New video: Some circuit prototype construction techniques - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 06:11:34 am
content: My latest video shows a couple of the circuit prototyping/breadboarding techniques and methods that I often use on my bench:Enjoy!

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2013, 07:27:31 am
content: Thanks for sharing!

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2013, 01:10:32 pm
content: Nice, Thanks

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 07:39:04 pm
content: Inspired by my last video about circuit construction techniques, and Peter Parker (VK3YE)'s video about build a circuit from a schematic (), I decided to put a video together that shows the process of building a circuit. The video takes you from the schematic, to planning the circuit layout (prototype style - using an island cutter), to component prep and soldering with Manhattan style construction, followed by a power up and test.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 08:36:48 pm
content: Nice videos. Damn now i have urge to build something.....

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 08:46:59 pm
content: Awesome! I love this style of construction!

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 08:54:27 pm
content: You should really grab some acetone and clean the flux off your precious boards.Other then that, awesome boards!

author: dentaku
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2013, 08:56:54 pm
content: Great video. I like your video making style.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 01:47:50 am
content: Another great video!Will be a project I will build in the morning. Can never have enough crystal oscilators!Will be a fine addition to my test bench.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 09:16:49 pm
content: Thanks to the inspiration from Alan on his great vids, I decided this morning to build a quick and nasty constructed crystal oscillator. All parts were salvaged from old radios. Citizen band stuff mostly. Thought “hey” let’s do this on a budget and not buy or use any new parts. ?It will not win no beauty contest that is for sure. But it works.I do not own an island cutter so I used my dremel tool with a 3/32 tapered diamond bit to etch the islands. After completion I added both large and small plug in crystal sockets along with a push in strip cut from an old IC header.Sorry about the pic quality.Works a treat

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 09:27:37 pm
content: Nice job! Looks great to me. Another name for Manhattan style construction like this is Ugly construction. But, yours doesn't look ugly at all. Great job!

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 11:13:36 pm
content: Quote from: w2aew on December 31, 2013, 09:27:37 pmThanks for the kind words Alan.I have built many circuits using ugly construction.Sometimes when I am at loss on a project box I use double sided circuit board soldered together to house a circuit. Works dandy.Keep up the great work you do. Folks can learn alot!

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:29:59 am
content: If you want an island cutter, qrpme has 2 options :a tin with a cutter and a selection of pcb lands, superglue etc $30 plus postageor the cutter by itself $10 plus postage

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 02:31:29 am
content: Thanks for the video, I have never heard of the island style of prototyping.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:59:21 pm
content: Quote from: notsob on January 01, 2014, 01:29:59 am10 bucks dont sound bad at all. I will have to get me one of those. Probably need to invest in a portable drill press too. One out in the garage wieghs 350 pounds! and it is cold out there.Alan, Keep posting those video's mate! They are most helpfull.Gives me a breaK from all these Yaesu 101's and Kenwood 520's I work on.

author: alanb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 05:58:56 pm
content: Great Video Alan. It inspired me to build the circuit yesterday. As I don't have an island cutter yet I cut the islands using a craft knife. For each Island I cut a two concentric rectangles freehand with a gap of about 1mm between them, I then lifted the copper track between the two. It worked very well and was a very quick way of constructing.Please keep producing the excellent videos Alan.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 06:51:48 pm
content: Very good videos! Interesting techniques! Thank you!

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 09:00:13 pm
content: I'm so glad to hear that these videos inspired a few of you to go ahead and build the something, that's awesome! Hardware rocks!

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 10:01:11 pm
content: up until i came here, to the eevblog forums, i had never seen this "ground plane" "sky wire" type building before. imo, its kind of nice to see the "pros" doing "half assed" type stuff like this, as i always thought that etching nice looking professional pcb's was the common practice. not that i cant or havent etched before, but i VERY rarely do it. its nice to know im not really as far behind the curve as i feel i am.im definitely going to try that crystal checker. that could come in handy. also gonna make sure to check out your youtube channel for more vids.

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 01:00:25 am
content: Quote from: deth502 on January 01, 2014, 10:01:11 pmYears ago, there simply was not a way of getting a PCB fabricated inexpensively. Today, there are many PCB prototyping services that can get you a nice double sided board with plated through holes, solder mask, silk screen, etc., for very little investment. Back then, such a board would cost many hundreds or even a few thousand dollars to get made (in 1970's or 1980's dollars). So, we resorted to etching our own boards when necessary, or built circuits using the techniques shown in the videos when we wanted to prototype circuits. Fortunately, many of these hand soldered techniques permit good control over parasitics, etc., facilitating pretty good performance.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 02:24:14 am
content: Can you do a video that shows the effects of capacitors on ripple (different types of caps and capacitance), and the importance of how close decoupling caps need to be.Maybe also throw in some inductors too.

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 03:46:07 am
content: Wilfred, Peter - thanks for the nice comment (and for listening to the amphour show that I was a guest on). Good suggestions. I'll have to put in some thoughts on how to make some meaningful and easy-to-demonstrate examples on parasitic control. Decoupling cap type and placement, and use of ground planes, is all about control of image/return currents. I'll put some thought into a video on this topic too.