Methods and Components To Build Electronic Circuits

Previously we talked about breadboarding and recently talked about how to create one layer PCB at home. In this article, we will discussed some details around the methods and components to build electronic circuits. As this is a single blog post, not a course or book, we really need to be very short, use hyperlinks to old articles which definitely far from being optimum for teaching. Yet, it is better to know something than nothing.

Classification of Methods and Components To Build Electronic Circuits

For practical reasons we need some sort of working classification. From that view point, we can offer this kind of classification :

1. Boards
   • Breadboard
   • Perfboard
   • PCB
2. Components
   • Basic electronic components (through hole technology)
   • Basic electronic components (surface mount technology)
   • Additional supportive components
3. Wiring
   • Plain hand wiring
   • Wire wrapping
   • Soldering
4. Tools
   • Multimeter
   • Power tools
   • Miscellanies

We already talked about breadboard, somewhat about the basic electronic components, multimeter and soldering.

Which Methods Components To Build Electronic Circuits A Newbie Should Follow?

All will suggest to use first breadboard, then perfboard, then PCB. PCB even today is a reserved option and nothing can be more helpful than a breadboard and jumpers. PCB makes the thing compact, sometimes miniature and stable. Not always exactly we need to solder everything on a board.

Soldering on perfboard is a standard. Perfboard gives the idea of graph like positions, wiring that hugely helps to design a PCB oneself but can be hell like feel. Perfboard is still the best for projects which needs to be permanent.

Adafruit discovered a hybrid between breadboard and perfboard – layer and connection is like breadboard but thing is solvable like perfboard. It costs 10 times than ordinary perfboards. There are other companies who manufacture similar thing but first they look inferior, secondly they are not everywhere available.

I will suggest to read this article and the comments on wire wrapping :

Cheap male pin headers are available, so as various sockets. Using them on Adafruit’s hybrid between breadboard and perfboard to force wire wrapping actually can save many components. Soldering not always easy to learn by everyone.

There are tricky things like standoff, cable strap etc.