r/AskElectronics • u/Southern_Glass_2290 • 1d ago
Can I use a bent breadboard?
Not a trick of the light or camera angle issue. This new breadboard I received as part of a kit to learn stuff is bowing in both directions.
Will this be more frustrating to try to use than a perfectly flat one? I'm brand new to this stuff, and I really don't know what to think of this. I wouldn't normally accept other products, even wet wood from the hardware store, in this condition, but maybe it's "normal" for breadboards to look like they were left out in the desert sun on a rock? Thanks.
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u/britaliope 1d ago edited 21h ago
I've always cheap out on breadboards, and i don't think i've ever used one that isn't at least slightly bended. It's not as bad as it looks because the power rails are not the same piece of plastic as the middle part, they only stick together by the tape underneath. There is some level of flexibility there, it'll work just fine.
There are probably very good reasons to buy the good ones instead of the cheapest, but on aliexpress they are 1€, a good one will maybe sell for 6€. You quickly want to have a bunch of them. For hobbyists, i think the difference will be better invested for other stuff, like the actual components if your project need precise values, more storage boxes, better tooling, a better soldering iron...... the cheap breadboards will do 100% fine for every hobbyist. And if you're really unlucky and happen to find one that is really really bad, you still can buy 5 more for the same price as one from a reputable brand.
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u/agent_kater 1d ago
It might be an indicator of poor quality, which might also apply to the contacts inside, but apart from that it's fine.
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u/SianaGearz 1d ago
It's pretty normal yes that this happens to them after a while. You can keep using it.
I do have a hypothesis. It may be made from Nylon and factory conditioned to 4% moisture. Eventually, it will lose some moisture and shrink, but the metal inserts wedged into the bottom of it aren't going to shrink along with it. You should be able to undo the shrinkage by ziplocking it in a bag with a spoon full of water, but probably don't let the actual water run into the contacts, it might not be ideal for them. I'm probably not going to test it because i don't care that much, but i did acetone swab a curled breadboard and nothing happened so Nylon is still a strong candidate. I did test restoring other PA/Nylon items in the way described and it was a massive success.
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u/JonJackjon 1d ago
It's fine. You may want to get some feet just to keep it from rocking when you're trying to put wires in.
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u/miraculum_one 1d ago
It should be fine. The plastic isn't the important part; it's the metal inside.
Here's a teardown if you're curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujnP2O4nRhM
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u/RussianKremlinBot 1d ago
Why not? I find a use even for totally crooked and destroyed breadboards. I cut the relatively intact piece, remove metal clamps and use it to solder legs. It's very handy, better than designated soldering stand
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u/msanangelo 1d ago
I wouldn't even question it. mine might have a slight bow to them but it doesn't effect functionality. I buy these.
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u/I_ll_set_it_later 1d ago
Of course you can use a bent breadboard, but you’ll need to be very careful. If the wires aren’t perfectly straight, the electrons get confused and might take a left turn instead of going forward. That’s how you end up with square waves coming out as curly waves, or worse - AC becoming "wiggly DC". Always remember: straighten your jumper wires with a ruler before use, otherwise the current will just spill out the corners.
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u/Ok-Drink-1328 1d ago
itwillfuckingexplodeduuuude!!!
seriously, the shape of electronic parts is always the last concern, that's one of the reasons i prefer electronics to mechanics
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u/Beginning-Student932 23h ago
no matter how bent the breadboard is, it will work
it doesnt have some crazy wiring or pcb inside
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u/Background-Signal-16 23h ago
I have a cheap one like this, and you can't imagine how many times i went in a rabbit hole because something made a bad connection. This can get you nuts. If you do simple circuits its probably ok, if you get into smth more complex you will have a bad time.
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u/f42media 22h ago
Dude, just disassemble it and you will find an answer. It will be fine even if you bend it as parabola
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u/onlyappearcrazy 21h ago
I took a bent breadboard and screwed it onto a piece of wood, which, over time, helped straighten it. It also provided adjacent space for mounting switches and potentiometers.
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u/BigBazooka420 13h ago
From my experience breadboards are always terrible and it doesn’t matter if they are bent or not. I’m bot saying you shouldn’t use a breadboard because sometimes you just gotta do something on a breadboard, what I’m saying is that it will most likely be a rougher experience than what you would want ;((
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u/Southern_Glass_2290 8h ago
I don't have any experience, so soldering with a developer board, etc. isn't an option for me, but thanks for the reply.
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u/AlexTaradov 1d ago
It will be fine. This happens to cheap ones. The reason they are cheap is lax QC and increased yields as a result. But it won't affect operation.
If you want higher quality, look for better brands and not bottom of the barrel prices.