Breadboards & Jumper Wires

A breadboard lets you build and change a circuit in minutes without soldering. Push component legs and jumper wires into the holes, test, then pull them out and rebuild.

How it is wired inside:

  • Each short row of holes is connected by a metal clip.
  • A centre gap separates the two halves, so a chip can straddle it with each pin on its own row.
  • The long rails along the edges carry power and ground.
  • On many full-size boards the rails are split in the middle, so check before assuming one rail runs the whole length.

How to choose:

  • Pick a full 830-point board for most projects.
  • Pick a 400-point or mini board for small builds.
  • Pick an MB102-style board when you want it to pair with a plug-in power module.
  • Buy jumper wires in male-to-male for the breadboard, and male-to-female for module headers.

Worn breadboard clips cause intermittent faults that look like code bugs. If a circuit works and then stops when touched, move it to fresh rows.

When a circuit is finished, perfboard keeps it permanently and a PCB lets you make many copies.

Frequently asked questions

Which holes are connected?

Each short row is joined by one clip, and the long edge rails carry power and ground. The centre gap separates the two halves.

Why does my circuit work only sometimes?

Worn clips or a split power rail are common causes. Try fresh rows and bridge the rail gap.

What size breadboard should I buy?

A full 830-point board for most projects, and smaller boards for compact builds.

When should I move off the breadboard?

Use perfboard to keep a finished circuit and a PCB to repeat it.

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