On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:53:12 +0200, lcdpublishing <lcdpublishing@...> wrote:
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.
I'm always outright amazed how little problems i have with all those blank leads in easy touching distance.
In the beginning i slid pieces of wire insulation over the leads, somewhat color coded for resistor value (e.g. orange for 10k, red for 1k, yellow for 100k), but now i just don't bother not having had any real problem with it.
What helps with the "fat fingers" is to make meter probes that are stiff and a little longer, so you can "poke them in" through the ratsnest from above the mess. those probes are what i need to move most often so it pays to have them easy to handle.
I would expect tweezers could help also.
Most annoying is when those boards get old and the springs get tired and intermittent. I gather 3M made/makes boards with some warranty for that, not sure...
ST
