Breadboards: A Beginner's Guide

Jul 22, 2024

Breadboards: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

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  • Early breadboards were literal wooden boards used for electronics.
  • Modern breadboards are plastic, full of holes, and solderless.

Purpose and Types

  • Help in creating circuits.
  • Come in various shapes and sizes for different circuit testing.
  • Most common type: solderless breadboard.

Structure of Breadboards

Outer Structure

  • Two rows of holes running the entire length of the board.
  • Colored stripes for power rails (positive and negative currents).
    • Positive: Red stripe with a + sign.
    • Negative: Blue/Black stripe with a - sign.
  • Metal strips connect all positive and negative holes.
    • Note: Some breadboards have a break in the middle of the rows for different types of currents.
  • 22 and 23 gauge wires commonly used for power supply.

Power Specifications

  • Typically rated for 5 to 15 volts at 1 amp or less.
  • Household batteries recommended for starting.
    • Low amperage and easy to connect.

Inner Structure

  • Terminal strips: Inter sets of holes perpendicular to power rails.
  • Columns of holes separated from each other.
  • Dip support ravine: Splits board into two equal sides.
    • Designed for dual inline package (DIP) chips.

Example Circuit: LED Switch

Components

  • 9-volt battery with wire connector.
  • 470 ohm resistor.
  • LED.
  • Spare piece of wire.
  • Button switch.

Steps

  1. Plug power source into power rails (ground to negative, positive to positive).
  2. Place button across the ravine.
  3. Use a wire to connect positive power source to any hole connected to a button leg.
  4. Connect resistor to the same column as button leg.
  5. Connect other end of resistor to an empty column on the same half of the breadboard.
  6. Connect positive leg of LED to resistor row, negative leg to ground power source.
  • Positive leg: longer one.
  • Negative leg: shorter one or flat side.

Testing

  • Press the button and see if the LED lights up.
  • Simple LED switch circuit created.

Conclusion

  • Breadboards are essential for beginners in electronics.
  • Practice by creating circuits like the LED switch.
  • Visit tinkernut.com/ideas for more guides.
  • Interesting factoids:
    • Fax machine invented before the telephone.
    • Lighter invented before the match.