[sdiy] just got one of these...what can/should I do with it?

[Scott Gravenhorst]

Horton <horton.andrew at gmail.com> wrote:
>Hey guys, eternal noob here:
>
>I just got a Global Specialties PB-503 Proto Board off a guy for free.
>He thought the function generator in it would be a wacky oscillator or
>something and could never get any sound out of it (hee hee). I
>shouldn't laugh, though, because I barely understand what I have on my
>hands. Here's a link:
>
>http://www.tequipment.net/GlobalSpecialtiesPB503.html
>
>I've been doing everything so far with a breadboard and 9v battery,
>and sometimes a Radio Shack Learning Lab (runs off of AA's)...can I
>basically replace that with this? I'm kind of freaked out by the fact
>that it plugs into the wall, but it seems to only actually spit out DC
>from the three little terminals at the top. How do I use this thing -
>can I just use the same jumper wires I've been using with a regular
>breadboard? Am I going to get shocked if I'm grabbing resistors and
>exposed leads and stuff? I'm intimidated by this thing...

Don't be, IMO it's a useful tool.  There's got to be a web reference regarding how
it's hooked up, but they're all the same.  It's rows of holes that are all
connected together.  You can plug in ICs and connect pins together via resistors,
diodes, caps, etc.  You can also use transistors.  each group of 5 holes are all
connected together.  So you can make any sort of circuit you want.  Don't use huge
gauge wire.  The stuff they use for telephone wire is quite nice for these and can
often be found for free in dumpsters.  Good quality ones last a long time.  I've
had mine for 20 or more years.  I made similar thing with a chassis into which I
placed 3 regulated supplies, +15, -15 and +5 all one ampere each.

There are caveats to using this.  Don't expect to put a 20 MHz CPU on one of those
and have it work flawlessly.  However, I would expect no problems with most
noncritical circuits.  Remember that under that plastic there are "wires" which can
form capacitors of some small value, but they are capacitors nonetheless.  This is
why high frequency stuff won't usually work very well on an SBB (solderless bread
board).  

I'm sure out good friend Happy Harry B. will pipe up about how SBBs are the spawn
of Satan, but I can tell you from personal experience that they are useful in
learning about and testing basic audio circuits.  Most audio VCOs, VCAs and VCFs
can be tested on them.  

Hi Harry (c: - you can probably give better technical info about what never to do
with them.

If I were you (and I'm not) I would mess around putting simple stuff together. 
Start by trying to light up an LED with the correct resistor.  Move on from there.
 I've actually had circuits set up on mine that I recorded through.



-- ScottG
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-- Scott Gravenhorst
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