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Skeeter
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Multiplying breadboards

03/15/2008 10:45 PM

I have a growing problem that I hope someone can solve. I have numerous Proto-type breadboards filling my shelves. I seem to be unable to recycle boards onto which I have wired prototype projects. Since I have such a poor memory, I hate to rip apart a circuit so I can use the board for a new one, and thus lose a working model. Do any of you share my dilemma? What can I do to get more board space? Thanks. p.s.: I'm also cheap and am resisting purchasing more boards.

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Sparkstation
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#1

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/15/2008 11:17 PM

Hello Skeeter

You have only 2 alternatives:

  1. Retain your prototypes, purchase more new boards, build a bigger workshop to house them all.
  2. Photograph and copy schematic of your prototypes, dismantle them, put component parts back in parts bins for re-use in new prototypes, don't buy more new boards, don't increase workshop size.

There is a little-known 3rd option:

If you have a dozen or more unused bread-boards, new without components on them, place these in a rear dark corner of your workshop, cover them up well.

resist the urge to look at them for a year or more.

When you later check, you may find they have multiplied, and you now have plenty of extra breadboards.

At times that 3rd option seems to have worked for me.

Kind Regards....

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Skeeter
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 12:56 AM

Greetings, Sparkstation, Wow! Now, that's a fast response. Until I read your post, I had not considered taking photos of my protos; I just tried it and the pics turned out great. In the future I will do as you suggest, as well as shoot photos of my printed circuit boards both before and after I have added components. Wish I had thought of doing that years ago. Thanks for taking the time to offer the tips! Cheers!

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Sparkstation
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 3:11 AM

Hello again Skeeter

"A picture is worth a thousand words".

Quote reference: http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/a+picture+is+worth+a+thousand+words

I used to take hundreds or sometimes thousands of colour photos during project installations.

Great records, and much more useful when the time for charging out all those variations arrived.

Made easier these days, with a good digital camera, plus large Hard Drive Storage.

The other thing done, was to sell the client a couple of sets of photos taken during assembly and commission, as an optional extra, on CD's, these days would be on DVD's, and a good "added value" earner.

Pleased to assist you.

Kind Regards, from far away....

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pantaz
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 4:11 AM

Also... Include a title card in the photographs. Just write (or print) a note on a scrap of paper and place it alongside the item being photographed. Now you have documentation that can't be misplaced. I also do this for general photography, if I'm covering a special event -- someone's birthday, etc.
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Skeeter
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 4:16 AM

Another good idea... thanks pantaz. Up kinda late, eh? I love this place.

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Techart
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#6
In reply to #4

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 10:55 PM

That is great idea, so quick, so simple, thank you.

"Now you have documentation that can't be misplaced."

Even if it is absolutely impossible. It is positively guaranteed that I will find a way to misplace it.

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agua_doc
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#8
In reply to #2

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/17/2008 11:15 AM

In addition to photographing the breadboard circuits, you may want to number and catalog them and their intended use. Sorry, cant suggest what to do with used breadboards.

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dkwarner
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#7

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/16/2008 11:47 PM

If your memory is like mine, by the time you need that working protoboard again, you can't remember which board it was anyway, so take the photos suggested by Sparkstation and others, then take it apart and store the parts, ready for the next project. Three protoboards of a size adequate to hold one complete circuit of 4 or 5 ICs ought to be enough, at least in my world...

Dick

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Anonymous Poster
#9

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/17/2008 2:17 PM

Why not sell them as-is on Ebay? If priced right buyers will buy them and if they can't detrmine what is on the board they can remove the items and use the board.
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Sciesis2
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#10

Re: Multiplying breadboards

03/19/2008 12:25 PM

What we learned in first term, freshman year in college, was keep a lab book. Document your results (with dates) , and glue in your pictures. It can also let you know at a later date what worked and what didn't. If I dug deep enough, I could probably tell you what I was doing in January 1977.

And as mentioned, with todays technology, it does not even need to be a physical book. It could be the machine sitting in front of you. Just be sure you keep good backup.

Bill
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Anonymous Poster
#11

Re: Multiplying breadboards

04/03/2008 12:51 AM

dear friend use general purpose pcb for making projects.As these pcbs are cheaper than bread board.It is around 20 inr in cost .
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agua_doc (1); Anonymous Poster (2); dkwarner (1); pantaz (1); Sciesis2 (1); Skeeter (2); Sparkstation (2); Techart (1)

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