13 April 2010
Electronics: Leaving the breadboard behind
Today we'll talk about strategies and techniques for finishing/hardening your work,
including soldering, power supply issues, audience-proofing, etc.
best practices
- Polarized power connectors:
"Put the red wire here and the black wire here" == certain doom. Use simple, polarized
plugs whereever you can
- Zero daily configuration:
Use global power switches, startup scripts, timers, etc. so that your work is as
autonomous as possible.
- No loose wires, breadboards, aligator clips, etc. Do not install a prototype!
- Make things modular:
Make functional blocks that are removable/replaceable,
use screw terminals or sockets rather than hard soldered connections between modules,
make sure there is access to all modules without taking apart/destroying the installation.
- Replacement parts:
Expect that something will fail. Provide extra motors, lights, fuses, powersupply, batteries,
special screws, special tools, etc. Include a DVD with all software, media files, etc.
- Harden your work, if possible:
Expect people to mistreat your work! If it's delicate, they will break it. If you want them
to touch gently, they will hit. Things will get dirty. Wine will be spilled. Applications will
be quit. Email will be checked. Loose bits will be stolen. Sometimes you can build in
protections, sometimes you can't. Either way, think through the repercussions of people
mistreating the work.
soldering!
Please bring as many of these things as you can.
All available at RadioShack or from the innards of a broken toy. There are three or for
RadioShacks close to campus. Keep walking south on Broadway
until you find all that you need!
Optional:
- soldering iron + solder
- small hand tools
- 74C14 Hex Inverter IC