Breadboards by Global Specialties - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ThunderStrike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 11:03:17 pm
content: Hi,Does anyone know which breadboards by Global Specialties have binding posts with the standard 3/4in (19mm) spacing? That is what's required for double banana plugs.Thanks,ThunderStrike LFC

author: aflex
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2014, 07:17:28 am
content: Please check if there is any option of having solderless breadboards for your requirement. If yes, then go for it.

author: ThunderStrike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 22, 2014, 05:15:45 am
content: Sorry aflex, I don't understand your response. It seems that not all of their boards have the same spacing. Checkout their product info.ThunderStrikeYNWA

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2014, 04:14:46 pm
content: Why not contact Global directly?

author: ThunderStrike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 22, 2014, 04:56:03 pm
content: Sorry nanofrog, I forgot to mention that I contacted Global twice but they didn't get back to me.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2014, 06:57:11 pm
content: FWIW: I don't own any GS branded protoboards but many clone breadboards look like GS protoboards, [ it maybe GS was the original design, as I used their boards as far back as 1970s ]. I haven't bought a new one is years but IIRC nearly all board I've seen have binding posts not spaced to take dual banana plugs. Seems like an oversight in design carried over for over 30+ years.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2014, 01:56:30 am
content: Quote from: ThunderStrike on May 22, 2014, 04:56:03 pmIf you're in the US, try giving them a phone call.Also, how critical is it that the spacing accept double banana's?Given Global Specialties' value vs. 3M (does have 19mm spacing), the cost difference may be worth any cabling inconvenience (assuming you have single banana cables on hand). FWIW, even with 19mm spacing, it still requires single bananas when there's more than a single voltage to the binding posts (2x or more positive terminals used), and negative stacked on the common (assuming they can be shared).On an unrelated note, if you go into your user profile and set your country, it will then display your nation's flag.Makes it a lot easier for other members to give more specific/useful comments, particularly regarding pricing and where to get stuff if available in your market.Quote from: saturation on May 22, 2014, 06:57:11 pmPerhaps it was done intentionally, in order to give more room to connect unterminated bare wire to the binding posts (and further reduce the potential for shorts).Thinking in terms of it being more useful for users on very tight budgets, such as students, hobbyists, and small companies FWIW.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2014, 12:11:36 pm
content: @nanofrog, I couldn't agree more. A slight annoyance with binding post is that many have exposed conductive terminals in the bottom of the post. Even if the board had rubber feet raising it off the bench, now and then in bench full of tools and parts, it touches these posts and shorts the power supply. Its a problem for quick and dirty messy builders like me, so I remove and do not use the binding posts so nothing is hidden from my view.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2014, 06:06:16 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on May 23, 2014, 12:11:36 pmEven 3M's are exposed on the underside of the metal plate, and the metal plate will flex under modest force.Your solution certainly works, but having the posts installed is nice IMHO. Taller rubber feet and a quick sweep of a hand over your bench will certainly help, but covering the nuts on the underside of the metal plate with something like liquid electrical tape would genuinely solve the problem IMHO.Not used all that often, but it's some handy stuff to have on hand IMHO, especially for things like sealing vehicle wiring splices. Although not cheap, I'd recommend3M's Scotchkote, as it genuinely works IME (Gardner-Bender not so well, never tried Permatex brand). Price is about $30 for the 3M (15oz can) vs. ~$6.00 - 8.00 for GB or Permatex (4oz). Lasts a long time stored indoors at room temp (i.e. 10 years w/o adding any solvent).

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2014, 06:21:13 pm
content: One way to solve the spacing and exposed metal on the bottom problems is to remove the banana posts from the breadboard base and use a piece of aluminum angle to mount them at a right angle at whatever spacing you want. That also allows you to run permanent jumper wires from the tail end of the post to your breadboard's bus rails, leaving the regular binding area free for any other bare wire connections you might need to make.I think I might still have a breadboard somewhere that I modified this way, I'll see if I can dig it up to illustrate the idea when I get home.