What is breadboad? Is it a must for DYI projects?

Question

I have some questions before I commit myself into RasPi DYI projects.

1. What is a breadboard? The usage of it?
2. Can I connect LEDs or switches (and others), with GPIO pins, without breadboaord, and/or jumpers?
3. Breadboard is a must, for any projects?

Answer 1

Welcome to the world of RasPi DYI projects.

1) A breadbord is a solderless board for connecting electronic parts and wires. Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadboard

2) Yes, it is fully possible to connect LEDs and other parts to the RPI without a breadboard. You can use only wires and duct-tape or a soldering iron.

3) I would really recommend buying a breadboard as it makes prototyping a whole lot easier.

Happy DYI-ing BjB

Answer 2

A Breadboard makes it easier to experiment. Here is a breadboard used to connect a LED (and current-limiting resistor) to a GPIO port on a Raspberry Pi. You'll need male-to-female jumper leads.

You can get by without one if you have a soldering iron and don't mind a lot of extra work.

See also

• What kind of connector do I use for the Pi's GPIO pins?
• Female Breadboard Jumper Cables
• Do I need to use a ribbon cable for GPIO?
• What do I need to simulate traffic lights using LEDs?
• Where can I find existing projects with instructions?

---

You have to arrange the parts so that there is a "circuit", in my picture, the current flows from the GPIO pin through the white jumper-wire into column 14 of the breadboard and along that column to the anode of the LED, through the LED, down it's cathode lead into column 15, down to row f where a resistor connects to column 30 and a black jumper back to the Pi to complete the circuit.

For more about breadboards See

• How a breadboard works
• How a breadboard connects components
• How Breadboards Work (video)

Answer 3

The answer, if you're intending to mess about with LEDs and switches and that kind of thing is YES, it's definitely a must-have. Jumpers will allow you to "transfer" the GPIO pins to the board and then you plug in your LEDs and other components into the breadboard. You can do everything without a breadboard, but you REALLY don't want to. They are cheap and a way of controlling your wiring.