Electronics > Beginners
Difficult breadboading a LM324N
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dcbrown73:
As I learn or see interesting circuits / components that I want to learn, I order them. 

Well, I ordered a pack of 10 (or maybe it was 20) LM324N ICs.   They work as an opamp fine, but it has four opamps on a single chip which seemed to me like a good thing especially since I was going to be learning while making an example function generator that required three opamps.  (do it all with a single chip with one to spare!)

Well, in practice it seems that breadboarding with one of these seems a lot more difficult than what three singles would have been.  Four different opamp pin locations being close together and all on one side of the chip makes for layout issues.  While I'm sure it's not an issue on a pcb, it makes for more of an issue on a breadboard.  Especially if you are a neat freak in that you at least like to be able to see (read understand) the circuit layout once it's finished.  (or if you need to post a picture and ask for help!)

Maybe there is a better way to lay it out, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

Anyhow, that brings up my next question.  Is there any best practices or "list" of pitfalls to avoid when you're first learning?  If so, I would love to review it!
tggzzz:
Pitfalls to avoid?

Firstly make sure unused inputs aren't left floating?

Secondly make sure you haven good decoupling and a good ground plane.

Finally, don't use solderless breadboards; you will spend more time debugging the breadboard thank your circuits. See https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2020/07/22/prototyping-circuits-easy-cheap-fast-reliable-techniques/ for good cheap fast  alternatives used by very experienced engineers.
edavid:

--- Quote from: dcbrown73 on August 11, 2019, 07:21:05 pm ---Well, in practice it seems that breadboarding with one of these seems a lot more difficult than what three singles would have been.  Four different opamp pin locations being close together and all on one side of the chip makes for layout issues.

--- End quote ---

Nobody said you have to use all of the opamps.  Just stick another chip in if that's more convenient.


--- Quote from: tggzzz on August 11, 2019, 07:51:04 pm ---Firstly make sure unused inputs aren't left floating?

--- End quote ---

Doesn't really matter for the LM324.
GerryR:
Seems like nobody uses wire-wrapping breadboard techniques along with component carriers.  Makes life of bread-boarding, much simpler.  (Guess I'm showing my age now, but I still use wire-wrapping to make / test circuits.)  Also, pretty easy to strip down and re-use if you only need to test a design, but also good for permanent circuits.
tggzzz:

--- Quote from: GerryR on August 11, 2019, 09:14:54 pm ---Seems like nobody uses wire-wrapping breadboard techniques along with component carriers.  Makes life of bread-boarding, much simpler.  (Guess I'm showing my age now, but I still use wire-wrapping to make / test circuits.)  Also, pretty easy to strip down and re-use if you only need to test a design, but also good for permanent circuits.

--- End quote ---

With modern components the length of the wirewrap pins become a problem. Apart from that I still like wirewrap :)
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