Prototype Shield is suitable for Arduino UNO R3 Mega 328P

SKU: FA1030-3
Product Name

Prototype Shield
Compatibility

Arduino UNO R3, Mega 328P boards (and other similar form factors)
Prototyping Grid Pitch

0.1" (2.54mm) standard through-hole spacing
PCB Type

Double-sided, plated-through holes
Dimensions (L x W)

Approx. 68mm x 53mm (2.7" x 2.1")
Included Components

Bare PCB shield only (headers and other components usually sold separately)
Operating Temperature

Standard industrial range (e.g., -40°C to +85°C)
Prototype Shield for Arduino UNO R3 Mega 328P
The Prototype Shield is an essential expansion board designed to seamlessly integrate with your Arduino UNO R3 (and compatible boards like the Mega 328P variant). This versatile board provides a massive, blank canvas with a standard 0.1″ (2.54mm) grid prototyping area, allowing users to solder their own custom components and create permanent, reliable circuits specific to their projects.
It is the perfect platform for transitioning your breadboard prototypes into a more durable, single-PCB solution, ideal for both individual hobbyists developing unique devices and businesses creating custom, embedded control systems.
Description
Move beyond temporary breadboard designs and build permanent, professional-grade circuits with the Arduino Prototype Shield. This bare PCB shield plugs directly onto your Arduino UNO R3 or Mega 328P board headers, giving you a sturdy foundation for custom electronics.
The shield features a large prototyping area laid out in a standard 0.1-inch (2.54mm) pitch grid, compatible with virtually all through-hole components, headers, and DIP ICs. Every hole is plated-through and designed for easy soldering. Power (5V) and Ground (GND) rails run conveniently along the prototyping area, making power distribution clean and organized.
For added convenience, the shield includes a pre-wired LED on digital pin 13 for quick debugging, a dedicated reset button that aligns perfectly with the host Arduino board, and space provided for installing SMD (Surface Mount Device) components if needed. The design ensures all original Arduino pins are broken out to the side for easy access or for stacking additional shields using long headers. This shield is the ultimate tool for creating compact, integrated, and robust custom Arduino applications.
Features
  • Large Prototyping Area: Extensive 0.1″ (2.54mm) pitch grid space for soldering custom through-hole components and DIP ICs.
  • Integrated Power Rails: Conveniently located 5V and GND power buses simplify circuit wiring.
  • On-board LED: Pre-connected LED on Digital Pin 13 for debugging and status indication.
  • Easy Access Reset: A dedicated reset button for convenience.
  • High Compatibility: Designed for perfect pin alignment with Arduino UNO R3 and Mega 328P microcontrollers.
  • Durable Construction: High-quality FR4 PCB material ensures longevity and reliable soldering.
  • Flexible Design: Plated-through holes allow for easy connection and modification.
Usage
The Prototype Shield is a core component for several stages of electronic development:
  1. Finalizing Prototypes: Once a circuit works on a breadboard, this shield is used to solder the components permanently onto a single, robust PCB.
  2. Custom Hardware Integration: Used by businesses to embed custom circuitry (e.g., specific motor drivers, specialized sensor interfaces) into an integrated, compact form factor.
  3. Educational Tools: Excellent for teaching permanent circuit assembly and soldering techniques in a structured environment.
  4. Compact Builds: Enables the creation of self-contained projects without messy wiring or external perfboards.
To use it, you will need soldering tools and components. Solder your components onto the prototyping grid, wire the connections using the provided power rails and direct pin access points, and plug the finished shield into your Arduino board.
Q: Does this product come with headers or terminal blocks included?

No, this is typically sold as a bare board. You will need to purchase and solder stacking headers separately to connect it to your Arduino board. This allows you the flexibility to choose between standard headers or extra-long stacking headers.

Q: What is the main difference between this Prototype Shield and the Proto Screw Shield?

This “Prototype Shield” focuses purely on providing a large area for soldering components using traditional through-hole methods. The “Proto Screw Shield” primarily offers screw terminals for easy wire connection and usually has a smaller prototyping area.

Q: Can I use Surface Mount Devices (SMD) on this shield?

While primarily designed for through-hole components, some versions have small dedicated areas for common SMD footprints (like SOIC). You can solder SMDs if you are comfortable with the technique, but through-hole is the intended primary use.

Q: Is it difficult to solder components onto this board?

Soldering on a prototype shield is a standard electronics skill. The holes are plated-through, making the process straightforward for anyone with basic soldering experience and tools.

Q: Does using this shield block access to the main Arduino pins?

No, the design ensures that all original Arduino I/O pins are still accessible at the edges of the shield, allowing you to use those connections or stack another shield on top (provided you use stacking headers).

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