Going from Schematic to Breadboard

Arduino Technology
Going from Schematic to Breadboard

Schematic to breadboard

In the new edition of the Arduino Cookbook, Michael Margolis gives a great step-by-step explanation of how to read a schematic and build a breadboard prototype from it. The following excerpt is adapted from Appendix B of the Cookbook.

Using Schematic Diagrams

A schematic diagram, also called a circuit diagram, is the standard way of describing the components and connections in an electronic circuit. It uses iconic symbols to represent components, with lines representing the connections between the components.

A circuit diagram represents the connections of a circuit, but it is not a drawing of the actual physical layout. Although you may initially find that drawings and photos of the physical wiring can be easier to understand than a schematic, in a complicated circuit it can be difficult to clearly see where each wire gets connected.

Circuit diagrams are like maps. They have conventions that help you to orient yourself once you become familiar with their style and symbols. For example, inputs are usually to the left, outputs to the right; 0V or ground connections are usually shown at the bottom of simple circuits, the power at the top.

Here are some of the most common components, and the symbols used for them in circuit diagrams:

Common parts and their schematic symbols

Here is a schematic diagram that illustrates the symbols used in a typical diagram:

A typical schematic diagram

Components such as the resistor and capacitor used here are not polarized—they can be connected either way around. Transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits are polarized, so it is important that you identify each lead and connect it according to the diagram.

This drawing shows how the wiring could look when connected using a breadboard:

The physical layout of the circuit

The finished breadboard illustrations were produced using a tool called Fritzing that enables the drawing of electronic circuits.

Wiring a working breadboard from a circuit diagram is easy if you break the task into individual steps. The next illustration shows how each step of breadboard construction is related to the circuit diagram.

Step-by-Step

Step-by-Step

The finished circuit is from Recipe 1.6 in the Cookbook, which produces a sound that is controlled by a light dependent resistor.

16 thoughts on “Going from Schematic to Breadboard

  1. Passer du schéma à un montage sur Breadboard | Actu-Radioamateur Passer du schéma à un montage sur Breadboard | L'actualité radioamateur, et nouvelle technologie… says:

    […] Lire l’article complet en anglais sur le site de Make […]

  2. how are some more certain of everything than i am of anything?…. » Blog Archive » another attempt to fast on monday. says:
  3. Bookmarks for 4th April 2012 | Lednor.Com says:

    […] MAKE | Going from Schematic to Breadboard – A schematic diagram, also called a circuit diagram, is the standard way of describing the components and connections in an electronic circuit. It uses iconic symbols to represent components, with lines representing the connections between the components. […]

  4. FM remote Encoder/Decoder | Welcome to www.starhightech.com says:

    […] Going from Schematic to Breadboard (makezine.com) […]

  5. How to make an Inverter | welcome to faltu4u.com says:

    […] Going from Schematic to Breadboard (makezine.com) […]

  6. Blue Coaster33 says:

    Healing’s Dragon

    to uncover concerns to further improve my site!I suppose its ok to help make utilization of a number of of one’s principles!!

  7. streaming movies says:

    The Birch of the Shadow

    I feel there may perhaps become a handful of duplicates, but an exceedingly useful record! I have tweeted this. Many thanks for sharing!

  8. tv online, online tv says:

    Whispering Misty

    So sorry you can skip the workshop!

  9. watch tv show episodes says:

    The Silent Shard

    This may possibly be rather practical for some of the work opportunities I intend to do not only with my blog but

  10. watch free movies online says:

    The Silent Shard

    This could almost certainly be really valuable for many of your work I plan to will not only with my website but

  11. watch free movies online says:

    Whispering Misty

    So sorry you are going to miss the workshop!

  12. watch movies online says:

    Healing’s Dragon

    to locate troubles to further improve my internet site!I suppose its alright to generate utilization of a handful of of your respective ideas!!

  13. stream movies says:

    The Absent Game

    Involving me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 gamers through the years than I can count, which include Sansas, iRivers, iPods (common & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few ages I’ve settled down to one line of players.

  14. Shalin Siriwaradhana says:

    What is the diagram software you used to create these electronic diagrams? Is it creately ?

  15. Sherry Shi says:

    For better circuit design, you need a great EDA tool, like EasyEDA. EasyEDA is a free, zero-install, Web and cloud-based EDA tool suite, integrating powerful schematic capture, mixed-mode circuit simulation and PCB layout in a seamless cross-platform browser environment and you could run it on windows , mac , linux or android platform, as long as there is one browser on the OS and connecting to network. You can draw schematics quickly using the available libraries on browser.
    One of the advantages is certainly that you can edit the schematics wherever an Internet connection and a current browser is available. Another outstanding advantage is that it can bring you easier EDA experience.
    I use it and then loving to use it. I am very satisfied with the tool. Only when you try it yourself at https://easyeda.com/, you will find its unique advantages.

  16. 3-7-17 – Drake Engineering says:

    […] Make Magazine: Going From Schematic to Breadboard – includes photos of the component next to the symbol. […]

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged
Shawn Wallace

Shawn Wallace is a MAKE contributor, artist, programmer, and editor living in Providence, R.I. He designs open hardware kits at Modern Device and organized the Fab Academy at the Providence Fab Lab. He makes iPhone synthesizers with the Fluxama collective and is a member of the SMT Computing Society.

View more articles by Shawn Wallace

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK