NodeMCU Breadboard Tweak

by matsk

26K9728

Intro: NodeMCU Breadboard Tweak

I like to build and lab with electronics like Arduino and lately with the ESP8266. The NodeMCU is a development-kit with USB to serial and a ESP8266, model ESP12 mounted on a small PCB. And it is easily programmable via the Arduino IDE, you just have to add hardware support for it, see URL below.

Reference:

The challenge with NodeMCU is that there is no holes left on the solderless breadboards when you have mounted the Node MCU on it.

The solution is just 10 minutes away!

STEP 1:

  1. Hacksaw
  2. File
  3. Scissor
  4. Clamp
  5. Alcohol
  6. Snap-Off Utility Knives
  7. Work table with a vise or a clamp

STEP 2: Raw Material

  • NodeMCU (template for desired distance)
  • Plastic lid or other sturdy "plate for the base"
  • Solderless breadboard

STEP 3: Lets Get Started With Preparing the "Solderless Breadboard"

Before you start cutting the Solderless breadboard, cut a grove in the double-sided tape on the underside of the Solderless breadboard.

Place the Solderless breadboard in a vise and cut it in the middle.

Then use a file to plane and smooth the surface that you cut, I also leveled of the tabs on the side of the Solderless breadboard.

STEP 4: And Now Over to the "Base"

On my lid from a ice cream container, I cut away the sides with a scissor, so I was left with a plane plastic "sheet".

Clean the plastic with some alcohol so it's free from fat and grease so the double-sided tape on the Solderless breadboard sticks to the plastic surface.

STEP 5: Let Put It Together

Measure out the base.

Peal off the protective paper from the double-sided tape on one of the Solderless breadboard halves.

Put the Solderless breadboard half on the plastic and use a clamp to put pressure on the double-sided tape so it will stick to the plastic surface. After 5-10 minutes remove the clamps. and repeat the process with the second half and use the NodeMCU to get the distance right.

STEP 6: Admire the Result

Now enjoy your NodeMCU solderless breadboard that have holes left in the and enjoy your NodeMCU solderless for you to play around with.

STEP 7: Comments

I have two rows of holes free on each side so I can use my 4xLED lab board, I did a version that I have four rows free on each side of the NodeMCU and then I can't use my 4xLED lab board because the groove is to wide between the solderless breadboard halves.

The clear solderless breadboard is made of plastic that has a lower melting-point and that make them harder to work with, when sawing the plastic gets sticky since it's half melted due to the friction. And the same happens when leveling it off with the file.

18 Comments

EvoCPL 7 years ago

Haha this is great. I've been sitting here with different right angle and extra long pass through headers trying to come up with some elaborate way to reduce pin width. Then I log online and see your hacksaw photo. I remember thinking "Well that is just ridicu.... holy shit, this guy is a genius!" I was "this" close to literally start clapping for you in my chair. Keep up the good work!

matsk 7 years ago

Thx, you just made my week ;-)

bastler2004 4 years ago

Es ist grundsätzlich besser, die WiFi-Antenne über das breadboard hinau ragen su lassen.

Mamvcivm 5 years ago

Great! Solved my ESP32 problem :-)

wh_hsn 8 years ago

I use 2 breadboards

matsk 8 years ago

I used that idea in the beginning, but the foot print was to large in my opinion.

dava_2 8 years ago

Or you might use Croduino NOVA, which is almost the same as NodeMCU, but it is Breadboard compatible: https://www.tindie.com/products/dava_2/esp8266-with-usb-auto-reset-and-more-croduino-nova/

matsk 8 years ago

But then you get into a totally different price range.

NodeMCU + solderless breadboard = 5-6 USD

Croduino NOVA = 20 USD

microsyl_mcu 8 years ago

Cutting the bread board is. Very good idee. Thanks

pinheadBE 8 years ago

One of those ideas, when you see it, you say "So simple, so obvious, why didn't I think of it before?".

Really genious!

michaelnelson 8 years ago

Lol, awesome! Could you accomplish the same thing if you just put two breadboards side-by-side? That way you wouldn't have to cut up your breadboards. :)

matsk 8 years ago

I did that in the beginning, but the footprint from two breadboards was to big and I was missing the power-rails on the sides!
So that was the inspiration for the hacksaw, and a the cost for a solderless breadboard was just below 3$, so ...

Throne85 8 years ago

thanks alot for sharing :)

Max_LaChat 8 years ago

Thanks for this one! Now why didn't I think of it! This also solves the issue I've had with the Adruino Fio and the Adafruit Huzzah ESP8266 with "not enough holes". Time to dig out the hacksaw.

DIY Hacks and How Tos 8 years ago

That is a really clever idea. This would make your breadboard compatible with a lot more parts.

matsk 8 years ago

Thx. Now I just have to find out how to get rid of the constant rebooting of the NodeMCU.

/Mats