Electronics people: How do you go about laying out the components in a circuit?

[Eli]

The components are, obviously, arranged nothing like the schematic. So how do you go about it?

I tried to make this the other day, but I had no idea where to even start. So I soldered the 555IC into the center of the prototyping pcb and went from there, but what I ended up with was a mess that didn't work.

I guess I don't really know how to correctly read the schematics, or something. I can understand them well enough, but it's hard for me to "see" the connections on a PCB before they're already there, or something... Does anyone know what I mean? lol

I was using the pre-made PCBs with the grid of through holes with copper pads.. making my own traces with solder.. maybe that's the problem? lol.. I kept fscking up and things would run into eachother, etc. Maybe I just should have spent more time placing components? Maybe draw traces with a marker or something? There has to be an easier way to go about it..

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Eli
The components are, obviously, arranged nothing like the schematic. So how do you go about it?

I tried to make this the other day, but I had no idea where to even start. So I soldered the 555IC into the center of the prototyping pcb and went from there, but what I ended up with was a mess that didn't work.

I guess I don't really know how to correctly read the schematics, or something. I can understand them well enough, but it's hard for me to "see" the connections on a PCB before they're already there, or something... Does anyone know what I mean? lol

I was using the pre-made PCBs with the grid of through holes with copper pads.. making my own traces with solder.. maybe that's the problem? lol.. I kept fscking up and things would run into eachother, etc. Maybe I just should have spent more time placing components? Maybe draw traces with a marker or something? There has to be an easier way to go about it..

I believe you used the 'pad per hole' pc board. I use those all the time, but I still do point to point wiring. I never try to solder my own 'traces' by shortinig the pads.

As far as component placement - I usually try to minimize wiring runs, especially if there is a clock or oscillator involved. Looks like you're builiding a variable freq. tone generator or something like that. The 3055 is quite the power transistor for this application - what are you driving - a subwoofer?

I usually have a local ground bus and power bus to run to various components.

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Get a solderless breadboard.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/6884

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: hscorpio
Get a solderless breadboard.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/6884

He wants something a bit more permanent.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: Eli
The components are, obviously, arranged nothing like the schematic. So how do you go about it?

I tried to make this the other day, but I had no idea where to even start. So I soldered the 555IC into the center of the prototyping pcb and went from there, but what I ended up with was a mess that didn't work.

I guess I don't really know how to correctly read the schematics, or something. I can understand them well enough, but it's hard for me to "see" the connections on a PCB before they're already there, or something... Does anyone know what I mean? lol

I was using the pre-made PCBs with the grid of through holes with copper pads.. making my own traces with solder.. maybe that's the problem? lol.. I kept fscking up and things would run into eachother, etc. Maybe I just should have spent more time placing components? Maybe draw traces with a marker or something? There has to be an easier way to go about it..

I believe you used the 'pad per hole' pc board. I use those all the time, but I still do point to point wiring. I never try to solder my own 'traces' by shortinig the pads.

As far as component placement - I usually try to minimize wiring runs, especially if there is a clock or oscillator involved. Looks like you're builiding a variable freq. tone generator or something like that. The 3055 is quite the power transistor for this application - what are you driving - a subwoofer?

I usually have a local ground bus and power bus to run to various components.

An ignition coil.

Thanks.. I think.

I'll figure it out eventually I guess. So you think it would be better to make a mess of wires than be "neat"(realitivly speaking) and try and solder traces?

Guess it saves solder... lol

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: Eli
The components are, obviously, arranged nothing like the schematic. So how do you go about it?

I tried to make this the other day, but I had no idea where to even start. So I soldered the 555IC into the center of the prototyping pcb and went from there, but what I ended up with was a mess that didn't work.

I guess I don't really know how to correctly read the schematics, or something. I can understand them well enough, but it's hard for me to "see" the connections on a PCB before they're already there, or something... Does anyone know what I mean? lol

I was using the pre-made PCBs with the grid of through holes with copper pads.. making my own traces with solder.. maybe that's the problem? lol.. I kept fscking up and things would run into eachother, etc. Maybe I just should have spent more time placing components? Maybe draw traces with a marker or something? There has to be an easier way to go about it..

I believe you used the 'pad per hole' pc board. I use those all the time, but I still do point to point wiring. I never try to solder my own 'traces' by shortinig the pads.

As far as component placement - I usually try to minimize wiring runs, especially if there is a clock or oscillator involved. Looks like you're builiding a variable freq. tone generator or something like that. The 3055 is quite the power transistor for this application - what are you driving - a subwoofer?

I usually have a local ground bus and power bus to run to various components.

An ignition coil.

Thanks.. I think.

I'll figure it out eventually I guess. So you think it would be better to make a mess of wires than be "neat"(realitivly speaking) and try and solder traces?

Guess it saves solder... lol

It doesn't necessarily have to be a mess, keep it neat.... I also used color coded wires to help distinguish what is going on. i.e. red for +V, black for ground, yellow for clocks etc...

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: hscorpio
Get a solderless breadboard.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/6884

He wants something a bit more permanent.

Oh ok, I thought he was just experimenting/messing around.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: hscorpio

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: hscorpio
Get a solderless breadboard.
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/6884

He wants something a bit more permanent.

Oh ok, I thought he was just experimenting/messing around.

I am I guess, but he's right... permanent would be more handy.

I think I'll have to get one, though... Maybe it would help me lay the components out before soldering...

 

[Eli]

Bump for more advice... surely there must be some people that do circuit design, at least as a hobby, here.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Eli
Bump for more advice... surely there must be some people that do circuit design, at least as a hobby, here.

I used Eagle cad which allows you to lay out your board. Then I print out the traces onto a film that I solder onto a copper clad board. Then I etch it, drill the holes and solder everything.

I've made ECU scanners for my car this way.

 

[nakedfrog]

I thought you could use some kind of marker to draw the traces, then an acid wash or something. It's been awhile, so it's kinda fuzzy.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I thought you could use some kind of marker to draw the traces, then an acid wash or something. It's been awhile, so it's kinda fuzzy.

That's like hardcore though, lol.. I'm nowhere near that stage yet, I just started...

I don't even know how to begin laying the components out! That's what I mean.. surely there has to be a starting point? Do you always start around the power supply busses perhaps? I don't know.

Maybe I should get some of those solderless breadboards and just go to town.....

 

[stephenw22]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

I used Eagle cad which allows you to lay out your board. Then I print out the traces onto a film that I solder onto a copper clad board. Then I etch it, drill the holes and solder everything.

I've made ECU scanners for my car this way.

I've used EAGLE to make pcb layouts - it's very handy for small projects. They even have a free version that lets you do a 3x4" board.

http://www.cadsoft.de/freeware.htm

Even if you're not etching your own boards, this is good for laying out the components so you have the simplest wiring and no birds' nests.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: stephenw22

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

I used Eagle cad which allows you to lay out your board. Then I print out the traces onto a film that I solder onto a copper clad board. Then I etch it, drill the holes and solder everything.

I've made ECU scanners for my car this way.

I've used EAGLE to make pcb layouts - it's very handy for small projects. They even have a free version that lets you do a 3x4" board.

http://www.cadsoft.de/freeware.htm

Even if you're not etching your own boards, this is good for laying out the components so you have the simplest wiring and no birds' nests.

Awesome.. thanks..

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: stephenw22

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

I used Eagle cad which allows you to lay out your board. Then I print out the traces onto a film that I solder onto a copper clad board. Then I etch it, drill the holes and solder everything.

I've made ECU scanners for my car this way.

I've used EAGLE to make pcb layouts - it's very handy for small projects. They even have a free version that lets you do a 3x4" board.

http://www.cadsoft.de/freeware.htm

Even if you're not etching your own boards, this is good for laying out the components so you have the simplest wiring and no birds' nests.

Awesome.. thanks..

OMFG.. I think my head is going to explode.

This will be awesome when I figure it out though.. LOL.

 

[damonpip]

Don't try to make traces using solder, because solder isn't a good conductor. Wiring the circuit point to point with wire is probably the easiest option for the circuit you want to build.

 

[NutBucket]

It gets messy quickly unless you just have a sense of how to route traces correctly.

 

[mrrman]

It looks fairly simple...mainly get a pcb board that has enough space for all the components, place then on the board with reference to the gnd points and solder away. If you want to see if the circuit works 1st without soldering, get a breadboard and place the components as shown.