Complete beginner's guide to using a breadboard

Since I got quite a few messages from people that had trouble figuring out how to use their breadboards properly, I decided to go back to basics and do a video on the topic. In it, I try to cover every piece of information you need: from identifying & handling components, understanding the breadboard’s internals to reading schematics and then setting up your first simple circuits.

If you want to follow along, here’s a bill of materials:

1x breadbord (full size, 830 tie points)
2x 9V battery
2x 9V battery clip
1x set of jumpers
2x alligator clip cable
1x 6.35mm OR 3.5mm audio socket
1x multimeter (optional)

1x TL074 quad op amp
a few LEDs
1x 1uF foil capacitor
3x 100k resistor
1x 10k resistor
2x 1k resistor

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Components & Tools Overview
06:07 Simple LED Circuit
10:38 Simple Inverter Circuit
14:40 Simple Low Frequency Oscillator
17:24 Simple Audible Oscillator
20:36 Outro

[jasmine]

DO NOT attach the battery to the strap until the other ends are in the breadboard already - it's not bad with 9v, but if those exposed ends touch, it can cause sparks and damage the battery. If you don't realize it's happening, a battery can catch fire in your hand. Similarly when you're wiring up ICs - do the power LAST. In the video you did it first, AND you had the battery connected. So that amp sat there powered up for a long time with no indication that it's happy. If everything else is connected, then you power up, you'll be able to see if things are working right and disconnect the battery quickly if they aren't. DO NOT wire up breadboards with the power connected, always power up after you've finished the wiring. With low DC voltages, you can get complacent about this and end up shocking yourself or starting fires when you work with higher powered stuff. DON'T get into the habit of working with live circuits.

[juanpeft]

This channel is a gem. Please don’t stop uploading vids. Cheers from Argentina

[wesleymays]

Can we just appreciate the amount of time he puts into his illustrations

[BeniRoseMusic]

6:38 THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS! The most challenging part of getting into DIY electronics is that circuits are laid out wildly different than you learn them in school. I spent the first few years (and still occasionally do) wondering how the hell I was looking at a closed circuit, and then you throw in AC circuits and it gets even more confusing. So much information is implied, and I'm still learning what that stuff is, thank you for including it in this video!

[TheMarellimad]

This channel is so cool, as an electronic engineer who has done countless tests on boards, love the aesthetical presentation of electronics

[willynebula]

Up most respect mate. With quality over quantity in mind your channel is going to be a great contribution for many people getting into electronics and synths. Looking forward to more videos from you, cheers

[PsyPhi]

Very good for beginners, but with one exception. You are connecting signal leads while the chip is powered! Fine for an experienced engineer who is careful and knows what he's doing. But for a beginner, much better to disconnect the power (batteries) until after the rest of the circuit is wired and checked. A mistake in wiring while power is on could result in burning out a component.

[CommodoreCrush]

I love this because many people (ME!) might be too afraid to ask about this basic knowledge. There's a lot of assumptions that everyone knows this stuff already. You have a great way of explaining WHY some of these electronics work, which gives me a better understanding how to use the tools to do what I want them to do! Thanks!

[infiniteoffset]

7:32 Wow, this must have taken some time to draw it. I like your determination!

[Galova]

You know I'm watching every your video and I forgot to say that I like your hand-drawn graphics a lot. This bread board basics picture looks like an illustration for a good printed book. The other illustrations are great as well. It makes a feeling of some good old 1950s electronics book or something like that. I like such books a lot. retrofuturistic design

[kennybarnes]

I rarely sit through a 20 min video. You did a great job. Thanks.

[simonscott]

Greetings from Glasgow. I haven't actually used bread boards since my college days back in 1991. I needed to watch this video. And I'm glad I did. Thanks for making it. It's amazing what information brain cells retain, when I thought it was gone forever.

[ian]

Nice... just what i needed! Now to try it out!

[giorgiodichiara]

Your channel is Gold. Keep uploading, I'm learning so much stuff thanks to you

[jandudek]

I was always searching for a channel like this! Please continue this series thank you!

[ahmedsajeed]

great content, new subscriber, love from Bangladesh, please continue creating basic electronics tutorials like this where you don't assume the viewer knows the jargon and technical stuffs.Tutorials which shows what do to do with those different components and why various abstract less tangible things are useful are more helpful and intutive rather than tutorials like this is a diode, this is an inductor, this is a 555 timer etc etc.

[paulevans]

I've come across many channels trying to explain how electronic's work but none are as clear as this one. All explained in an easy to follow manner. Thanks.

[acestudioscouk-Ace-GACE]

A very useful primer to start using breadboards, thanks.

[DaveBrohl]

just bought the Om synth lab from Bastl and your video/channel is a super important ressource for me starting from scratch, thanks for your channel !

[iamsushi]

YAYY! it's finally here! Thank you for all your continued hard work Moritz!