{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T07:29:55+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T07:29:55+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T17:50:13+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Electronics","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33543"},"slug":"electronics","categoryId":33543},{"name":"General Electronics","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33571"},"slug":"general-electronics","categoryId":33571}],"title":"How to Use a Simple Circuit to Switch on Battery Power","strippedTitle":"how to use a simple circuit to switch on battery power","slug":"how-to-use-a-simple-circuit-to-switch-on-battery-power","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You can set up a simple electronic circuit to connect and disconnect your battery pack from any circuits you build on a solderless breadboard without having to ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>You can set up a simple electronic circuit to connect and disconnect your battery pack from any circuits you build on a solderless breadboard without having to physically remove the battery pack from the breadboard.</p>\n<p>In the following figure, the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the top terminal of an SPDT switch. The center terminal of the switch is connected to the leftmost column of the breadboard, which is also known as a <i>power rail</i>. By moving the slider on the switch, you make or break a connection between the positive terminal of the battery and the positive power rail. As long as you use the power rails to supply power to your circuits, your switch functions as an on/off switch for powering your breadboard circuits.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:535px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489345.image0.jpg\" height=\"213\" alt=\"A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.\" width=\"535\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.</div></div>\n<p>By adding a</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489346.image1.png\" height=\"23\" alt=\"image1.png\" width=\"130\"/>\n<p>and an LED between the center terminal of the switch and the negative power rail, you create an indicator light for your on/off switch. If the switch is in the off position, the battery is not connected to the LED, so the LED is off. If the switch is in the on position, the battery is connected to the LED, so the LED is on.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:535px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489347.image2.jpg\" height=\"97\" alt=\"A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.\" width=\"535\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.</div></div>\n<p>Note that even without this resistor and LED, the switch still functions as an on/off power switch for your breadboard. But it's nice to have a visible indicator that the power is on, as shown.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:258px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489348.image3.jpg\" height=\"400\" alt=\"The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED\" width=\"258\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED circuit is drawing power.</div></div>","description":"<p>You can set up a simple electronic circuit to connect and disconnect your battery pack from any circuits you build on a solderless breadboard without having to physically remove the battery pack from the breadboard.</p>\n<p>In the following figure, the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the top terminal of an SPDT switch. The center terminal of the switch is connected to the leftmost column of the breadboard, which is also known as a <i>power rail</i>. By moving the slider on the switch, you make or break a connection between the positive terminal of the battery and the positive power rail. As long as you use the power rails to supply power to your circuits, your switch functions as an on/off switch for powering your breadboard circuits.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:535px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489345.image0.jpg\" height=\"213\" alt=\"A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.\" width=\"535\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.</div></div>\n<p>By adding a</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489346.image1.png\" height=\"23\" alt=\"image1.png\" width=\"130\"/>\n<p>and an LED between the center terminal of the switch and the negative power rail, you create an indicator light for your on/off switch. If the switch is in the off position, the battery is not connected to the LED, so the LED is off. If the switch is in the on position, the battery is connected to the LED, so the LED is on.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:535px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489347.image2.jpg\" height=\"97\" alt=\"A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.\" width=\"535\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.</div></div>\n<p>Note that even without this resistor and LED, the switch still functions as an on/off power switch for your breadboard. But it's nice to have a visible indicator that the power is on, as shown.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:258px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/489348.image3.jpg\" height=\"400\" alt=\"The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED\" width=\"258\"/><div class=\"imageCaption\">The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED circuit is drawing power.</div></div>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9082,"name":"Cathleen Shamieh","slug":"cathleen-shamieh","description":" <p><b>Cathleen Shamieh</b> is an electrical engineer and a writer with extensive engineering and consulting experience in the fields of medical electronics, speech processing, and telecommunications. 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How to Use a Simple Circuit to Switch on Battery Power

By: Cathleen Shamieh and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Electronics For Dummies

Electronics For Dummies

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You can set up a simple electronic circuit to connect and disconnect your battery pack from any circuits you build on a solderless breadboard without having to physically remove the battery pack from the breadboard.

In the following figure, the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the top terminal of an SPDT switch. The center terminal of the switch is connected to the leftmost column of the breadboard, which is also known as a power rail. By moving the slider on the switch, you make or break a connection between the positive terminal of the battery and the positive power rail. As long as you use the power rails to supply power to your circuits, your switch functions as an on/off switch for powering your breadboard circuits.

A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.

A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails of a solderless breadboard.

By adding a

and an LED between the center terminal of the switch and the negative power rail, you create an indicator light for your on/off switch. If the switch is in the off position, the battery is not connected to the LED, so the LED is off. If the switch is in the on position, the battery is connected to the LED, so the LED is on.

A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.

A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.

Note that even without this resistor and LED, the switch still functions as an on/off power switch for your breadboard. But it's nice to have a visible indicator that the power is on, as shown.

The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED

The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to the power rails and the three-LED circuit is drawing power.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Electronics For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Cathleen Shamieh is an electrical engineer and a writer with extensive engineering and consulting experience in the fields of medical electronics, speech processing, and telecommunications.

This article can be found in the category:

General Electronics ,