CHAPTER 13
■ Chapter 13: Solderless Breadboard Setup
In this chapter, you’ll prepare an 840 tie-point solderless breadboard for experimentation (see Figure 13-1).
You’ll install a battery, power switch, and an LED power indicator. You can use this basic setup over and over
again for trying out robot circuits and modules.
Figure 13-1. Solderless breadboard after completed setup
Considering Power Sources
There are a lot of good options available for supplying power to a circuit on a breadboard.
Continuous power is available by attaching the circuit to a wall outlet through an ordinary power
adaptor (otherwise known as a wall wart). Replacement adjustable-voltage supplies are available at most
consumer electronics retailers and some hardware stores. Or, you can salvage a fixed-voltage supply from
a consumer device, such as an answering machine or old cable modem. I choose to power circuits from an
outlet if they consume a lot of current or are going to be hooked up for long periods.
However, most of the time, I choose 9 V rechargeable batteries. They’re portable, safe (low power, low
maximum current), small, and I don’t have to drape power supply cables across my desk. A 9 V battery
provides plenty of power for most digital circuits. It’s beneficial to test circuits on a breadboard using the
same power source that they will experience on the robot.