How to Read a Schematic

Contributors: jimblom

Resources and Going Further

That's all there is to schematic reading! Knowing component symbols, following nets, and identifying common labels. Understanding how a schematic works opens up the whole world of electronics to you! Check out some of these tutorial, to practice your new-found schematic knowledge:

• Voltage Dividers - This is one of the most basic, fundamental circuits. Learn how to turn a big voltage into a smaller one, with just two resistors!
• How to Use a Breadboard - Now that you know how to read schematics, why not make one! Breadboards are a great way to make temporary, functional, prototype circuits.
• Working with Wire - Or, skip the breadboard and jump straight into wiring stuff up. Knowing how to cut, strip, and connect wire is an important electronics skill.
• Series and Parallel Circuits - Building circuits in series or parallel requires a good understanding of schematics.
• Sewing with Conductive Thread - If you don't want to work with wire, how about building an e-textiles circuit with conductive thread? That's the beauty of schematics, the same schematic circuit can be built in a number of different ways with a number of different mediums.