How do you guys make connections between two holes on a PCB? I soldered an 8x8 LED matrix to a PCB and connected the pins to a couple rows of headers for easy 'jumper wire' access to the matrix. The picture is the underside of this board. I actually took exposed strands of speaker wire to make those connections. Though it worked great, I am pretty sure this is a bad practice. The other thing I have done is use massive amounts of solder to painstakingly 'blob' two holes together on the board. This I know for sure is bad practice.
vikingbush:
How do you guys make connections between two holes on a PCB? I soldered an 8x8 LED matrix to a PCB and connected the pins to a couple rows of headers for easy 'jumper wire' access to the matrix.
Your speaker wire is quite neat and tidy but I bet the legs on the headers were long enough to bend over and touch the matrix pins...
I use pcb with stripes on it instead of separate holes+ if I don´t want a series of holes connected I just break the stripe. This might work out for you for future projects.
If you don't have any really thin wire and you've already used all of the legs that you've clipped off of resistors, two or three strands from a stranded wire twisted together can be tacked down and soldered. Doing it without wire works, but it's a pain and usually takes a lot longer. Anything that solder will stick to makes it easier.
CaptainJack:
I use pcb with stripes on it instead of separate holes+ if I don´t want a series of holes connected I just break the stripe. This might work out for you for future projects.
Strip-board has disadvantages, too.
Strips only work in one direction and the work involved in cutting strips is greater than the work involved on bending component legs under the board so they touch each other (IMHO).
If components are far apart you generally have to add a jumper wire anyway.
Though it worked great, I am pretty sure this is a bad practice.
People have been soldering wires between points since day 1 of electronics. No
matter what you do, the pins on the underside of the board are exposed. Don't
put the pcb down on a metal surface. Can put in a plastic box to prevent shorting.
Hello vikingbush, if it is difficult for you to solder, use the Conductive Pen for making connections. It looks like normal pen. These conductive pens are a great electronics prototyping tool for the beginners and professionals.
Even the cjdelphi has given good video link to learn soldering from basic level.
I prefer wirewrapping. Solder pins in place to hold components, use 30 guage insulated wire to connect as needed.
Can be socket pins, can be male header pins for plugging female IDC connectors onto, or other kinds of connectors such as pololu.com crimp housings with female terminated wires.
Some components you can even wirewrap around the legs - LEDs for example (the black & white wires on the left side are LED legs).
Round leads do not work as well, may need to use a touch of solder to secure them.
I prefer Velleman Island of Holes boards, ESC 1/2, 80x100mm. If your design fits on that, then you have a chance at making it work on a 80x100mm board, which is the largest size you can make with free version of Eagle. Velleman has uniform pad sizes, very consistent hole layout, and I've never had a pad lift from soldering.
One source http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=320-226
I scooped up 20 cards for $3.50 each a while ago for one-time projects, so the price varies with shopping ability.
Other sizes and hole arrangements are available, I want the total flexibility that single holes offer.
