Adapter Boards

[docmur]

Hey Guys

Does anyone have any recommendations where I can get adapter boards for 4-PLCC -> DIP (for LED's) and SOT23-5 -> DIP?  I found boards for ~$3 a board but I was wondering if anyone knows anywhere cheaper?  Digikey doesn't have any 4-PLCC -> DIP boards at least as of right now.

Thanks
Docmur

[Vtile]

It always amaces me that these adapter stamps are so super expensive, must be a good business. 

[Ian.M]

If you want pre-assembled with headers, you'll pay a premium.  If you are happy with bare board, there are considerable savings to be made.

I *think* PLCC-4 would fit on Tripad board (0.1" pitch stripboard with the strips cross-slit every three holes)   If so http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Veroboard-Copper-Tripad-Board-100-x-160mm-/401035221181 would be enough for 130 parts (allowing 3 strips across for ease of cutting straight down the line of holes in the middle of a strip, then cut every 6 holes along the cross slit).  Offer one up to a piece of nomal stripboard and see - Tripad cross-slits are the same with as the slits between strips.  If you are UK based, its stocked by Maplin Electronics.  I cant find any international suppliers. 

Sparkfun do SOT23-6 breakout boards for $0.95: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/717 and Adafruit do a set of 13 breakout boards, 5 of which are SOT23-6 for $4.95: https://www.adafruit.com/product/1230.  Both can also be found at various resellers . . .

[james_s]

You can get various breakout boards on ebay, sometimes I just make my own when I want to prototype something. It's also possible to prototype on perfboard even with very small SMT parts. Check out some of the projects on http://elm-chan.org/ for examples.

[bson]

I use SOT23 adapters I got a 50 pack of from an eBay seller (China or Hong Kong, forget).  They're 10 pin with 0.95mm spacing on one side and 0.5mm on the other.  Something like an SOT23-3 obviously only uses 3 pads, but that doesn't terribly matter as long as I can get it into a breadboard.

[jc101]

I have recently used some SO8 adapter boards for PLCC-4 LEDs, they worked very well.