Prototyping - was "556 problems"

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Matthew Smith by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <matt-at-kbc-dot-net.au>

Hi Matt, All

My $0.02 worth:  it is so easy to set out schematics from which a board 
can be produced using software like Eagle - you might as well have a PCB 
for your prototype!  You can eliminate all the problems associated with 
dirty contacts (plugboards) and the like, in addition to which, decent 
design software can even do some simple electrical rule checking before 
you produce the board.

The only expensive bit of PCB production is the copper clad board (and 
drill bits if you're as ham fisted as I am ;-) so long as you're not 
trying to produce 0.01mm tracks...  Balance the price of copper clad 
against your time...

I'm writing from *far* too much bitter experience with various 
prototyping systems - I've only been making PCBs using design software 
for a fortnight and there's no way that I'm going back!  I just hope 
that by saying this, I might spare others some agony...

Final thought, on a safety note:  when working with high voltages, which 
would you prefer? a) a soldered joint, b) bits of wire twisted together.

Here endeth the rant.

Cheers

Matthew Smith (another Matt)

---%x--- SNIP -------


> I am using a circuit just like Jan's except i have a 556.I have decided to 
> look for some small copper clad PCB and etch a circuit.I am tired of the 
> little protoboard.The circuit frequency is around 450khtz.It seems that when 
> i wire the staccato part into the main timer, it lowers the voltage.This
only 
> happens whne on the solder protoboard.I am going to try one more time and 
> REALLY look hard to see if maybe a wire doesnt solder just right or
something.
> 
> Matt