Introduction – Global Specialties PRO-S-LAB User Manual
Page 4

INTRODUCTION
EXPERIMENTERS NOTES is intended to be a general guide
for the experimenter who works with solderless breadboarding
systems, and the discrete components that are commonly used
with these systems. Although the components used are
standard items, their use with solderless breadboards
sometimes requires them to be modified slightly, and we will
discuss how this can be done.
This guide will also show you how to determine the electrical
value of various components. This value is occasionally written
on the component in plain english, but is frequently shown by
the use of a color code (a series of bands of color on the
component), or an abbreviated series of standards, and are not
difficult to understand. The same holds true for polarity
indicators, which appear on all diodes as well as on some types
of capacitors.
Another important concept is that of the lead arrangement of
semiconductor devices, namely transistors and integrated
circuits. To insure that all connections are made correctly, one
must view the part from the correct position, and count the pins
in the correct direction. This will be described in detail, with
examples shown.
It is highly recommended that the experimenter read these
NOTES completely before beginning any circuit breadboarding,
and then refer to them as needed in the future. You will find that
much of the information will become almost second nature, and
you will eventually commit most of it to memory without even
trying. Nonetheless, it is suggested that you retain these
NOTES for future reference.
2
11