Wow,
Keep these tips and pointer coming! I need all the help I can get
to work with them (I don't like using them).
What is helping...
Modules when I can. I am making them up as I need them. Slows down
the process overall, but much better in the long run.
Taking a bit more time on checking/rechecking, double checking etc.
It's so easy to get messed up with a lot of wires and ICs.
What I have trouble with...
Loops on wires - I am getting to be a Klutz! Which is a very bad
thing considering what I do for a living! It seems as though if
there is a wire with a loop, or even a component with leads long
enough that can catch on something, it will! All it takes is one
catch and I have a mess to deal with - very, VERY frustrating.
Keeping component lead from shorting out against other components
and leads. I suspect that two things will help here.
1) Bigger boards allow for more room between components
2) Triming the leads of resistors, leds, caps, etc. before placing
on the breadboard. Right now I use them with stock lead lengths.
Fat fingers and pushing in those tiny wires - so often a wire or
lead would rather bend over than go into the hole. Then there is
the problem of getting the fingers down in-between the components to
push in the wires and leads - I think I need to work more with
needle nose pliers and perhaps a larger board will give me a bit
more finger room.
Working backwards after the changes and taking the prototype from
the bread board and re-creating a circuit for the final build. I
screwed up big time on the last two attempts at this. To help with
that, this time I am working from a layout that is "ready for
printing". Then, hopefully with a bit of dicipline, as I make
changes on the breadboard, I will also change the layout in the
software.
I am sure there are many other frustrations too that I have
experienced, but will try to remember them as I go along. You guys
have all done this so many times, I am sure all the hassels I have
you have already solved many times over :-)
Chris
