legacy-circuit-mockups
Generate breadboard circuit mockups and visual diagrams using HTML5 Canvas drawing techniques. Use when asked to create circuit layouts, visualize electronic component placements, draw breadboard diagrams, mockup 6502 builds, generate retro computer schematics, or design vintage electronics projects
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Legacy Circuit Mockups
A skill for creating breadboard circuit mockups and visual diagrams for retro computing and electronics projects. This skill leverages HTML5 Canvas drawing mechanisms to render interactive circuit layouts featuring vintage components like the 6502 microprocessor, 555 timer ICs, EEPROMs, and 7400 series logic gates.
When to Use This Skill
User asks to "create a breadboard layout" or "mockup a circuit"
User wants to visualize component placement on a breadboard
User needs a visual reference for building a 6502 computer
User asks to "draw a circuit" or "diagram electronics"
User wants to create educational electronics visuals
User mentions Ben Eater tutorials or retro computing projects
User asks to mockup 555 timer circuits or LED projects
User needs to visualize wire connections between components
Prerequisites
Understanding of component pinouts from bundled reference files
Knowledge of breadboard layout conventions (rows, columns, power rails)
Supported Components
Microprocessors & Memory
Component Pins Description
W65C02S 40 pin DIP 8 bit microprocessor with 16 bit address bus
28C256 28 pin DIP 32KB parallel EEPROM
W65C22 40 pin DIP Versatile Interface Adapter (VIA)
62256 28 pin DIP 32KB static RAM
Logic & Timer ICs
Component Pins Description
NE555 8 pin DIP Timer IC for timing and oscillation
7400 14 pin DIP Quad 2 input NAND gate
7402 14 pin DIP Quad 2 input NOR gate
7404 14 pin DIP Hex inverter (NOT gate)
7408 14 pin DIP Quad 2 input AND gate
7432 14 pin DIP Quad 2 input OR gate
Passive & Active Components
Component Description
LED Light emitting diode (various colors)
Resistor Current limiting (configurable values)
Capacitor Filtering and timing (ceramic/electrolytic)
Crystal Clock oscillator
Switch Toggle switch (latching)
Button Momentary push button
Potentiometer Variable resistor
Photoresistor Light dependent resistor
Grid System
Component Rendering Pattern
Wire Connections
Step by Step Workflows
Creating a Basic LED Circuit Mockup
1. Define breadboard dimensions and grid
2. Place power rail connections (+5V and GND)
3. Add LED component with anode/cathode orientation
4. Place current limiting resistor
5. Draw wire connections between components
6. Add labels and annotations
Creating a 555 Timer Circuit
1. Place NE555 IC on breadboard (pins 1 4 left, 5 8 right)
2. Connect pin 1 (GND) to ground rail
3. Connect pin 8 (Vcc) to power rail
4. Add timing resistors and capacitors
5. Wire trigger and threshold connections
6. Connect output to LED or other load
Creating a 6502 Microprocessor Layout
1. Place W65C02S centered on breadboard
2. Add 28C256 EEPROM for program storage
3. Place W65C22 VIA for I/O
4. Add 7400 series logic for address decoding
5. Wire address bus (A0 A15)
6. Wire data bus (D0 D7)
7. Connect control signals (R/W, PHI2, RESB)
8. Add reset button and clock crystal
Component Pinout Quick Reference
555 Timer (8 pin DIP)
Pin Name Function
: : : :
1 GND Ground (0V)
2 TRIG Trigger (< 1/3 Vcc starts timing)
3 OUT Output (source/sink 200mA)
4 RESET Active low reset
5 CTRL Control voltage (bypass with 10nF)
6 THR Threshold ( 2/3 Vcc resets)
7 DIS Discharge (open collector)
8 Vcc Supply (+4.5V to +16V)
W65C02S (40 pin DIP) Key Pins
Pin Name Function
: : : :
8 VDD Power supply
21 VSS Ground
37 PHI2 System clock input
40 RESB Active low reset
34 RWB Read/Write signal
9 25 A0 A15 Address bus
26 33 D0 D7 Data bus
28C256 EEPROM (28 pin DIP) Key Pins
Pin Name Function
: : : :
14 GND Ground
28 VCC Power supply
20 CE Chip enable (active low)
22 OE Output enable (active low)
27 WE Write enable (active low)
1 10, 21 26 A0 A14 Address inputs
11 19 I/O0 I/O7 Data bus
Formulas Reference
Resistor Calculations
Ohm's Law: V = I × R
LED Current: R = (Vcc Vled) / Iled
Power: P = V × I = I² × R
555 Timer Formulas
Astable Mode:
Frequency: f = 1.44 / ((R1 + 2×R2) × C)
High time: t₁ = 0.693 × (R1 + R2) × C
Low time: t₂ = 0.693 × R2 × C
Duty cycle: D = (R1 + R2) / (R1 + 2×R2) × 100%
Monostable Mode:
Pulse width: T = 1.1 × R × C
Capacitor Calculations
Capacitive reactance: Xc = 1 / (2πfC)
Energy stored: E = ½ × C × V²
Color Coding Conventions
Wire Colors
Color Purpose
Red +5V / Power
Black Ground
Yellow Clock / Timing
Blue Address bus
Green Data bus
Orange Control signals
White General purpose
LED Colors
Color Forward Voltage
Red 1.8V 2.2V
Green 2.0V 2.2V
Yellow 2.0V 2.2V
Blue 3.0V 3.5V
White 3.0V 3.5V
Build Examples
Build 1 — Single LED
Components: Red LED, 220Ω resistor, jumper wires, power source
Steps:
1. Insert black jumper wire from power GND to row A5
2. Insert red jumper wire from power +5V to row J5
3. Place LED with cathode (short leg) in row aligned with GND
4. Place 220Ω resistor between power and LED anode
Build 2 — 555 Astable Blinker
Components: NE555, LED, resistors (10kΩ, 100kΩ), capacitor (10µF)
Steps:
1. Place 555 IC straddling center channel
2. Connect pin 1 to GND, pin 8 to +5V
3. Connect pin 4 to pin 8 (disable reset)
4. Wire 10kΩ between pin 7 and +5V
5. Wire 100kΩ between pins 6 and 7
6. Wire 10µF between pin 6 and GND
7. Connect pin 3 (output) to LED circuit
Troubleshooting
Issue Solution
LED doesn't light Check polarity (anode to +, cathode to )
Circuit doesn't power Verify power rail connections
IC not working Check VCC and GND pin connections
555 not oscillating Verify threshold/trigger capacitor wiring
Microprocessor stuck Check RESB is HIGH after reset pulse
References
Detailed component specifications are available in the bundled reference files:
[555.md](references/555.md) Complete 555 timer IC specification
[6502.md](references/6502.md) MOS 6502 microprocessor details
[6522.md](references/6522.md) W65C22 VIA interface adapter
[28256 eeprom.md](references/28256 eeprom.md) AT28C256 EEPROM specification
[6C62256.md](references/6C62256.md) 62256 SRAM details
[7400 series.md](references/7400 series.md) TTL logic gate pinouts
[assembly compiler.md](references/assembly compiler.md) Assembly compiler specification
[assembly language.md](references/assembly language.md) Assembly language specification
[basic electronic components.md](references/basic electronic components.md) Resistors, capacitors, switches
[breadboard.md](references/breadboard.md) Breadboard specifications
[common breadboard components.md](references/common breadboard components.md) Comprehensive component reference
[connecting electronic components.md](references/connecting electronic components.md) Step by step build guides
[emulator 28256 eeprom.md](references/emulator 28256 eeprom.md) Emulating 28256 eeprom specification
[emulator 6502.md](references/emulator 6502.md) Emulating 6502 specification
[emulator 6522.md](references/emulator 6522.md) Emulating 6522 specification
[emulator 6C62256.md](references/emulator 6C62256.md) Emulating 6C62256 specification
[emulator lcd.md](references/emulator lcd.md) Emulating a LCD specification
[lcd.md](references/lcd.md) LCD display interfacing
[minipro.md](references/minipro.md) EEPROM programmer usage
[t48eeprom programmer.md](references/t48eeprom programmer.md) T48 programmer reference