Breadboard Wiring

There is now a resettable fuse on the breadboard (not included in the image above, see below) which disconnects the circuit in case a student accidentally creates a short circuit on the breadboard. You still need to verify all connections before powering on the circuit, because incorrect connections to the sensors can cause permanent damage to their sensitive electronics, rendering them useless. The Do’s and Don’ts section covers important points to keep in mind.

A resettable fuse (PPTC fuse or polyfuse) is the small orange-yellow component connecting the Pico 3.3V Out Pin to the breadboard + rail. When there is a short circuit, such as a jumper wire accidentally connecting VCC (breadboard + rail) to GND (breadboard - rail), it trips, preventing damage to the electronics. A few seconds after the circuit is fixed or the power is turned off, it cools down and resets itself. The students should verify all the connections and resume the experiment.