Introduction: ARDUINO/SEEEDUINO Breadboard Station for Less Then $10

By jomac asia
About: A semi retired engineer with too much time on his hands, I just love, building and tinkering with anything electrical or mechanical. I also love chatting to people and swapping ideas. Just send me a message if…

Like most hobbyist's I have limited space in which to indulge in my hobby, there are times when the thoughts of having to root out all of the bits required to try out a new circuit, and then pack them all away again. Then there is the setting up of the breadboard, and other peripherals etc.

Being an inherently lazy person, a trait i have honed to a fine art, i wanted a cheap solution to the above problem, that was easy to construct and even easier to pack away.

So with the aid of a DVD case and a few bits and bobs, my simple breadboard station was built. 

What you will need:-

DVD case, (Deep to suit multi CD's)
Breadboards, self adhesive to suit your needs (and some sticky pads/sheet if they are non self adhesive.
2 banana screw terminals.
Miniature panel switch.
12 volt PSU 500Ma or bigger.
DC socket to suit PSU plug.
Panel LED. (optional)
Connecting wire.
Self designed label.
Cups of coffee and enthusiasm.

Step 1: The Case

I took a standard DVD case that was designed to hold 3 DVD's or CD's This case was slightly deeper then a standard case and allowed clearance for the terminal posts and the switch.

Using Paint i designed and printed a simple sleeve to insert beneath the plastic outer cover, to hide the mouldings that hold the DVD's and to add a touch of professionalism to the project. I took 2 breadboard blocks and a power rail block, my Seeeduino has added pins to replicate external connections and to allow its use with a breadboard.

I began by adding the power rail block to the top breadboard, then i carefully plugged my Seeeduino into the lower rail of the top board, and the upper rail of the lower board. Carefully position the whole assembly to where you want to mount it on the case and mark the corners of each board. Then with care, cut out the outer plastic and the label underneath, BUT....make sure its 3 or 4mm smaller on all 4 sides of the cutout, the prototype boards are self adhesive, and when you stick them down, the plastic overlaps the stocky pad's footprint and this helps to hold the label in place and the plastic from lifting up.

Step 2: Mounting the Hardware

With the boards in place, decide where you want to mount the power terminals and the switch, position is not critical and is down to personal choice, obviously the LHS is better, as the cables don't trail across the board. I could have fitted an LED, but in the true fashion of being lazy....I couldn't be bothered to go and find one...;o)

Next connect the terminals via the switch to a DC jack mounted on the edge of the case, connect the LED if you were bothered to find one!!

Step 3: VOILA!!

And here you have it, a simple breadboard station that didn't cost the earth, and is easy to pack away with your project intact. Any jumper cables can be stored inside the DVD case out of the way.

For those of you interested in the 'Lazy' series, have a look at my other prototype project with twin PSU's:-

https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-prototype-breadboard-unit-with-DUAL-PSUs-and/


Now all i need to do next is to teach the wife electronics, and fetch the beer..;oP

Have fun and post your pic's here