Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> 
> > The tried and true method is to breadboard the circuit.  That way,
> > you know the chips, and that the circuit works.
> >
> > THEN make a board.
> >
> > A much cheaper way is to buy perf board at radioshack and mount 
your
> > stuff on that.
> >
> >
> > Dave
> 
> Basically i agree on what you say, the above which i snipped off.
> But i do not agree that every any any board has to be breadboarded 
first.
> 
> If you have a schematic which you understand, where there are no 
doubts and
> guess work there is a good chance the first pcb will be useable.

I agree, especially if you have confidence you KNOW the circuit 
works.  

On my boards, I will often add extra pairs of pads on all power 
connectors.  I just make a project that was intened for use with a 
wall wart, but didn't find out all they had was 24VDC.  with 3 pins 
and pads, it was easy to add a dual stage voltage regulating circuit 
and drop the power in stages to allow for the heat sinks. 

Ditto for the switch connection.   jumpers and pads for resistors so 
there are about 5 ways to use the switch.   pull-up, pull-down, 2 
different pins on the micro and even jumper to another pin on the 
micro.

also, I always inlude a set of pins from the micro out to a header in 
the event I may want to add a serial connection to something....

BUT, what we have on the list is one person asking to have someone 
else make a board, and that the group check the schematic. : )

If the circuit was simple, and/or tested, I'd be happy to make the 
boards.  But since the schematic is clearly part of another larger 
system, there is no way to know the boards will work...

...OK, I KNOW *MY* boards will connect per the schematic, but I don't 
know the CIRCIUT will work as expected.

but, as they say, people who never make mistakes, never get to see 
the exciting kinds of electrical displays and fireworks that I do !

Dave