Explore the resistor assortment
Measure a divider with a fixed 10 kilohm resistor to 5V and a test resistor to ground. Print the ADC count and approximate test resistance.
Learn all ten resistor values without overheating the small low-resistance parts.
Use the Uno R3 Learning Kit. Build with power disconnected, check the labelled connections, then upload the supplied sketch. Drag or zoom the 3D model to inspect it from any angle.
Step 1 — Watch the complete build
Press Play for the narrated build. You can rotate and zoom the model while it plays, or follow the individual steps below.
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Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around. Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail. Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail. Add the 10 kiloohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 7 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 10 kiloohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 16 row H; the highlights show the remaining holes. Connect one end of the resistor to the positive rail. Connect the other end of the resistor to one end of the resistor. Connect the other end of the resistor to the ground rail. Connect one end of the resistor to Arduino analog input 0. Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 2 — Understand the breadboard
Keep USB disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
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Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
Step 3 — Connect Uno 5V → T+ rail 3
Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno 5V | T+ rail 3 |
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Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail.
Step 4 — Connect Uno GND → T- rail 1
Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno GND | T- rail 1 |
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Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
Step 5 — Place 10 kΩ resistor
Add the 10 kΩ resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 7 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- reference · Pin 0 → column 7 row E
- reference · Pin 1 → column 11 row E
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Add the 10 kiloohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 7 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 6 — Place 10 kΩ resistor
Add the 10 kΩ resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 16 row H; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- test · Pin 0 → column 16 row H
- test · Pin 1 → column 20 row H
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Add the 10 kiloohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 16 row H; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 7 — Connect column 7 row A → T+ rail 7
Connect one end of the resistor to the positive rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 7 row A | T+ rail 7 |
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Connect one end of the resistor to the positive rail.
Step 8 — Connect column 11 row A → column 16 row J
Connect the other end of the resistor to one end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 11 row A | column 16 row J |
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Connect the other end of the resistor to one end of the resistor.
Step 9 — Connect column 20 row J → T- rail 20
Connect the other end of the resistor to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 20 row J | T- rail 20 |
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Connect the other end of the resistor to the ground rail.
Step 10 — Connect column 16 row I → Uno A0
Connect one end of the resistor to Arduino analog input 0.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 16 row I | Uno A0 |
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Connect one end of the resistor to Arduino analog input 0.
Step 11 — Place USB-A to USB-B cable · Uno
Check all wiring. Connect the square USB-B plug to the Uno and the USB-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Loading assembly…
Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 12 — Program your Uno
Choose Arduino Uno. Verify, pair the board and Upload this sketch. Keep USB connected. Measure a divider with a fixed 10 kilohm resistor to 5V and a test resistor to ground. Print the ADC count and approximate test resistance.
Step 13 — Explore the live readings
Disconnect USB before changing the test resistor. Try 1k, 2k, 5.1k, 10k and 100k. Read the colour bands for every supplied value. Ten and 100 ohms are near the ADC’s lower limit here; use a multimeter for those. A 1 megohm part is near the upper limit.
Step 14 — Troubleshooting
This is a rough comparison, not a precision ohmmeter. Never put the 10 ohm resistor directly across 5V. The catalogue writes “1mΩ”; check its bands or measure it before treating it as 1MΩ.
Parts List
Required Parts (1)
Use the components named in this tutorial. A computer and any additional power supply are not included.
x1
$64.70
In stockProject Summary
1 part total
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