How to use a breadboard

You should start off by knowing the connections on the protoboard (also called breadboard). I got the following information from here:

Connections on Breadboard

Breadboards have many tiny sockets (called 'holes') arranged on a 0.1" grid. The leads of most components can be pushed straight into the holes. ICs are inserted across the central gap with their notch or dot to the left.

Wire links can be made with single-core plastic-coated wire of 0.6mm diameter (the standard size). Stranded wire is not suitable because it will crumple when pushed into a hole and it may damage the board if strands break off.

The diagram shows how the breadboard holes are connected:

The top and bottom rows are linked horizontally all the way across as shown by the red and black lines on the diagram. The power supply is connected to these rows, + at the top and 0V (zero volts) at the bottom.

The other holes are linked vertically in blocks of 5 with no link across the centre as shown by the blue lines on the diagram. Notice how there are separate blocks of connections to each pin of ICs.

You can also go to wikipedia.org and they also have a connection layout of a breadboard.

Now all you do is connect your circuit as you see fit.

Thanks, i really couldnt figure out which way the board had contacts laid out. Now I know

I would just use a couple clipped resistor leads and a continuity meter and experimentaly obtain the buss map; if I did not know/remember or if it was non standard.

~Cheers

To make better use of the bread boards I used to cut the traces with a 1/8 inch drill bit stuck in a plastic handle. A few twists and the foil was removed.

That was not breadboard, that was veroboard (or similar). You will confuse the poor Guy!!!!!

Go look at a breadboard yourself!!!!!! Its plastic with hidden busses and lots and lots of small holes to stick your components in!!

Once a breadboard design works, you can transfer it to Veroboard or similar for final construction.....I even use cherap software that helps me in the veroboard design phase.....because making PC boards is too much work for one job!!!

I remember someone telling me that the origin of the name 'breadboard' was from many decades ago when an engineer designed a circuit he would use a bit of wood, similar to a breadboard, and hammer small nails into it to solder to.

So the resulting circuit was soldered to the nails in the air... I don't know whether its true or not, but I still use a piece of Vero board SRBP punched with holes to stick vero pins through it to solder to when I'm prototyping!!

John.

You young guys are naive about true bread board construction

In the early days, 1920s, all electronic components, tube sockets, tuning condensers, Grid Leak resistors, interstage transformers, plate transformers, "A" (filament batteries) "B" Plate batteries, "C" grid bias batteries, Tank coils, Variometers, de-arsonval meters, were discreet components molded with Bakelite (a Westinghouse phenolic) bases with screw holes for wood screws.

Moms bread board on the kitchen counter was the ideal thing to mount and wire them on. In those days a six inch wire was a short lead. The wood was soft and worked well, Course Mom wasn't too happy. Dad was also a radio nut and got the first choice board. Time it got to me, there were plenty of empty screw holes in it.

Blimey! first time someone's called me young!!!

Yes Snakers.... I believe that is what I said in my post...

John.

I must have been in a backwoods in the 50's. My first radio was on a pine board with nails and wire. The crystal was a raw "stone" with a cat's whisker you moved around on it until it started to work.

I can still remember using an 80 tube to make a 300v rectifier.

Our graduating class from university had the distinction of being the first class allowed to use calculators on the final exam. Until then I carried around a huge slide rule that would give 4 decimal accuracy. We learnt to keep track of decimal places and could easily get the magnitude of answers in our head.

Vector or Vero board was a huge step fwd for quick proto-type work. The proliferation of transistors, IC's, and eventually our programmable circuits made a huge impact. When I was in my 20's Radio shack actually carried "parts". It was a "toy store" (for geeks?). Now it might as well be Walmart.

Well, you lay it flat on the kitchen counter and place your bread on it. Then you get out your favorite bread knife..............

Shoot, never would have thought...