MicroPython Forum (Archive)

I am new to circuit building, and got my pyboard about a month ago. The goal is to make a simple robot with 2 servo motors and a non-USB power supply. So far, one of the biggest problems has been getting a solid connection with the holes in the pyboard. I am trying to do this non-permenantly, i.e. no solder, but I have breadboards, jumpers, solderless header pins, etc. I have tried a lot of different approaches like clamping jumpers to the board with headers, pinning the pyboard to a breadboard through the holes, and so on, but nothing is really working that well. Currently the best I have come up with is twisting wire through the holes on the pyboard, then adding some tape for insulation. This is working for external power (a 4xAA pack) and the X1 output holes to control 1 servo motor. However, I can't really do the same thing for the X2 holes / second servo.

Does anyone have tips or recommended products for this? Is there something like a breakout board?

There's no way to make a reliable connection to the Pyboard without doing some soldering. The best approach to making non-permanent connections is to solder female headers to the Pyboard and then use jumper leads to link between the female headers and the breadboard. The headers are widely available, here are examples of headers and jumper wires:
https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/female ... 0-pin.html
https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/jumper ... -male.html
Another approach is to use male headers and to plug the board directly into the breadboard. I haven't actually tried this as it has the drawback that you'd be unable to connect to the double row of connectors at the end of the board: you'd have to fit male connectors to the long sides of the Pyboard only.

If you're talking about the holes with the pyboard configured like this: https://micropython.org/static/store/im ... YBv1_0.jpg

I've seen these: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10527 but haven't used them personally.

I use pin headers soldered to the board, and jumpers male-female or female-female, like these (google LS-MFPJ-6).
using solder connections is the most reliable way, and it is quite fast to cut stranded wire, remove a few mm of the insulation and solder the wire to the board (directly into a hole or to the pin header). to remove a soldered wire, just heat up the solder joint and pull on the wire.

"I've seen these: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10527 but haven't used them personally."

It is no longer available. Can you please suggest another header?