instructables

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners

by Saiyam

Breadboard is a great way to construct electronic projects easily and in less time without the need of soldering. A
problem that is faced by beginners in the field of electronics is that they cannot solder the components neatly on
printed circuit boards. One bad solder joint can lead to the project not working. When the project does not work,
they eventually loose their confidence and cease to continue making projects. Before attempting another project,
they have to think twice. Another problem faced by them is that if they try to solder and make a project, it does not
work because of poor soldering or the circuit that was taken from a book or magazine lacked instructions or it was
wrong. Now after spending a lot of time on making it, what they have to face is dissapointment.

This instructable gives a walkthrough of ten projects that can be made easily on a standard size breadboard thus
solving the problem of hobbyists. Each projects is followed by a schematic, a breadboard layout, complete
description with instructions, parts list and the difficulty level. The difficulty level increases as you make each
project. Before making the projects a description of breadboard as well as electronic components is given which
gives a complete understanding to beginners. All the projects are tested before they were added and all of them
work.

It feels good sometimes to make something apart from arduino, microcontrollers and explore the world of digital
and analog circuits. All the projects do not use any microcontrollers thus making them non programmable. The
parts can be easily obtained and are cheap. All the circuits were picked from internet, books and magazines but
most of the projects were taken from Talking Electronics (A special thanks to Colin Mitchell for his projects). All the
schematics and breadboard layouts were made using Fritzing [Link] Projects can be modified to use them in
a different and better way and to use them for other applications.

Update: Corrections have been made in schematics and breadboard layouts.

Here is a list of all the projects in the correct order:

1. Musical Bell
2. IR Remote Tester
3. Static Electricity Detector
4. Ticking Bomb
5. The Fading LED
6. Light Activated LED
7. Dark Activated LED
8. LED Dimmer
9. Single Chip Electronic Dice
10. Manual Counter

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 1

Here is a video of all the projects WORKING!

[Link]

Update 2: Added a video of Project 1- Musical Bell. Rest of them will be added soon.

[Link]

Update 3: Added a video for Project 2- IR Remote Tester:

[Link]

For more projects, videos and facts related to science and technology, you can like my blog- SirKit Studio

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel as well:

//[Link]/subscribe_widget?p=wFtwG-VB-GXKkN0N7vSfyw

__________

Update:

It's not easy to reply to each and every comment on so many instructables, so you can ping me for any
assistance/discussion/query. My email address is: agarwalsanyam946@[Link]

My Facebook page: Make w/ SA

Get the best of the parts at reasonable rates from GearBest.

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10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 2

[Link]

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 3

Step 1: Update: 5 More BreadBoard Projects for Beginners

Published on 6th September: Let's Make! 5 More BreadBoard Projects For Beginners

After crossing 300K views, receiving tons of positive feedback and a lot of people recommending to post more
such projects, I decided to post one more instructable on BreadBoard Projects For Beginners. This one follows the
same concept, just that it has 5 projects instead of 10. It was a lot of trouble selecting the best of simple circuits,
and due to shortage of time I limited this one to just 5. I will surely try posting one more such I'ble.

The following projects have been presented:

Project 1: Firefly
Project 2: Alternate Flashing LED Lights
Project 3: MultiColor LED Lights (w/ an RGB LED)
Project 4: Traffic Lights
Project 5: Fastest Finger First (Game)

______________________________

Here's a video of all the projects in action:

[Link]

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 4

Step 2: Parts and Tools

Here's the list of all parts required. Some of them can be removed if you don't want to attempt all the projects. The
total cost of all the parts is around $5 or 300 INR which varies according to the store of website you buy the parts
from.

You can buy this awesome breadboard kit online: MB - 102 Solderless Breadboard Kit

Resistors can't be bought online separately. Hence you can buy this resistor pack which contains all the values
used here: 50 Values 1/4W Metal 1 Percent Film Resistors Resistance Assortment Kit 1000PCS

Similarly, this capacitor pack: Beginner Parts 1/4W Resistor and Capacitors Kit for Arduino

PARTS:

1) ICs:

• 1x UM66
• 1x 555 timer
• 1x 4026
• 1x 4060

2) Transistors:

• 3x bc547 or 2n2222 or 2n3904

• 1x bc557

3) Resistors: 50 Values 1/4W Metal 1 Percent Film Resistors Resistance Assortment Kit 1000PCS

• 1x 220 ohm
• 1x 33K
10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 5
• 1x 47K
• 2x 1M
• 1x 100K
• 1x 4.7K
• 1x 680 ohm
• 1x 470 ohm
• 1x 2.2K
• 2x 1K

4) Capacitors: Beginner Parts 1/4W Resistor and Capacitors Kit for Arduino

• 2x 10uf (electrolytic)
• 1x 100uf (electrolytic)
• 1x 100nf (non- electrolytic)
• 1x 10nf (non- electrolytic)
• 2x 1nf (non- electrolytic)

5) Miscellaneous:

• 2x 1.5v AA or AAA batteries (Buy Link)

• 1x Battery holder (Buy Link)
• 1x 9v battery
• 1x 9v battery holder (Buy Link)
• 1x Toggle switch
• 1x 8 ohm speaker
• 1x IR receiver (TSOP) (Buy Link)
• 6x LEDs (Buy Link)
• 1x LDR
• 2x 1n4148 or 1n4001 diodes
• 1x 50K or 47K potentiometer
• 1x Momentary push button
• 1x 7 segment display
• 1x Breadboard (Buy Link)
• Hookup or jumper wire (Buy Link)

TOOLS:

Wire cutter/stripper (Buy Link)

Pliers (Buy Link)
Breadboard power supply (Buy Link)

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 6

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 7
Step 3: Know About Breadboard

Breadboard is a base for constructing electronic Vertical rows are another type of rows where most of
projects and prototyping electronics. It can be a great the electronic components are connected. There is a
option for beginners with the purpose of creating easy large gap in the middle of the breadboard where the
and temporary projects without the need to solder the connection between the vertical rows is broken. This
components. It is a great way to construct temporary place mainly holds integrated circuits (ics). Since the
projects as almost all the components can fit in easily connection is broken here, each vertical row is
(not the ones with thick leads) in the holes. Almost all connected to its respective pin of the ic where
the components can be plugged in and out easily components are added. Vertical rows are connected
thus making it easily to contruct almost all electronic to bus rows wherever power is needed.
projects. It has mainly two types of rows in a
breadboard- bus rows or horizontal rows and vertical Breadboard is available in various shapes and sizes
rows. to meet the needs of a project. They also have
grooves through which they can be inter-connected to
Bus rows or horizontal rows are used to connect each other to make bigger breadboards. A special
power or a battery to a breadboard. There are a total type of wire called hookup wire of jumper wire is used
of four bus rows in a breadboard- two in the to make connections in a breadboard. Using other
uppermost part while two in the lower part. In a 840 types of wires can damage it.
points breadboard, a divider is present in each row
when halfway of a row is completely. Usually these Check out amandaghassaei's How to: Breadboard
dividers are connected through hookup wire to easily guide for more details about breadboard.
connect the power lines to the vertical [Link] rows
are also called the power rails of the breadboard.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 8

Step 4: Know About Electronic Components

Before you start making the projects, you should coming out. There are 3 pin ics as well as 32 pin ics
understand the functioning of every project to know and even more.
what are you really doing. For this you need to know
about important electronics components used in a (5) Diode:
circuit. So here is a brief description of all the
electronic components used in the projects. I have left A diode is a device that allows current to flow only in
the ones that are not used in the projects and are too one direction. This is the reason it has polarity and
complicated to understand. should be connected correctly for its proper
functioning. It is used to prevent the reverse flow of
Check out randofo's Basic Electronics guide that current.
teaches you almost everything about basic
electronics. (6) Light Emitting Diode (LED):

(1) Resistor: A light emitting diode is a special type of diode that

can emit light when electricity is passed through it.
A resistor is a device that reduces current in a circuit Like a diode, an led also allows current to flow only in
by offering obstruction to the flow of electrical current. one direction so to make it work it should be
So if you connect an LED directly to a 3v battery and connected properly in a circuit. These days LEDs are
then connect it by adding a resistor in series. The preferred over lightbulbs as they consume much less
brightness in the second case would be lower than electricity than bulbs and CFLs. They are available in
the first one as the resistor in the second case would different shapes, sizes and colors but being energy
not allow much current to pass through thus reducing efficient, their cost is much high.
the brightness. Resistance is measured in ohms, kilo
ohms and mega ohms. (7) Potentiometer:

(2) Capacitor: A potentiometer or a variable resistor is a device that

allows us to choose different resistances that may be
A capacitor is a device that stores electricity inside it required in a circuit. It has a knob that can be
when it is supplied and gives it out in a circuit when adjusted to produce a specific resistance.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 9

there is a loss in electricity. It is like a rechargeable
(8) Light Dependent Resistor (LDR):
battery but there is a lot of difference between them.
A capacitor can store a small amount of current and
An LDR is a special type of resistor that changes its
can charge instantly whereas a battery can store a
resistance according to the intensity of light falling on
large amount of current and takes a while to charge.
it. The resistance of an ldr increases when it is dark
There are many types of capacitors but the two
and decreases when the intensity of light falling on it
common types are- electrolytic (polarized) and non
is high.
electrolytic (non polarized). Capacitance is measured
in pico farads, nano farads and micro farads.
(9) Infra-Red Receiver (IR receiver):

(3) Transistor:
An IR receiver is a device that receives infrared light
and gives an output depending on the signal
A transistor is a device that amplifies a small current
received. It decodes and tells the type of signal
applied on its base pin to produce a large current that
received. It is present in all the devices that are
flows between the collector and emitter pins. It does
controlled using IR remotes.
not create a large current but acts as a switch which
when supplied a small current on the base pin, closes
(10) Seven Segment Display:
the switch (switches it on). There are two types of
transistors- NPN and PNP.
A seven segment display is a device that is used to
display digits and letters. It has usually a series of
(4) Integrated Circuit (IC):
seven leds put in a certain odder to form an 8. All the
digits can be displayed by lighting a certain number of
An integrated circuit is a small package that is made
leds. It also has an extra led for decimal point.
for a particular task. It has a miniature inbuilt circuit
that has many components inside it can perform a
particular task. For example- a 555 ic is meant for
timing circuits and LM386 is meant for amplifying
audio signals. It is usually a small black chip with pins

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 10

Step 5: Make a Permanent Power Supply

A problem that you have to face in every project is powered safely with a 9v battery. An adjustable
what power supply to use? In this instructable, all the power supply can also be a good option for powering
projects that are mentioned are low power projects the projects.
that do not suck too much power. High power ics and
motors are not used here so a 9v battery would be As for now, connect a switch to the breadboard as
ideal as a power supply for the projects. The first shown in the image above. Connect two small pieces
project that is a musical bell uses a um66 ic which of hookup wire to the 9v battery clip as well as the 3v
cannot be supplied a voltage more than 4.5v. So in battery holder. Do not connect a battery or a power
that project you need to substitute the 9v battery with source right now as we will see to that later.
two 1.5v batteries. Rest all other projects can be

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 11

Step 6: Make a Simple LED Circuit

Before you start attempting the projects, it is a 9v battery to the power rails through a battery clip.
necessary to make this simple circuit that involves Now switch the circuit on, this will make the circuit
only an led with a resistor. This is only for absolute closed (on) and current will flow from positive to
beginners who have not made anything before and negative thus illuminating the led. After that switch it
you may skip it if you have worked before with off, now the led will stop glowing as you have made
breadboard. the circuit open (off). As the circuit is broken, current
will not flow thereby not illuminating it.
Connect the negative lead of led to the negative
power rail of the breadboard. Now connect a 470 ohm Note: Use a 1K resistor instead of 220 ohm for better
resistor to the positive power rail and the other lead of results. Using a 220 ohm can damage the resistor as
resistor to the positive lead of led. A resistor is added well as the LED.
here to prevent the led from burning as a 9v battery
gives a higher current than the led requires. Connect

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 12

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 13
Step 7: Project 1: Musical Bell

Description: This is simple project that can be made Parts List:

easily in five minutes. It is a musical bell that
produces a melodious sound just like doorbells. It
uses the um66 ic popularly known as the melody ic • 1x UM66 ic
which has a built in oscillator and an amplifier which • 1x bc547 or 2n2222 or 2n3904 transistor
can directly drive a buzzer but needs an external • 1x 1K resistor
circuit to drive a speaker. The supply voltage if the ic • 1x 8 ohm speaker
is 1.5 - 4.5v so cannot be powered by a 9v battery. • 2x AA or AAA batteries
• 1x Battery holder
Instructions: Connect everything to the breadboard
according to the layout given above. Refer to the Related Project: Check out buildcircuit's Infrared
images above for the pin configurations of the based music transmitter and receiver that uses the
transistor as well as the ic. Connect a battery holder same circuit but can transmit and receive music
with 2 AA or AAA batteries to the power rails of the through an IR led and a photodiode.
breadboard. Do not connect a 9v battery as it would
burn the ic. On switching it on, a musical sound will Here is a step by step video of the same:
be heard.

[Link]
Difficulty: Easy

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 14

Step 8: Project 2: IR Remote Tester

Description: This is another simple project to learn Also use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected to
about infrared light. It is an IR remote tester which the LED for better results.
can be used to test an IR remote whether it is working
or not. IR remotes are basically TV or music player Difficulty: Easy
remotes. The circuit makes use of an IR receiver
which gives a repeated high and low output when it Parts List:
receives infrared light. TV remotes have an IR led in
front of them which is use to transmit signals so if the • 1x IR receiver (TSOP)
led is working and the receiver is receiving, that • 1x bc557 transistor
means the remote is working. Since infrared light has • 1x 10uf capacitor
a higher wavelength than our eyes can see so we are • 1x 1K resistor
not able to see it however it can be seen clearly using • 1x 220 ohm resistor
a camera. The circuit is so modified that if you press • 1x LED
a button on the remote, an led will glow indicating that
the remote is working. Related Project: Check out ynze's RC circuit for a
Bibberbeest/vibrobot that moves on pressing a button
Instructions: Connect everything according to the on a tv remote. The circuit is a little different but uses
layout given above. Refer to the image above for pin the same principle of the circuit mentioned above.
identification of the components. Connect a 9v battery
to the power rails and switch it on. Now bring an IR Here is a step by step video for the same:
remote near it and press any button. The led would
glow indicating that the remote is working.
[Link]

Note: Use a 6v battery instead of a 9v as TSOP can

handle voltages upto 6v only. Giving it a higher
voltage can damage it however it still works with it.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 15

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 16
Step 9: Project 3: Static Electricity Detector

Description: You may have read that static electricity to the LED for better results.
is the type of electricity in which the charges are at
rest. It is present almost everywhere around us. So
this is a project which can check the presence of Difficulty: Easy
static electricity around us. If you touch it to anything,
the led will glow indicating the presence of static Parts List:
electricity. The circuit is so sensitive that it can detect
your hand even if keep it near to the antenna without • 3x bc547 or 2n2222 or 2n3904 transistors
touching it. • 1x 220 ohm resistor
• 1x 100K resistor
Instructions: Connect everything as shown in the • 1x 1M resistor
layout about. Look at the image above for the pinout • 1x LED
of bc547. Extract a piece of wire from the base of the
third transistor which will act as an antenna to detect Related project: Check out this Ridiculously Sensitive
charges. After completing everything, switch it on and Electric Charge Detector that uses another circuit but
bring your hand close to the antenna. The led would does the same job.
glow dimly. Now touch your finger to the antenna.
This time the led would glow brightly. Circuit Source: [Link]

Note: Use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 17

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 18
Step 10: Project 4: Ticking Bomb

Description: This project uses a 555 timer ic which is front. Do not alter the power supply which was made
the most commonly used timer ic by hobbyists. This earlier in step 4. On switching it on, you would hear
project will produce a sound just like a ticking bomb tick-tick sound coming from the speaker.
as it is clear by the name. The 555 timer is wired in
astable multivibrator mode so produces a square Difficulty: Medium
wave output waveform which is nothing but switching
the output between high and low. The circuit is set at Parts List:
a frequency of 1hz so it produces a tick every 1
second. The frequency of the circuit is determined by • 1x 555 timer ic
the value of the resistor and the capacitor present on • 2x 10uf capacitors
the left hand side of the circuit. Another capacitor is • 1x 47K resistor
added at pin 3 to stabilize the output to drive a • 1x 8 ohm speaker
speaker. An led can be added in place of speaker by
removing the capacitor at pin 3. Related Project: Check out taipeihackerspace's
Ticking Bomb Package that can be packed in a box
Instructions: Connect all the parts on the breadboard and used as an april fool's day prank.
as per the layout given above. Be careful when
putting the ic on the breadboard and make sure that Circuit Source: [Link]
the small semi-circle present on the top of the ic
should face left hand side when looking from the

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 19

Step 11: Project 5: the Fading LED

Description: As the name already tells, this project fades an led high and low. This is done through the capacitor
that is added on pin 3 which repeatedly charges and discharges producing a fading effect which is quite pleasing
to see than to think.

Instructions: Make all the connections looking at the layout above. On switching the circuit on, the led would fade
off then fade on and will repeat until you switch it off. You can try different led colours to produce better effects.

Note: Use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected to the LED for better results.

Difficulty: Medium

Parts List:

1x 555 timer ic
1x bc547 transistor
1x 33K resistor
1x 220 ohm resistor
1x 100uf capacitor
1x LED

Related Project: Check out soraj619's USB Fading Star that uses the same circuit but the leds are wired in the
form of a star that fades up and down.

Circuit Source: [Link]

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 20

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 21
Step 12: Project 6: Light Activated LED

Description: As explained earlier, ldr is a device Difficulty: Medium

which gives a certain resistance depending upon the
light falling on it. So this circuit makes use of and ldr Parts List:
to switch on an led when it receives a high amount of
light falling on it. An ldr gives a low resistance when • 1x 555 timer ic
receiving more light so the 555 timer is triggered • 1x 100nf capacitor
when light falls on the ldr and the output becomes • 1x 10nf capacitor
high switching on the led. The output becomes low • 1x 10K resistor
when no light is falling on it. • 1x 4.7K resistor
• 1x 220 ohm resistor
Instructions: Connect everything according to the • 1x LDR
layout given above. Ldr has no polarity so connect it • 1x LED
in either way. Now switch the circuit on, the led would
glow if there is enough light in your surroundings. Related Project: Check out C.V. Hariharan's 555
Now enter a dark room, the led would go off. On Timer Based Light Seeking Robot that uses the light
putting a glowing torch just above the ldr, the led detector circuit to make a light following robot. The
would glow again. circuit can also be used as a burglar alarm and a
morning alarm.
Note: Use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected
to the LED for better results.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 22

Step 13: Project 7: Dark Activated LED

Description: This project has a reverse configuration of the previous project. It can detect the presence of
darkness. The 555 timer is triggered when ldr receives low light making the output high and switching on the led
while when more light is detected, the output becomes low switching off the led. This type of circuit is used in
automatic street lights that switch on automatically when it turns dark.

Instructions: If you still have the previous project on your breadboard, do not alter the connections but just switch
the connection of ldr i.e. connect it to gnd (-) and change the 4.7K resistor to 100K. On switching the circuit on you
will notice that the led will not glow initially. Now keep your hand above the ldr to block the light or enter a dark
room. The led would glow this time as the ldr is not receiving light.

Note: Use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected to the LED for better results.

Difficulty: Medium

Parts List:

1x 555 timer ic
1x 10K resistor
1x 100K resistor
1x 220 ohm resistor
1x 100nf capacitor
1x 10nf capacitor
1x LDR
1x LED

Related Project: Check out ManishVarma's Automatic Streetlight System that uses the circuit to switch on a street
light when it turns dark.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 23

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 24
Step 14: Project 8: LED Dimmer

Description: This is a project used to change the brightness of an led by varying the resistance using a
potentiometer which has a knob that can be turned to set it at a particular value. The circuit is somewhat similar to
PWM (pulse width modulation) circuit which is used to control the speed of motors. The brightness is altered by
switching the led between on and off at a fast rate which reduces the brightness. The rate is controlled by the
potentiometer thus changing the brightness.

Instructions: Connect everything according to the layout given above. Make sure you connect the diodes in the
right way as they have polarity. Switch the circuit on and turn the pot slowly. You will observe that the brightness of
the led changes.

Note: Use a 470 ohm instead of 220 ohm connected to the LED for better results.

Difficulty: Medium

Parts List:

1x 555 timer ic
1x 1K resistor
1x 220 ohm resistor
1x 100n capacitor
2x 1n4001 or 1n4148 diodes
1x 50K or 47K potentiometer
1x LED

Related Project: Check out my Desktop Lamp instructable that uses a similar circuit to change the brightness of 36
leds in a reading lamp.

Circuit Source: [Link]

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 25

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 26
Step 15: Project 9: Single Chip Electronic Dice

Description: Have you heard about electronic dice before? If not, it is a simple dice but instead of shaking it you
have to press a button. The device will tell you a random number between 1 and 6 through a series of LEDs. The
number of LEDs that light up will indicate the number. This project uses a 4060 counter that counts the clock
pulses received sets a particular number of pins high. Pressing the button creates a fast clock pulse so the pins
that would be high cannot be estimated. This is the reason that makes this dice a completely random number
generator. The pins that are set high light up a series of leds that indicates the number. The good thing about this
project is that it does not use any microcontrollers thus making it non- programmable thus making it cheap. Most of
the projects that you may have seen require arduino or other microcontrollers. Truly speaking, this is the most
tedious and time consuming project.

Instructions: Connect everything according to the layout given above. Make sure you connect everything properly
as the connections are too many. Switch the circuit on and press the button. A certain number of LEDs will light up
indicating the number which is completely random. Connecting the LEDs like a real dice in a certain order forming
a rectangle would make the project look more good.

Difficulty: Hard

Parts List:

1x 4060 ic
1x 2.2M resistor
1x 470K resistor
1x 100K resistor
1x 560 ohm resistor
1x 470 ohm resistor
1x 220 ohm resistor
2x 1n capacitors
2x 1n4148 or 1n4001 diodes
6x LEDs
1x Momentary push button

Related Project: Check out xBacon's ATtiny85/45/25 LED dice that uses an attiny 85 microcontroller instead of an
integrated circuit.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 27

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 28
Step 16: Project 10: Manual Counter

Description: Sometimes certain events are needed to count to make keep a record of a particular event. In this
case electronic counters can be quite useful. They have a small button and a display to show the count. This is a
smaller version and can count only from 0 to 9 however it can be increased by adding more LEDs. It uses a 4026
ic which a 7 segment display driver and counter. It counts the clock pulses received and displays in on a 7
segment display. A button is added here which sends a clock pulse to the ic whenever it is pressed. The ic counts
it and advances a digit by one. To increase the number of digits, pin 5 of the first ic should be connected to the pin
1 of second ic. Connections of the second ic should be the same as the first ic. When the first ic completes the
count from 0 to 9, it sends another clock pulse through pin 5 to the second ic to advance the tens digit by one.
Similarly, hundreds and thousands digit can also be added. These type of counters were used in sports events and
in factories but the coming up of technology has almost finished the use of these type of counters. Not denying
their importance, they can be very useful sometimes as they can be made pocket sized and are quite handy.

Instructions: Connect everything according to the breadboard layout given in the picture above. Make sure you
connect the seven segment display properly as connecting just one pin wrong would result in a display of digits
that you may have never seen before. After connecting everything, switch it on. The display would show 0. Now
press the button and the digit would advance by one. Similarly repeat the process till the count reaches 9. This
time on pressing the button, the counter would reset showing 0 again on the display. If the display is not counting
properly, add a 47nf capacitor or 2 22nf capacitors in parallel between the two terminals of switch.

Difficulty: Hard

Parts List:

1x 4026 ic
1x 10K resistor
1x 220 ohm resistor
1x 7 segment display
1x Momentary push button

Related Project: Check out mischka's Advent Calendar for Geeks that uses two ics to make a two digit counter
that can be used as a calendar by pressing the button everyday once.

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 29

Step 17: The End

So, you've learned a lot!! pictures if you have made them. Do not forget to
comment or ask any questions if you have any doubt.
That's the end of the instructable. Hope you liked it. I
had no idea about the response of people to this Thanks for watching :)
instructable. I assure you if it will be good, I would
make another instructable on it. If you think it was
[Link]
good, click the favourite button and do post your

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 30

For breadbord project plz give the pdf without premium bro

Thank you for these projects ! You have helped me to understand more about electronics..
However,There is a problem, some schematics don't match with the fritzing image of the
corresponding circuits, For example: "The Fading LED".Pleasedon't misunderstand me, I am truly
grateful for your efforts and I wanted to bring your attention to this problem.
(0)^(0)
ok the first diagram you show does not match the pics that come after it so really you should show
proper diagrams and your pics of your built board should MATCH the diagram not look different
Thanks anyways
Thank you for your instructive lessons, for someone with no electronics experience. I will now have
a good idea to us the bread board .I will make some of the projects,thank you again.
Project 10: Manual Counter can it be made with two or three 7-segments and increase the number
of counts?
Our circuit didnt work with a common anode 7-segment display. Dos it require a common cathod
display?
Yes. You need common cathode seven segment display. Otherwise it won't work or display utter
martian gibberish.
Ummm but do you know any name of a Cathode display that will work? or can i buy any

Really nice for beginners. Thank you my friend!

I built the ticking time bomb. I got 2 ticks when i attached the battery but then it went silent. This
happens every time I connect the battery. What can I do to troubleshoot?
Blast it

Great and useful instructable thanks!

I have been searching for some way to use my new breadboard. This is the best and simple way I
have found. Thank you so much !
Can someone tell me the written step-by-step procedure. Please!

Great job!

Here transistor acts as switch or amplifier??

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 31

Can you buy all of this equipment at once in some sort of kit so you don't have to go messing
around looking over the web? In other words, can you buy all the equipment in a kit?
Go to your local technology store

There are many sites like [Link] or

[Link] where you can order each parts, which are cheap
[Link]

Can anyone tell me of an alternative to the 4026 and 4060 my supplier doesn't stock them

I am absolutely thrilled to have found this. you have helped me plan a months worth of electronic
lessons for my class!
What do we need the transistor for?

the only power source is the battery right?

What would be the cost of buying all these?

Can someone help me? I tried the electronic dice project and did exactly as the picture showed
except that the switch i have is 2 legged and it won't fit anywhere. I tried but the Leds won't
randomly light up. I have to submit my project tomorrow and there's noone to help.
thankxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

these circuits work great.i like the stati eletricity the [Link] it but i used a 100k resistor instead
of 1m resistor as it is not available

thanks a lot...please do more of these types of circuits...its truly encouraging... i will try this at my
home for sure
We combined project 4 (555 astable [Link] ) with
project 10 so that the astable output feeds the input of the 4026 counter. This makes an automatic
counter. Here is a video: [Link]
your instructable is encouraging . thank you for sharing this

Made the static electricity sensor. Thanks

Hey, nice projects! Good work! Keep posting. Btw.. you have a nice pliers (skil). I tried searching
for the same one , couldn't find it. Can you share the link for buying this particular model of pliers
online ? I am from India. Thanks.
Nice! =D

For project 6 and 7

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 32

Pretty nice job on this instructable. In step 8: project 3: static electricity detector, your first image
shows at top left that you are jumpering the + bus from the bottom to what is intended to be the -
bus on top using the red wire, and the opposite with the black wire. It appears that your circuit
would still work, as your battery also connects backwards from this convention, but the red and
blue pin stripe along the buses of the breadboard are supposed to tell you for which polarity to use
each bus.
Excellent presentation and projects but you need a spellchecker (human or computer). This is an
example:
"(10) Seven Segment Display:
A seven segment display is a device that is used to display digits and letters. It has usually a
series of seven leds put in a certain odder to form an 8."
It should be "order". And the display shows an "8" but the order is to allow all ten numeric digits
(and some letters) to be displayed by illuminating the needed segments.
Raymond
This instuctable is really [Link] liked the dice and the counter [Link] you please tell me
where I can learn in depth about the 555 ic.
hi. this is quite a good post about it [Link]

I really liked this. Im a novice when it comes to soldering. and yep its not easy [Link]
projects for beginners like me, but need to know where the little wires go on breadboard and how
the rest ties in to that board,other words what it looks like on underside of breadboard when all is
complete. thank you for showing us this!!!
In project 1 with the led and resister, the fritzing pictures show a 220 oum resister.

To make the circuit more sensitive, remove the 100k and put 10k across the LDR.

4k7 will not turn the 555 off. It has to be 2k7.

My first ever self made project : "Dark activated LED" (using 2 BC547) & it took 2 hrs bt I was very
glad that I did it.
My 2nd project : Static Electricity detector just in less than 30 mins but the amazing thing u can see
below is that, I used an LDR (in dark) instead of 1M ohm resistor bcz I haven't that & got the
nearby resistance value by adjusting the darkness. & the proje woproject worked...
Thanks "instructables"
Provide me more such projects & publish them in a little more detail.

My first ever self made project "Dark activated LED using two BC547" (in 2 hrs)
My 2nd self made project "Static Electricity detector" which I found on this site (just in less than 30
mins) but the amazing thing u can see in the following pic is that, I used an LDR (in dark) instead of
1M ohm resistor bcz I haven't that & adjusted the darkness to get nearby resistance.. Ooo yes!
Thanks "instructables"... Add more such projects & explain each in a little more details..

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 33

The static electricity detector project was great! it would be really nice if you could explain its
working in detail too!
thank you very much for these project's ..... I made ticking bomb and musical alarm. ..
:-D :-) ....
im looking for more projects
thanks.

This looks great! Well done :)

hello,
Nice projects.
But what should i do if i want to go into details of understanding circuits?
thank u

10 Breadboard Projects for Beginners: Page 34