when reading a schematic diagram, does it make a difference if i wire it point to point or pcb?

Question

Could i wire this p2p? http://buildyourownclone.com/benderinstructions.pdf

Answer 1

LLoyd J's answer is basically correct:

If you have the pcb, it makes things much more tidy.

Also, if you run a high current output wire close to a low voltage input, there can be oscillation and ghost notes. Avoiding this by proper routing of wires is called "lead dress" and isn't too difficult if you apply a little thought.



This looks like a simple guitar overdrive pedal. I love this problem because this is what I do!

I build guitar amps that are point to point wired. I do this because point to point is extremely durable compared to pcb. Printed circuit boards can develop cracks in the "traces" and can be difficult, if not impossible to repair. Hand wired amps and radios from 60 years ago are still functional and repairable.

An effects pedal, properly constructed, doesn't have the same vibration problems as a guitar amp or radio with it's own speaker in the cabinet, so this isn't as much of a consderation.



Here's a tip: use some sort of support, either an eyelet board or a turret board to mount the components. This will support them and keep them from banging around in your enclosure.



Short answer: wire your pedal either way. With a little homework it shouldn't matter!

Answer 2

Yes- you can wire this point-to-point. Personally, I would use a perf-board base and follow the basic layout. This is not an RF device, so layout is relatively unimportant. You'll need to fabricate some type of terminals for the external connections - I usually loop a short length of bare hookup wire over a resister body, then twist the legs about 3 times. Stick the legs into the board, tie them together and solder (the twists too). This gives you a terminal with a hole to stick the connecting wire into.

Answer 3

You can do it either way. PCB just saves time and makes it look very clean and controls the layout so that it will work every time. When you make a point to point circuit, you may run an input to close to an output and end up with poor performance.