Breadboard question

[vanhansen]

I'd like to get a breadboard kit, actually, I put it on my Christmas list so my wife sees that I want one, and was wondering what size would you guys recommend I get? Are they fairly easy to work with?  I've never used one before so this will be a first for me.

Hopefully she'll get it for my birthday which is only a week away. =) I have a drill press now (got that from my father-in-law) and and thrilled with that.  Just not 100% sure on the breadboard.

Erik

[smashinator]

It seems to me that you couldn't really get one that's too big.  That said, I've got a very small one (the one in the middle of the R.S. "learn electronics" kit, as it were) that has worked great for me for all of my effect experiementation so far.  That said, I can't wait to have a grown-up sized one.  My most recent project has taken up all of the usable space on the board, and it's a total rat's nest.

So I'd say, get the biggest one you can afford.  

***edit*** Also, I've found they're super easy to use, but they have lots of fun little quirks that are unique to breadboards.  In addition, effects can end up being much noisier than permanent versions, because of all the extra wire flying around and lack of shielding.  ***end edit***

[badperson]

I just got a box from small bear which had the wish wb104-3 breadboard.

Are you referring the RS "learning lab?" I have that too, and am working my way through it.

Question about my new breadboard;how do I hook it up to a battery?

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Ordering/Proto/Board1.jpg

the strip in the middle is ground right?

thanks.

bp

[vanhansen]

Are you referring the RS "learning lab?" I have that too, and am working my way through it.

bp

Not specifically the RS lab.  Any one really.

Erik

[freebird1127]

The company I work for sells a digital breadboard kit.  Check it out -->

http://www.jcminventures.com/vulcan_trainer_and_support.htm#vulcan1

Despite its digital nature, I've breadboarded effects and analog circuits on it for years with great success.  And there's lots to play with, as far as the digital stuff goes, if you ever become interested.

[ErikMiller]

Question about my new breadboard;how do I hook it up to a battery?

the strip in the middle is ground right?

bp

Someone might be able to answer your question directly, but in my experience, the standards for what's what on breadboards are...flexible.

The middle strips look like buses, but whether they're hooked up to the binding posts or each other is something perhaps most easily learned by way of an ohmmeter.

In other words, I'd probe it and find out.

[Hal]

i got one from mouser....good deal.  It has 3 binding posts, 3 bus runs, and 2 standard sized boards-I can ususally fit 2-4 projects on it.  Thats good.  I always wanna "try" something when im in the middle of something else.

[badperson]

okay, stupid question,

but mine has two posts that say vb. what does that mean? Does it matter which is black and which is red? I'm assuming you hook up a battery there.

I'll check the middle portion with my dmm. Can I just stick the leads on the dmm in the holes when set to measuer ohms?

thanks.

bp

[KORGULL]

Hi badperson,
To run power to the board:
Get a 9 volt battery snap, strip off 1/4 - 1/2 inch of insulation from the end of each wire.
Put the red wire under the red binding post, black wire to black binding post.
If it is like my board, you will then need to run another wire from each post to the board.

Get some 22 gauge (or whatever you have that fits) solid (not stranded) hook - up wire. Try to use two different colors. Red & black preferably.

The strip in the middle of your board is probably for making your connections to - and +. One row  for - and one for +. Try running the wires from the posts to there. (if the board doesn't already make the connection internally)

I'll check the middle portion with my dmm. Can I just stick the leads on the dmm in the holes when set to measuer ohms?

Set your meter to continuity test. Insert  wires in the holes then hook up your meter to the wires to see how the holes connect throughout the board. You can use Ohm setting, but continuity is easier since you don't need to look at the meter.

Most likely, the five holes that make up each group (throughout the board) are connected together with each of these groups being separate from each other. The possible exception being the middle rails which might be two continuous circuits.

I don't have your exact board so I'm speculating here-
Just play around with the meter - inserting wires in different spots and seeing (hearing actually) what holes are connected.

When you do hook up a battery keep checking to make sure you do not short circuit it. If it gets hot unhook it immediately.

[badperson]

thanks for the reply, I'll definitely do that. I think this weekend I need to sit down and invest a couple hours in learning how to use my dmm.

I just got it, and I think the manual was originally written in pashtun and translated into cantonese before an exchange student took a swing at writing it in english. (then again, maybe it's me  :lol: )

I'll follow your directions, I think i'd like to try the beginner's project on the breadboard before I do it on the perfboard.

thanks!

bp

[Hal]

a couple of days ago, someone posted links about how to use a DMM.  Its pretty simple - VERY simple if you have some prior knowledge of DC circuits (ohm's law and all that stuff).  Either way, these might be better than your manuel.

[badperson]

thanks, was http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=26457&highlight=dmm

the post you were referring to? I'll practice on some resistors and so forth and read the links in the post.

[petemoore]

Since your into figureing out the DMM, a good practice is to check every resistor just prior to installing.
 I did that for a while and found it saved time...finding the misvalued resistor by reading color codes on the board...no fun.
 I built a Stratoblaster a minute or two ago, and spent the extra minute or two checking all R values.