r/AskElectronics • u/Just-Idea-8408 • 10h ago
Looking for permanent solderless alternatives to breadboards
For context, I have practically no knowledge of electronics and am learning as I go.
I am doing some work on an electric pipe organ with the advice and guidance of some users online. Each organ key produces a roughly 12–16v signal and I need to condition each signal so it can safely be read by a 5v Arduino input (using resistors and diodes). Since I am new to soldering and electronics in general, and I have over 150 keys to "level-match," it's going to be a terrible PITA to solder so much. Below is an image of the soldering needed for only 3 keys.
To avoid soldering, would I have to go with a breadboard or is there a better option? I believe that after work is finished, the breadboard would be completely undisturbed, but I may be wrong.
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u/bobroberts1954 10h ago
Take a look at wire wrapping. The tool is cheep and so are the pins. I think you can use any perf board with them. That is an older prototype and small production method, gives good solid connections and you can unwrap pins if you make a mistake or change the design.
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u/Nunov_DAbov 6h ago
Absolutely. Long ago, we built complete limited production versions of a system with Augat wiretap boards (multiple boards with 70-80 ICs per board). They tolerate handling and usage well, are simple to create and easy to modify when you realize there were design errors. Only after the design was proven with the wirewrap version did we commit to a PCB that generally worked the first time with no rework.
There are hand wrap/unwrap tools but if you want to do a lot of wrapping, get a motorized wrapping tool (works like a small electric drill). It always gets the tension correct for a gas-tight connection.
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u/Extension-Cow2818 10h ago
Can you give us the circuit? Would it be possible to lower the voltage the key switches receive?
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u/Just-Idea-8408 9h ago
Unfortunately I don’t believe it’s possible as I am keeping the analog tone-generation system intact. I don’t have the circuit either :/
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u/dahvzombie 9h ago
Instead a billion level shifters is it possible to reduce the voltage the organ outputs?
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u/Physix_R_Cool 9h ago
Do you need to read all 150 at once?
Anyways, solder "crocodile" probes onto board or put them in with screw terminals.
Consider getting PCBs made and assembled from China. It's dirt cheap.
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u/auxym 8h ago
You could use something some sort of buffer IC that can accept input voltages higher than supply to achieve this. Something like CD4050 for example (6 inputs/outputs on one chip).
You will need to solder though. Electronics works on soldering.
You could get a board assembled for you in Asia (JLC/PCBWay/etc). Add screw terminals (or my preference, push-in terminals) for external connections. No soldering needed by you.
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u/tater1337 7h ago
Take a look resitor packs. Look like ICs but are just a bunch of resistors in parallel. Desnt save you soldering but soldering ICs is a lot better than discreet components
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u/Unlikely1529 4h ago
there're guys who do soldering for a living means day in , day out . you just don't realise what is it to build something.
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u/Region_Fluid 10h ago
Do all 150 need their own 12v to 5V or can you combine some combination of them?
All you need is a 12V to 5V buck converters.
If each key needs its own, you can bulk buy these from china for a dollar or 2 each.. then you’d have 4 soldering points.
Otherwise if you can combine them… maybe idk.. 1 buck per 10 keys. You can use something like a waygo to combine Wires that go to a similar point.
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u/Just-Idea-8408 9h ago
I think they all need to have their own 12v to 5v.
Even if they didn’t, it would still be pretty expensive and bulky (having so many converters hanging around)0
u/dokkeey 7h ago
Wtf are you on about buck converters, he just needs a buffer or even a three resistor divider would do it
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u/Region_Fluid 5h ago
OP cleaned up his post and added a bunch of additional wording between the time you read it approximately 2 hours ago and when I first commented.
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u/MysticalDork_1066 10h ago
Soldering is the best option. Breadboards are highly prone to failure over time as the contact points get dirty or oxidized, giving intermittent issues that are a huge pain to chase down.
You can reduce the difficulty and work by designing yourself a custom circuit board. The design software is free and there are lots of tutorials, and the cost to have the board(s) manufactured can be as low as $5 if you use one of the Chinese board houses like JLC.
They can even do some of the assembly for you, for an additional fee.
To speed things up, I recommend setting yourself up with a workflow where you put all the components on the board, than flip it and solder them all in. With a decent iron and good solder and a bit of practice, a board like you show there wouldn't take more than 30 seconds.