Learned how to use breadboard and more electricity! Initially struggled but eventually things started to click. In particular I think I understand the basic concepts of voltage in, grounding, voltage out, current regulation and resistance. I feel like I can kind of get what’s going on in a very basic circuit. Got comfortable powering the board with a 9V battery and a regulator too which feels like an accomplishment (vs. sticking with power from the plugged in arduino).

Tora was very helpful and came to help point out when my resistor was wrong, when I tried to run current from ground, etc. lol.

Got the multimeter working to measure 3.3v out of the Nano

Powering the Nano with a 9V battery.

Two LEDs in series, with the board being powered by the 9V battery running the current through a 7805 voltage regulator

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Switches! First a single switch, then switches in series! (I think..)

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Regulating power to the blue LED with a potentiometer

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Finally, switchbutton powers the servo motor and a blue LED. Yeeehaw!!

Problems / Questions

1. Don’t understand how to test holes on the breadboard. Every time I shove one of the probes into it, I don’t read anything. It doesn’t seem like it goes deep enough to contact the metal. Generally unsure how to read things and where the actual contacts goes. Also unclear whether it matters which color you contact which with. Not clear in labs, so had to skip measuring most things.
2. Want to try making my own switch and understand the concept of a switch making two conductive materials touch to complete a circuit - but how do I actually wire it and hook it up to a breadboard to activate the switch? What kind of wires? Going to what? How??
3. Find schematics difficult to read.