Again, the key feature of modern electronic breadboards is that they typically don’t require components to be soldered in place. Their connections are therefore temporary, meaning that users can switch them in and out very quickly and easily if they need to revise or correct something.
As noted in the introduction to this guide, by far the most common function of a breadboard in everyday use is in prototyping applications.
- The fact that solderless breadboards don’t require circuitry components to be affixed semi-permanently to the surface of a PBC makes it much easier and quicker to manoeuvre and swap them until you achieve the desired effect.
- This is ideal for both experimental design and rigorous testing of electrical circuits, where the hot-swappable component functionality of breadboards makes them a hugely convenient piece of equipment in the prototyping stages of circuit design and development.
As well as being considerably more economical in terms of both time and expense, breadboard usage has the added advantage of making diagnostic and debugging work far more straightforward.
- Solderless breadboards are great for use in technical analysis applications, where ‘breadboarding’ a circuit allows electrical engineers to quickly replicate a real-world PCB found in an existing product or system.
- This can be especially useful in helping identify likely points of electronic fault or failure in a given circuit, without having to waste time and money making incremental or experimental adjustments to a fully soldered board in a complete but malfunctioning product.
- A single misplaced lead in a sprawling and complex circuit can cause the entire system to behave oddly (or to often stop working altogether), so it’s extremely useful to be able to see exactly where each component pin is going without any guesswork or incorrect soldering slowing things down!
In this guide, we’ll explore the various designs, workings and features of electronic breadboards and breadboard kits currently available to buy in the UK, as well as linking to some suggested projects for newcomers looking to learn the basics of electrical circuit design and construction.