Using Breadboard to Make Circuits
Using Breadboard To Make Circuits
Find out how a breadboard is used to design prototype electronic circuits
electronics | education
A
Breadboard is very useful for trying out new
electronic circuits and for experimentation. Electronic components and
intergrated circuit (IC) chips can be plugged into the small holes and connected into temporary circuits. There is no need to
solder anything, and the components can be moved around and the circuit modified thousands of times without damaging parts.
There are many basic circuits which are very useful even in simple
renewable energy
systems - for example
Using an LM317T to provide a fixed current for LED bulbs. While testing such circuits a
breadboard should be used while you ensure that everything works as it should before you go ahead and start (permanently) soldering anything.
How Does a Breadboard Work
Hidden inside a
breadboard are many connections. Looking at the photograph above, the top row is linked horizontally (for the positive of the power supply) and the bottom row is also linked horizontally (for the negative of the power supply). The remaining holes on the breadboard are connected vertically in columns of five holes with
no link across the gap across the horizontal centre of the breadboard.
When connecting components which do not have leads of their own, you must solder suitable leads on yourself. Ideally use a
single core rather than multi-stranded wire, but if you only have multi-stranded wire then a small amount of solder will keep the strands together. Standard
0.6mm (18 or 20 gauge) diameter single-core insulated wire is ideal.
In order to electrically connect components together,
jumper links are used (as pictured above). While it is possible to make your own links from wire, it is best to use commercial jumper link since they are relatively cheap, flexible, sturdy, and available in a range of different lengths and colours - particularly useful when putting together
complicated circuits.
Buying Breadboards and Accessories
We have top quality great value
400-tie Protobloc prototyping breadboards for sale in the
REUK Shop together with mixed bundles of 60 multi-coloured
Protobloc jumper links of 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, and 250mm length - perfect to get you started on your first circuits.
A wide range of
breadboards and
jumper links are also available from
eBay UK (typically despatched directly from China). Click here to see the latest listings for
Breadboard and Jumper Links.
Article Last Modified: 12:52, 11th Apr 2009Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
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