PERFBOARDS

While a Perf Board is technically not a Printed Circuit Board, it is an excellent entryway into creating something very similar. Just like a printed circuit board, you permanently solder components into the board. Unlike a printed circuit board, you do not previously etch or "print" conductive tracers onto the board. Instead, the perf board is a plastic board perforated with holes surrounded by individual pads of copper. From this point, you then drag solder across the board to "paint" your paths with solder. While a perf board is a little more labor-intensive, both will leave you with a functional permanent electronic circuit board. 

Creating your First Perf Board (LED Blinker)

Background Knowledge:

What you'll need:

1 - 9 Volt Battery

1 - 9 Volt Battery Harness

1 - Breadboard

1 - 1N4007 Rectifier Diode

1 - 470-Ohm 1/4 Watt THR

1 - 22 K-Ohm 1/4 Watt THR

1 - 100 K-Ohm Potentiometer

1 - 1 M-Ohm LDR (Dark)

1 - 3904 NPN Transistor

1 - Red 5mm LED

Steps of how to Change a Schematic into a Perf Board

Step One

Start with your Schematic with all parts and components labeled.

Step Two

Converting a schematic into a PCB or Perf Board layout is simple. First, remove the schematic symbols from the drawing to make it a little neater. You will want to be mindful of the spacing of the perf board and the actual size of the components you will be using. For this, you can use a perf board layout template

like the one found at the bottom of the Electronic Job Sheet. Identify where your pads will be and use the same layout lines as the schematic to connect them. That said, there are two notes to that: First, the tracers should have a width to them. Real tracers have width. Second, you have to remove overlapping lines. The schematic drawing and PCB Layout are 2D representations of a 3D object, however, the PCB layout actually has to be built so you have to pretend that crossing lines are actually touching in a PCB layout. To prevent crossing tracers where they shouldn't, you will have to break one of the rules above. You will either have to run a trace between the pads of a component or add a space for a jumper.  In this example, we created extra pads for a jumper. Finally, you will have to add a spot for your power source. On the schematic, you can just add voltage and ground nodes but in real life, these are actually positive and negative terminals. Usually, we bring the pads of those as close as we can to each other. 

Step Three

Once you have the location for each component identified in your PCB Layout. Add the components to the Perf Board one at a time. As you are soldering, be sure to check components that have polarity are put in the right direction. Soldering is "permanent" - you can't just pick up and replace components as easily as you have been using a breadboard. To prevent your components from falling out as you flip the board over to solder, feel free to bend one lead at a time. While you solder, the lead should be straight up. 

Step Four

Connect the dots! At this step, it is honestly as easy as connecting the dots. Using your PCB layout as a guide, connect each terminal of the components to other component terminals by "painting" a line of solder over the perf board. You will notice that a perf board has holes surrounded by squares of copper with small gaps in between. As you are "painting" you will have to add enough solder to bridge these gaps as you connect components. Finally, cut the excess lead length for tidiness.

RGB Light Strip LED Blinker Box

Creating a flashing LED sign with an RGB LED strip and electronics on perfboards offers endless creative possibilities. By soldering the components onto the perfboard creating your custom circuit board, you can design captivating light patterns and colors that will bring your LED sign to life with vibrant flashes, adding an eye-catching element to any space.

What you'll need:

1 - 9 Volt Battery

1 - 9 Volt Battery Harness

1 - Breadboard

1 - 1"x1" Perfboard

1 - SPST Switch

2 - 100 K-Ohm 1/4 Watt THR

2 - 47 uF Radial Capacitors

2 - 3904 NPN Transistor

1 - Three segment RGB LED Light Strip with a Common Anode

1 - 6"x7" 1/8 MDF

1 - 3-1/4"x3-1/4" 1/8" Clear Acrylic

1 - Laser Cutter/Engraver

1 - Soldering Pen

1 - Roll of Solder

Step One

When considering new projects like the RGB LED Strip Blinking sign it can be useful to reflect on some previous, simpler projects. Since we are trying to get an LED sign to flash alternating colors, we can use the LED Blinker.

Step Two

To further your understanding of the circuit, it is important to quickly build it using a breadboard. Try changing the values of the capacitors and resistors to see how it affects the circuit. This will help you plan for the final project.

Step Three

To adapt the circuit for an RGB LED light strip, several changes are necessary. Firstly, the LEDs will be replaced with the light strip, which typically has common anodes. This means power enters the strip, and cathodes connect to the circuit. Capacitor values should be adjusted, starting with 47uF for reasonable cycling speed. Lastly, a simple switch must be added to enable on/off functionality for the sign.

Step Four

Most LED light strips do not come with loose wire attached. This means we will have to add some. Cut three stranded wires 4"-6" long and strip off 1/8" off each end.

Step Five

Following the directions on our soldering page, you should solder an LED Strip to a wire the same way you would a wire to the blade of a component. Tin the wire and LED Strip leads with solder.

Step Six

LED Light Strip are labeled with 12V+, R, G, B. Place the tinned wire on the tinned lead of the power source or one of the two colors you are choosing.

Step Seven

Repeat the steps from Step Six until you are finished.

*Note: You can actually get other colors than just Red, Blue, and Green. For example, if you solder a wire to both Red and Blue, the light will make Purple.*

Step Eight

Once your RGB LED Light Strip has wires on it, you can use it to prototype your circuit. It is always a good idea to prototype any circuit you plan on making into a perfboard or PCB to make sure all the components that you will solder in work. This is also a good opportunity to change the resistors and capacitors to different values to get different speeds for flashing.

Step Nine

If your circuit works and you are happy with your prototype, then it is time to turn the schematic into a PCB layout. Follow the rules on the Printed Circuit Board page when making this layout. Consider the size of your components and perfboard and your individual soldering skills when sizing the spacing of your components and paths. 

Step Ten

Following the layout of your PCB Layout, place your components in the top of your board. Be sure to place these components all the way flush to the board. This will also look very similar to how your breadboard looked. You will notice the components with jumpers are not shown here- they will be added later. 

Step Eleven

Looking at the bottom of the board, you will see your copper pad grid and the leads of the components. Bend one lead on each component 90° so that the components are secure in place while soldering them. If you skip this step, the components will slip or fall out as you flip the board upsidedown. 

Step Twelve

Solder the leads on the board. Be sure not to spill any solder outside of its copper square or connect any close leads by accident. Once you solder one lead of each component, straighten the bent ones. All soldered joints should be done with leads perpendicular to the board.

Step Thirteen

Using diagonal cutters, cut the leads off flush to the top of your soldered joint. The goal it so make the bottom of the board as close to flat as possible since this will be the side resting on the bottom of your box. This is also the step where you can add your wires and jumpers in. Since the wires are stripped so short, it is easiest to hold them in as you are soldering. If you can, try pinching them between the alligator clip on your helping hands and the perfboard- this will help keep them in place. Since the wires are already cut short, they short not need to be trimmed.

Step Fourteen

Using your PCB layout, drag your solder paths to connect the components that have to be connected and complete your circuit. Be careful not to spill any solder over to a path the is shouldn't touch. A good tip would be to use a multimeter's continuity tester to check the continuity that should and should not be there.

Step Fifteen

Your perfboard is complete- sort of... You will notice the switch is not connected to the wires soldered to the board. This is because when assembling the whole project, the switch will have to be installed into the hole first and then have the wires soldered to the blades. Follow the same steps you would when soldering a wire to the blade of a component. If you want to see your circuit work at this point, just pinch the two exposed wires together. Don't worry, this is SAFE!

Step Sixteen

Laser cut and assemble your finger joing box. This box needs a hole on the side for the switch you are using and a slot on the top for the RGB LED light strip to shine through. The acrylic sign can have any image engraved on it and should have a small tab that fits into the slot on the lid. Further instructions on how to make a box like this can be found on our ?? page. If you would like the file for this project to download reach out to us through our About Us and contact page.

Step Seventeen

Install the switch and solder on the loose wires. Since a SPST switch does not have polarity it does not matter which wire is soldered to which tab. Just make sure one of the wires is soldered to the common tab. Assembling your box and securing you perfboard, battery, and switch in place can be done with hot glue. Hot glue is great because it will keep the box together and switch in place, but if you use small amounts it will act as a temporary mount for parts like the battery that might need to be replaced when it dies. 

Step Eighteen

Carefully place the top on making sure the wires are carefully secured and out of the way as they are folded in when the lid is placed. Add your acrylic sign and turn it on using the switch. The image you engrave on the sign will glow the colors of the LEDs you chose. This looks much more dramatic in a dim or dark room.


Congrats!