ASK AN EDUCATOR! – “Can 3.3VDC, 5VDC and 9VDC share a common ground?”

Julian asks:

Can 3.3VDC , 5VDC and 9VDC share a common ground. As in on a breadboard top row is 3.3VDC the next 5VDC then drop down to 3rd row for 9VDC and the bottom row be the common ground. This would be great with the large Adafruit breadboard with the 4 terminals. I would also like to place a diode in the 2nd to 5th holes in each column to prevent fly-back is that a good idea?

Great question and the short answer is YES! In order for your design to maintain a completed circuit, it is necessary for the powered devices to share a common ground. Lets say you have a GPS, a Boarduino, and a Solenoid in your circuit prototyping some sort of crazy Portal Turret. Each one of these devices require different voltage levels, while all communicating with the Arduino. In order for this communication to take place, each device will need to share a common ground in addition to some level-shifting circuitry. This level-shifting circuity allows for devices operating at different voltage levels to communicate. Typically a 3.3V device can talk to a 5V device without any problem. Although when a 5V device tries to talk to a 3.3V device, it needs to communicate through a buffer that shifts the HIGH/LOW levels into a range that doesn’t damage the 3.3V devices circuitry. **Below is a representative schematic. You will need to choose appropriate regulators/supplies to meet the requirements of your components…especially solenoids.

With regards to your flyback question: Flyback protection diodes are typically used in circuits containing inductive loads, like a relay, solenoid or motor. The diode acts to protect the power circuity from voltage spikes produced when the inductive load sees a drop or loss of power. Adafruit has nice diagram illustrating a method for controlling a solenoid with an Arduino, as shown below:

I hope this has helped to answer your question and good luck setting up your breadboard!

Don’t forget, everyone is invited to ask a question!

Click here!

“Ask an Educator” questions are answered by Adam Kemp, a high school teacher who has been teaching courses in Energy Systems, Systems Engineering, Robotics and Prototyping since 2005.


Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards

Join Adafruit on Mastodon

Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon

Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.

Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord

CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org


Maker Business — “Packaging” chips in the US

Wearables — Enclosures help fight body humidity in costumes

Electronics — Transformers: More than meets the eye!

Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Silicon Labs introduces CircuitPython support, and more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi

Adafruit IoT Monthly — Guardian Robot, Weather-wise Umbrella Stand, and more!

Microsoft MakeCode — MakeCode Thank You!

EYE on NPI — Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey

New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — #NewProds 7/19/23 Feat. Adafruit Matrix Portal S3 CircuitPython Powered Internet Display!

Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at AdafruitDaily.com !



No Comments

No comments yet.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.