1. Building Circuits

2. DISCLAIMER & USAGE
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3. Basics of Using a Multimeter
Battery Load Test – Tests small batteries
DCV – Measures DC Volts
ACV – Measures AC Volts
Ω – Measures Resistance
DCmA – Measures DC Current in mA (0-200mA)
ACmA – Measures AC Current in mA (0-200mA)
– Tests Diodes
– Tests Continuity Between Two Points
DC10A – Measures DC Current in MA (0-10A)

4. We will use Resistors to Build Circuits!

5. Using the Color Code to Determine Resistance
first
digit
second digit
number
of zeros
tolerance
gold = ±5%
silver = ±20%
color
digit
black
brown 1
red 2
orange 3
yellow 4
green 5
blue 6
violet 7
gray 8
white 9
What is the value of the resistor above?
Yellow = 4
Violet = 7
Brown = Add 1 Zero to value
Resistor = 470Ω

6. Measuring Resistance with Multimeter
Find a 1,000Ω resistor in your kit.
Measure its actual resistance.
color
digit
black
brown 1
red 2
orange 3
yellow 4
green 5
blue 6
violet 7
gray 8
white 9

7. Measure Voltage of Battery Pack
Put dial on DCV and connect clips to red & black wires.
What is the difference between DCV, ACV, and Battery Load Test?

8. LEDs = Light Emitting Diode
electronic symbol
Find your red, yellow and green LEDs
Electricity can flow one way through an LED (or any diode)
Connecting LEDs:
Flat edge of the LED lens must be connected to ground
The short leg must be connected to ground.

9. Jumper Wire Set
We will use these wires to build circuits.

10. Experimenting with Breadboards
Get these items out of your kit:
3 LEDs
220-ohm resistor
1,000-ohm resistor
10,000-ohm resistor
battery pack
jumper wire kit
breadboard
multimeter

11. Don’t leave it plugged in long!! It gets hot!
Connect 220-ohm Resistor
Class Problem: Knowing your voltage value and the resistance of your 220Ω resistor, can you determine the current passing through the circuit?
𝑉=𝐼∙𝑅 I V R
Don’t leave it plugged in long!! It gets hot!

12. Build Resistor and LED Circuit
Experiment with direction of LED
Experiment with location of red wire on breadboard
Experiment with location of black wire on breadboard
Experiment with location of resistor and LED on breadboard
Try the 1,000-ohm resistor instead of the 220-ohm
What did you find?
Can you figure out how the breadboard works?
Are the columns connected?
Are the rows connected?
Are the rows connected across the gap?
Does it matter if the resistor is before or after the LED?
220Ω 9V

13. How does the breadboard work?

14. Can You Add a Second LED?

15. Using the Bus Strip: Measuring Voltage
The bus strip makes building circuits much easier since you have so many 5V and ground pins.

16. Using the Bus Strip: Build Three LED Circuits