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Connect the first four outputs of the decoder to the upper resistor array. Decoder pins 12-15 (lower A-E columns 22-25) fan out to every other pin in the upper array (upper F-J columns 21, 23, 25, 27) (white wires in image below).

The lower resistor array already has one connection made for us (the decoder pin 9 and pin 1 of the resistor array share the same column). Run a wire from decoder pin 10 (lower A-E column 27) to resistor array pin 4 (lower A-E column 31). Then connect decoder pin 11 (lower A-E column 26) to resistor pin 6 (lower A-E column 37).

Decoder connections

Resistors have no direction- this layout "skips" pin 3 of the array because of how the wire lengths worked out, but we just connect the "output" side to pin 3 instead.

8) connect the resistor arrays to the display

Since this is the most complicated step, it is broken down into individual sub-steps. Each picture shows one additional route, eventually connecting all of the resistor array outputs to their respective display inputs. If you prefer to work on the circuit as one block and would like to see the end result, just skip ahead to step 10.

Connect the upper resistor pack pin 4 (upper F-J column 24) to column 31. Then connect column 31 to display pin 10 (lower A-E column 36).

Display pin 10

Connect the upper resistor pack pin 2 (upper F-J column 22) to column 32. Then connect column 32 to display pin 9 (lower A-E column 37).

Display pin 9

Notice the use of different length horizontal jumpers so the lines going to the display don't cross.

Connect the upper resistor pack pin 6 (upper F-J column 26) to column 34. Then connect column 34 to display pin 7 (lower A-E column 39).

Display pin 7

Display pin 8 is a redundant ground (for circuit placement flexibility). It is the exact same connection as pin 3 (which is already grounded), so it can be ignored.

Connect the upper resistor pack pin 8 (upper F-J column 28) to column 35. Then connect column 35 to display pin 6 (lower A-E column 40).

Display pin 6

Now start working with the bottom resistor array. Jump the lower resistor pack pin 2 (lower A-E column 29) to column 29 F-J on the other side of the channel. Then connect lower F-J column 29 to display pin 1 (lower F-J column 36).

Display pin 1

Again, jump the lower resistor pack pin 3 (lower A-E column 30) to column 30 F-J on the other side of the channel. Then connect lower F-J column 30 to display pin 2 (lower F-J column 37).

Display pin 2

Finally, jump the lower resistor pack pin 5 (lower A-E column 32) to column 32 F-J on the other side of the channel. Then connect lower F-J column 32 to display pin 4 (lower F-J column 39).

Display pin 4

Now the display should have 7 data connections and 1 common ground connection.

9) connect the gpio outputs to the decoder

To mildly ocd engineers

These last wire runs are the messiest in the entire circuit. Try and keep the wires as straight and flat as possible, but know that these are long wire runs and the sizes will not match exactly.

Start with the longest runs from GPIO pins P1.4 and P1.5 on the MSP430 Launchpad (breadboard channels 50 and 51). Use a long yellow wire to go from GPIO P1.4 (upper A-E channel 51) to decoder pin 7 (lower F-J channel 27) . Then use a long green wire to go from GPIO P1.5 (upper A-E channel 50) to decoder pin 1 (lower F-J channel 21) .

Overall run from gpio to decoder

The yellow wire is barely long enough, so it has to go at a bit of a diagonal.

Closeups on both connections

Gpio connection closeup

Decoder connection closeup

Now use two of the long orange wires to connect GPIO 1.7 (lower F-J column 51) to decoder pin 6 (lower F-J column 26) and GPIO 1.6 (lower F-J column 50) to decoder pin 2 (lower F-J column 22). Be careful not to accidentally cross the connections! See below for one way to bed the wires so they fit the length of the wire run.

The gpio to decoder connections

Connecting gpio pins 6 and 7 to the decoder

Gpio connection closeup

Decoder connection closeup

10) test your circuit

Now that you've completed your breadboard, you are ready to begin! It is strongly recommended that you run the provided test program to make sure all of you connections have been made correctly. Knowing that there are no issues with your underlying hardware will make troubleshooting down the road much less frustrating.

Completed circuit

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Source:  OpenStax, Intro to computational engineering: elec 220 labs. OpenStax CNX. Mar 11, 2013 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11405/1.2
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