Introduction: DIY PCB Tip by LOG
This Lazy Old Geek has been using Arduinos for a while and I recently made my own shield for my weather station.
Tip: So my Arduino shield had some room on it. I decided to add some breadboarding area in case I wanted to expand the weather station.
I added a 16 pin IC socket and four eight pin connector strips, some tied together. This can be used for 16, 14 or 8 pin ICs. For most ICs, the upper left pin 14 or 16 is power so I connected that strip across the three connectors on that side. Usually, the ground is on the lower left side so I did the same for both.
For the other IC pins, I ran traces just to the first adjacent connector.
So for future usage, adding an IC would be relatively easy. There is space for additional components and pins can be jumpered and traces cut as needed.
Advantages: Easy to implement, no additional cost in PCB making, minimal labor. Holes don’t need to be drilled until used.
Use: So I used this tip to create my Arduino weather shield. See first picture.
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Electronics Tips and Tricks
6 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Lately, if I make a PCB i do not fill open space with copepr anymore but with solder pads. Has saved me a few times when I needed to add another component or when a component turned out to have bigger spacing
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
That's a great idea. It takes hardly any time, doesn't cost anything and you don't have to drill the pads out until you need them.
LOG
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
tnx, and it saves etching chemicals as well :-)
11 years ago on Introduction
msuzuki777, thanks for the tips. I will try to implement this in the near future. I've used & learned from some of your 'ibles & plan on checking out more.
Thanks for your time and effort. It's much appreciated.
AptPupil
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I hope they are useful.
LOG
11 years ago on Introduction
good idea!