Hi all, I am using breadboards to develop stuff, but lately have been experiencing nothing but trouble in low-voltage analog circuits. Like this simple common emitter amplifier: [IMG_0193] Whatever I do, it never works properly. There's always some connection not working and to get it to work at all, I have to wiggle each and every connection until finally it works again - but usually it's more than one connection that is troublesome. One problem is the resistors that have to thin leads; but even when I double those up in the same hole it's still the same, and it's also the connections that are not too thin. Any suggestions? Better breadboards? Douse everything in contact cleaner? Other? -M

Hello michaelwillems I´m using this boards for prototying. [grafik]

Hello The "springs" may have become lose, especially if you had more than one thing in one hole.

I use strip-board. Like here: https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/michaelwillems/simple-bench-signal-generator-e560d0?ref=user&ref_id=1877097&offset=0 But this is even before prototyping: breadboards are the initial step, when I verify that it works; that my calculations are right, and so on. I can't solder yet because I have not yet verified the project, at this stage.

Some of the components have rather slim legs. Low cost bred boards.... No surprise if there are bad contacts. Use protoboards and soldering as @ paulpaulson suggests.

Share tips you have come across - Using Arduino / General Electronics - Arduino Forum This is the index, check out breadboard helpers. [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics Two Quick Hints Over sized flat component leads can be difficult to plug into solderless breadboards. These oversized leads can even damage the springs in the breadboard conductors. It takes only a few seconds to modify these component leads so they can be accommodated better. Flat leads are bent at 90 degrees, so their orientation lines up with the breadboard spring mechanism. Use the plastic standoffs from male headers on other components to stabilize them and lift the component off t…

problem of course is that I might well change out a resistor or capacitor ten times before settling on a final design... I'd hate to have to solder each and every time! Cheap breadboards.. OK, so are there better breadboards available? Where do I buy them and how do I recognize a good one?

Mount some screw terminals on a set of pins. [image] michaelwillems: I might well change out a resistor or capacitor ten times before settling on a final design

I’ve been successfully using breadboards from 3M for decades but they are very expensive these days. [image] michaelwillems: Change out a resistor or capacitor ten times One way would be to use decade boxes whenever practical when “tweaking” a design.

Make up some breadboard helpers in advance. [B] Machine pin headers are easily to modify and easily plug into solderless breadboards. [B] [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics Making SMD LED modules complete with series limiting resistors. [A.jpg] [B.jpg] [C.jpg] [D.jpg] Invest in at lease on resistor substitution board for tuning resistors. [image] Or make your own. [image] [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics In situations where an accidental change in a potentiometer setting can cause catastrophic problems, change the potentiometer out for fixed resistors. Make a resistor substitution board ahead of time to use it to determine what the values of these resistors should be. All the standard resistor values (SMD 1026) have been placed on the substitution PCB. One end of all the resistors are common and would represent the wiper on a potentiometer. Female headers on the other side of the resistors w… [image]

[image] michaelwillems: I might well change out a resistor or capacitor ten times Most analog circuits can be simulated quite accurately with LTSpice, free to download.

Trouble with breadboards... any advice?

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er_name_not_found December 18, 2022, 4:47pm 6

Share tips you have come across - Using Arduino / General Electronics - Arduino Forum
This is the index, check out breadboard helpers.

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Trouble with breadboards... any advice?

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