A breadboard is a plastic board with holes drilled into it that is used to test circuits. The second layer of board is full of metal stripe to complete the circuit while it is on the test board. Because testing circuits is a difficult process, mounts are used to add stability and accessibility to the breadboard. It is helpful to know how best to mount the breadboard for ultimate efficiency and project completion. Does this Spark an idea?
Use
Breadboard mounts are used to keep the surface of the breadboard free of countertops and from touching any other surfaces to provide a better connection for the circuits as they are being tested. The kind of mount used can be almost as important as the breadboard itself. Most mounts are mounted from the back of the board, although some are attached from the sides. It is important to consider the type of circuits that you will be testing before choosing the kind of mount to use with it.
Mount Style Tips
The two main kinds of mounts are side mounts or back mounts. Each system is designed to provide as little contact as possible with surrounding surfaces and even with the mount itself. Side mounts are usually attached with clamps and the contact points will be limited to two to four points of contact on the board, depending on the style of side mount. The back mounted systems are attached to the back of the board. The surface contact area is larger, but many of the back mount systems come with holes drilled into them so that the breadboard is still usable in the spot that the mounting plate occupies. Both kinds of systems come in movable or non-movable models.
Profile and Pitch
The profile of the mount is important because that can influence the kind of work that can be done on that board. This criterion is especially important for side mounted or clamp mounting systems. The profile of the backing mount does not matter so much; however, the material that the mount is made of can sometimes change how circuits react with each other on the board. It is important to choose a material that does not interfere with the circuitry.
Mounting Process
Actually mounting the system is the easiest part. All you have to do is either use the enclosed screws or micro locks that came with the bracketing system to screw the mount to the breadboard, or attach the clamps to the sides of the board. The best placement for the mount is one-sixth the width and length dimension in from the edge. In other words, if you had a 6-inch square breadboard, then you would place the edge of the mount 1 inch from the edge of the board on either side. The largest breadboards also need a mount in the center of the board for extra stabilization. Make sure the holes in the mount line up with the holes in the bead board. You can use a nail to stick through both sets of holes to help with alignment. Once the mount is placed on the board it is usually clamped to the table top for stability.
Tags: with holes, back board, drilled into, from edge, holes drilled