Jumper Wires
Jumper wires are short reusable wires with connector ends for moving signals and power between the Pico, breadboard, and modules.
Part images
What it is
Jumper wires are short reusable wires with connector ends for moving signals and power between the Pico, breadboard, and modules.
How students use it
Use male-to-male wires for breadboard rows, female-to-female wires for pin headers, and male-to-female wires when one side goes into a breadboard and the other side plugs onto a module pin.
Pins and power
Male-to-male, female-to-female, and male-to-female ends are all possible.
Passive wire. It carries the voltage or signal you connect to it.
Wire color is only a label. Red is not automatically power and black is not automatically ground unless you wire it that way.
Voltage and safety
A jumper wire can carry a dangerous-to-GPIO voltage if you connect it to one. Trace both ends before powering the circuit.
Avoid loose wire ends touching neighboring pins. Replace wires with bent, weak, or unreliable connectors.
Common mistakes
Using color as proof, missing the breadboard row by one hole, plugging into the wrong header pin, and forgetting that a loose ground wire breaks the whole circuit.