I am making a circuit for converting analog to digital signals using an ADC0808. This IC has 28 pins, and my circuit also includes a 555 timer and some LEDs to display the output. The high number of connections makes breadboard wiring clumsy, tangled and irritating. I have not found a proper resource yet to teach me how to manage a breadboard for such large circuits.
Are there any resources or examples available that may help teach me how to manage breadboard-based projects with relatively complicated wiring?
Best Answer
Breadboarded circuits - both push-in and soldered can be made quite neatly if the components are sensibly laid out.
Figure 1. A large breadboard with neat layout and wiring. Source.
Figure 2. A simpler example from How to use a breadboard.
I strongly recommend that you buy a jumper wire kit.
Figure 3. A jumper wire kit in colour-coded sizes, stripped and preformed. Image: Farnell.
I purchased a kit that used the resistor colour code for the short lead lengths. Jump 1 row was un-insulated, red = jump 2, orange = jump 3, yellow = 4, etc. This is really handy as you can count the rows and pick the correct jumper by colour so easily. A reel of solid-cored wire can be used to make custom lengths.