How to Use Solderless Electronic Breadboards (Protoboards)

Learn how to correctly use protoboards to go from an electronic schematic diagram to a working prototype of a circuit..

Created by: Richard Vannoy II
College programming, database and electronics instructor

What Will I Learn?

• Typically, engineers, students and hobbyists use solderless breadboards (also called protoboards) to assemble and connect proposed electronic circuits, and test their operation with this temporary setup, before proceeding to a permanent circuit on a printed circuit board or other more permanent media.
• Using an electronic schematic, a diagram of how to connect electronic components to perform a specific task, students will learn how to correctly place electronic components on a protoboard, also known as a solderless breadboard, so that the circuit operation can be observed and tested.

Requirements

• No prior knowledge is required to take and complete this course.
• No software is needed to complete this course.
• No hardware is required to complete this course. The hardware mentioned in the course is used to demonstrate the process. After completion of the course, any hardware or equipment needed depends solely on what the student may wish to purchase, design or test.
• Materials needed for the productive use of protoboards include the protoboard itself, and the electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, microcontrollers or any other hardware needed to build a proposed circuit. NONE of these types of materials are required to successfully complete this course.

Target audience

• This course is best suited for electronic students or hobbyists that wish to build prorotypes of electronic circuits and observe or record the characteristics of the circuit.
• These are the most common scenarios for protoboard use:
• 1. Assemble and test a circuit to make sure it works properly.
• 2. Students use protoboards to assemble a temporary electronic circuit that can be demonstrated to the instructor as proof that they can design and/or build an operating circuit, such as an amplifier, a transmitter or areceiver.
• Protoboards are often used to mount small sub circuits that are needed to enhance the abilities of a larger electronic or robotics project.