User Guide

208
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
LEDs are components that you will use lots of. In
addition to making them flash or using them as
status indicators, they can be very helpful for
checking which parts of a circuit are working.
http://www.vilros.com/red-led.html
Resistors
Almost all electronic circuits contain at least one
resistor. Unlike other components that you may
buy specifically for the project that you are working
on, you will use so many resistors that it is worth
keeping a stock of different values.
10 KΩ: http://www.vilros.com/10k-resistors.html
330 Ω: http://www.vilros.com/330-resistors.html
Buttons
These high-quality, push-button switches are ideal
for making input circuits using the Pi’s GPIO
header. When the conveniently-large button is
pressed and held, electricity flows between two of
the switch’s terminals. Exactly the type used in
section 7.5 Basic Input on page164.
http://www.vilros.com/big-12mm-buttons.html
10K Trimpot
Also known as “potentiometer” or “variable
resistor”, these trimpots are used when you need
to change the amount of resistance in a circuit
without disassembling it. For example, to reduce
the brightness of an LED. These ”pots” have
resistance that changes as you turn the knob, from
0 Ω through 10 KΩ, and slot neatly into place on a
breadboard.
http://www.vilros.com/10k-trimpot.html