | 1 | Rs 2,099 |
| Total | Rs 4,669 | ||
5. Two example parts lists with live prices
Smart home automation (ESP32)
Control four appliances from a phone, read temperature and humidity, detect motion and show status on a small screen.
| Part | Why | Qty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32 development board | WiFi + Bluetooth controller | 1 | Rs 1,160 |
| 4-channel relay module | Switch four loads (230 V side needs care) | 1 | Rs 380 |
| DHT22 temperature & humidity sensor | More accurate than the DHT11 | 1 | Rs 650 |
| HC-SR501 PIR motion sensor | Lights on when someone enters | 1 | Rs 210 |
| 0.96 inch OLED display (I2C) | Works directly at 3.3 V | 1 | Rs 549 |
| 5 V 2 A adapter | Board and relays | 1 | Rs 399 |
| ABS enclosure box | Keeps mains wiring covered | 1 | Rs 110 |
| Total | Rs 3,458 | ||
Obstacle-avoiding robot car (Arduino)
A classic first robot: it drives forward, looks around with an ultrasonic sensor on a servo and turns away from walls.
| Part | Why | Qty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino Uno R3 with USB cable | Controller | 1 | Rs 1,579 |
| 2WD robot chassis | Frame, motors and wheels | 1 | Rs 1,099 |
| L298N motor driver | Drives both motors, reverses direction | 1 | Rs 399 |
| HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor | Measures distance to obstacles | 1 | Rs 210 |
| SG90 micro servo | Turns the sensor left and right | 1 | Rs 379 |
| 2 × 18650 battery holder | 7.4 V pack for the motors | 1 | Rs 70 |
| 2S BMS protection board | Protects the cells | 1 | Rs 150 |
| 18650 Li-ion cell | Real-capacity cells, not "9900 mAh" fakes | 2 | Rs 640 |
| Total | Rs 4,526 | ||
Totals change with the dollar rate, which is why these tables are generated from the shop instead of typed by hand. Chassis kits sometimes include motors and wheels; check the product page before adding extra motors.
6. Buy spares of the cheap, fragile parts
A spare sensor costs a few hundred rupees; a dead one on the night before your evaluation costs much more. We recommend one extra of: the main sensor (DHT, ultrasonic, gas), relay modules, jumper wires, fuses, and if your budget allows, a second controller board. A reversed power wire or a 12 V slip kills boards instantly.
7. Test module by module, then make it permanent
- Test every module alone with the library's example sketch before combining them.
- Add modules one at a time; when something breaks, you know what caused it.
- Use the multimeter: check the supply voltage at the module's own pins, not at the adapter.
- For the final demo, move from the breadboard to a Vero board or PCB, use screw terminals for power, insulate joints with heat-shrink and mount everything in an enclosure. Loose jumper wires are the number one cause of demo-day failures.
Checklist before you place the order
- Block diagram with voltage and current for every part.
- 3.3 V / 5 V compatibility checked; level converter added if needed.
- Supply rated at 1.5× the total current; separate supply for motors.
- Libraries found and example code compiled for every unusual module.
- Spares for the cheap, fragile parts.
- Tools: multimeter, soldering iron, solder wire, wire stripper.
Want a second opinion? Send your parts list or block diagram on WhatsApp (+92 343 0240647). We will check compatibility, suggest cheaper alternatives where they exist and send one total for the whole list. We deliver all over Pakistan with cash on delivery; delivery is free in Islamabad & Rawalpindi on orders of Rs 5,000 or more.