Breadboard Stuff

[Tonefishin]

After studying circuits and reading amp building articles for awhile, I'm ready to start gathering parts to put some circuits together to hear the component part effects. If the goal is to make it easy to swap out components (resistors, caps, etc.), what board and connections work best?

Are there solderless boards that can handle the voltage/current and have good connections, or is it really necessary to solder?

If predominantly soldering is a must, are certain turrets better than others, and better than eyelets?

Have you found tube sockets that are super convenient for breadboarding a design?

What have you found to be the most convenient setup to work out a design by your ear?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experiences.

[Structo]

Why not just buy a simple tube amp kit?
That way you gain experience and have a working amp to boot.
Something like Fender Champ 5F1 would be a good first kit.
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm

[Tonefishin]

Why not just buy a simple tube amp kit?
That way you gain experience and have a working amp to boot.
Something like Fender Champ 5F1 would be a good first kit.
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm

Hi Structo,

I've already built a few kits and I'm ready to start experimenting. I've been researchintg theory and I'm ready to work on circuits and start understanding the effects of varying part values.

So what methods of connection and boards have you found to be the easiest to fiddle with the parts?

[ic-racer]

Why not just buy a simple tube amp kit?
That way you gain experience and have a working amp to boot.
Something like Fender Champ 5F1 would be a good first kit.
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm

Hi Structo,

I've already built a few kits and I'm ready to start experimenting. I've been researchintg theory and I'm ready to work on circuits and start understanding the effects of varying part values.

So what methods of connection and boards have you found to be the easiest to fiddle with the parts?

For experimenting, I find the simple eyelet board works great. You don't have to loop the wires through the eyelets, just get part of the lead in the 'solder pool' and you are good to go for a test. Seems like wrapping and unwrapping leads from turrets is too much of a pain for experimentation. I use one of those small cordless soldering irons with a little light on it. I can swap components in-and-out pretty quickly, event when the chassis is over in my 'playing and auditioning' area.

[Cygnus X1]

How about using industrial type terminal strips?
I have quite a few, they take a bare wire, and use a screw to
secure the wire. You can easily run jumpers on them, also.

You could set the tube sockets on risers on a flat board (like plywood), and
then the wires to a terminal strip.

[Tonefishin]

Why not just buy a simple tube amp kit?
That way you gain experience and have a working amp to boot.
Something like Fender Champ 5F1 would be a good first kit.
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm

Hi Structo,

I've already built a few kits and I'm ready to start experimenting. I've been researchintg theory and I'm ready to work on circuits and start understanding the effects of varying part values.

So what methods of connection and boards have you found to be the easiest to fiddle with the parts?

For experimenting, I find the simple eyelet board works great. You don't have to loop the wires through the eyelets, just get part of the lead in the 'solder pool' and you are good to go for a test. Seems like wrapping and unwrapping leads from turrets is too much of a pain for experimentation. I use one of those small cordless soldering irons with a little light on it. I can swap components in-and-out pretty quickly, event when the chassis is over in my 'playing and auditioning' area.

Thanks. Along those lines, I have been thinking about the Keystone 1509 turrets because they are hollow. I could have the same solder pool effect, and maybe not burn the board so bad from all the reheating since they are elevated above the board.

[Tonefishin]

How about using industrial type terminal strips?
I have quite a few, they take a bare wire, and use a screw to
secure the wire. You can easily run jumpers on them, also.

You could set the tube sockets on risers on a flat board (like plywood), and
then the wires to a terminal strip.

Yeah, that's one of the ways I've been wondering about. Can you screw down a terminal onto a part lead and get an adequate connection, or does it really require solder? Those strips would be sweet if they aren't a compromise...thanks!!

Have you tried/used this successfully?

[Cygnus X1]

Mine are industrial types (not Radio Shack)...that come out of things like multi-ton crane drives and power supplies. So they have very high current ratings and heat tolerance. And very simple to use. I have subbed them in and out, but are too big to use for anything permanent.

The screw runs a clamp...so all you need is a bare wire end to put in the slot.
They are also used in many older CNC machines.
Dumpster-diving does wonders, sometimes!

[Wayne]

When I read this thread, I thought of something neat that I had seen. Have no idea how to link to it though (damned new-fangled web pages )

Go to http://www.tubesandmore.com/

Click on "Vacuum Tubes", then click "Epoxy Boards"

W

[Tonefishin]

When I read this thread, I thought of something neat that I had seen. Have no idea how to link to it though (damned new-fangled web pages )

Go to http://www.tubesandmore.com/

Click on "Vacuum Tubes", then click "Epoxy Boards"

W

Yes, thanks! I found those under "Vacuum Tube Accessories" and they do look handy.

[davent]

Hello,

Here's some tube breadboarding ideas I've come across.

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/fun ... rding.html

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/fun ... be_BB.html

http://www.tubelab.com/The_Tubelab.htm

Take care,
dave

[Tubetwang]

www.partsconnexion.com has some also...

[Tonefishin]

Hello,

Here's some tube breadboarding ideas I've come across.

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/fun ... rding.html

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/fun ... be_BB.html

http://www.tubelab.com/The_Tubelab.htm

Take care,
dave

That's some good stuff. Good old FAHNESTOCK clips again. I just ordered some of those. I like that Tonelab too. Thanks for the links!

[Tonefishin]

www.partsconnexion.com has some also...

I hadn't seen that site...thanks!

[Tonegeek]

how about using copper nails (used in boat building) pounded into plywood for a breadboard? You can throw it together quickly and then tack solder your parts to it for testing. I have done a proof of concept and it works (the nails are solid and take solder), but I have never actually used it.

One thing I do when tweaking new builds is to put certain parts in place but not solder them. Then i will take toothpicks, straws, or pieces of wire and wedge them into the eyelets with the parts to hold them while I measure voltages, or listen to the tone. Caution, this can be dangerous so make sure the parts dont spring out of the eyelet with the power on. This works best when using a new board that has never been soldered.