Hi - I was just wondering - how do you add components that have larger than
18 awg leads to a breadboard? I don't want to ruin my breadboard by
plugging in things like thick diode leads and such - but then again it's
quite the pain to solder 18 awg leads to every thick leaded component. Any
suggestions? Thanks!
Michael
Hi, Mike. Be sure to remember that most solderless breadboard contacts are
only rated for 1 amp, too -- you might succeed in getting the component into
the breadboard (you really shouldn't use less than 22AWG solid here, or you
deform the contacts), and then have the contact overheat and damage the
breadboard. Most components with 18AWG wire leads are meant to handle several
amps of current. I've got an older breadboard with marked off "toxic" areas --
sometimes there's enough heat to start browning the white plastic on the top,
and sometimes there's just enough to oxidize the spring contacts underneath, so
you have a bad connection for the next time you want to use the board. Imagine
the joy of troubleshooting a breadboard problem for an hour, only to find that
the contact resistance at one tie point is several ohms. Also, try to use
current-limited power supplies all the time when using these solderless
breadboards. (Filed under advice learned the hard way in a project that used
1N540X diodes and several other higher power components where I spliced in
22AWG wires on the leads)
Good luck.
Chris