Prototyping Shields: A Closer Look (and Some Surprises!)

How do you use an Arduino ProtoShield? What can you do with an Arduino prototyping shield? Why would you use a pre-made prototyping shield? This tutorial comes from this video below. Here and in the video I share what I learned about what to look for and how to find it. Some topics include: Why I wanted to use a protoshield, the difference between the Elegoo and Arduino ProtoShield, what to look for in a prototyping shield and more.

Okay, so you're starting to get the hang of this Arduino thing, right? You've built some circuits on a breadboard, maybe blinked some LEDs, and you're ready to take your projects to the next level. That's where prototyping shields come in.

Now, I thought protoshields were pretty straightforward when I first started. Just a place to solder your components and make things more permanent. But as I learned (and I'm still learning!), there's more to them than meets the eye.

Remember that video where I was learning to solder those header pins? Yeah, that was my first encounter with a protoshield. At the time, I didn't really get them. I figured you could solder some LEDs and resistors, maybe some surface mount components... but I wasn't ready to actually use one.

Fast forward a bit...

I've been working through this awesome book, "Exploring Arduino" by Jeremy Blum. He shows you how to build this cool smart car.

The book uses a breadboard for the circuit, which is fine for learning. But I wanted to make my car more permanent, less of a jumble of wires. That's when I realized the true power of a protoshield.

From Breadboard to Protodshield

Think of a protoshield as a way to "level up" your breadboard circuits. You take all those components – the H-bridge, the voltage regulator, the capacitors – and solder them onto the shield. No more messy wires!

See? You can use IC sockets for components you might need to replace, like the H-bridge. And those screw terminals? Perfect for connecting a separate power supply for the motors.

Not All Shields Are the Same

Here's where things get interesting. I discovered that protoshields can be designed quite differently.

This Arduino protoshield gives you access to all the Arduino pins – analog, digital, PWM. You can solder directly to them.

But this Elegoo shield above? It's all about power rails. Lots of 5V and GND strips, but no direct access to the individual pins.

That means you're stuck using jumper wires, which kind of defeats the purpose, right? So, depending on your project, one shield might be better than the other.

Cost Matters, Too!

Some of these shields can be pricey! This Arduino one was like 12 bucks. If you're on a tight budget, you can always make your own with some perfboard.

More Pro Tips

Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

Stacking: Some shields have shorter pins or components that get in the way if you want to stack another shield on top.

• Stacking: Some shields have shorter pins or components that get in the way if you want to stack another shield on top.
• Ground Rails: Most shields have a nice long ground rail, which is super convenient.
• IOREF for 5V: On some shields, the IOREF pin can actually provide 5V power.
• Surface Mount: Don't forget about those surface mount areas!

That's a Wrap!

I hope this closer look at protoshields was helpful. It's definitely something I wish I knew when I was starting out. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep having fun!