Hello,
I want to draw the connections for some components I will solder later on a protoboard, is there any software appropriated to do this?
Currently, I am using photoshop to draw the connections but it doesn't feel very handy.
Hello,
I want to draw the connections for some components I will solder later on a protoboard, is there any software appropriated to do this?
Currently, I am using photoshop to draw the connections but it doesn't feel very handy.
I'm using KiCAD for this.
Draw schematic, assign footprints to the components, go to PCB design, set grid to 2.54 mm, place components at a sensible place in the view and draw copper traces as you make connections on your protoboard. Works great.
I will give it a try, thanks wvmarle!
Eagle CAD is another popular one. Never used it myself; I suppose you can use it in the same way. I know it can draw schematics and do PCB designs.
Ah yes, I used Eagle a little in school, it should be a good option too, now that you say even Circuit Maker may be a good option, but I think I'll go with KiCAD since it is totally free and works offline unlike Circuit Maker.
diy layout creator can be quite usefull, no good for anything proffesional. but if all you need it to do is quickly plan a board, its some good free ware, currently using it for my project
DIYLC is what I use for laying out projects on stripboard.
...R
I use ExpressPCB to layout parts on boards, and a schematic for the wiring. I don't find showing the actual wires all that useful for hand wiring.
Here U1 is a Promini.
Later versions of this board I used a '328P with crystal, caps, reset pullup resistor, and offboard 5V power supply.
This maybe what you are looking for. it will do the layout you posted
Fritzing is not generally liked here. Its diagrams (or at least the sort most usually posted) do not provide clear indications of how everything is connected. Just pretty pictures really.
...R
thanks Robin <<<
Thanks, everyone
Seems I will have look at many of your suggested software,
Pencil and paper work well for a fast schematic, when it comes to wiring I would need to be using the rubber all the time
Hand drawn makes it really hard to keep track of what is to be connected to what, and easy to miss connections. That's why I prefer KiCAD which will tell you what is connected to what, and being on screen allows you to move stuff around quickly. In the end it can also easily help you find that one forgotten connection...
With a little effort I can usually make the majority of connections using the leads of the components. Saves a lot of work with jumper wires, and the end result looks a lot neater and more compact.
Using leads doesn't work if you have several ICs tho. I prefer putting everything in a socket and wirewrapping it all together, then you can change a component value if needed, or change the wiring, a lot easier than unsoldering stuff.
Depends - my latest project involved a port expander with lots of LEDs and a bunch of MOSFETs. Both connecting to the IC using resistors - with nice long leads. So after a bit of rearranging pins I had an IC, a bank of 8 resistors, and a XH socket for a plug with the LEDs. No extra wires needed.
The ICs themselves always in sockets indeed.