MCU Proto Board with DC Input

Description

This quality proto board is part of our custom Pro Series boards and accommodates virtually any DIP style MCU module and provides flexible options for input power and power distribution.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• MCU Proto Board with DC Input
• Optional DC Input Components Kit  (Click links for more details on components or to buy separately)
  • Qty 1 – DC Power Jack
  • Qty 1 – JST XH-2.54 2-pin connector
  • Qty 1 – Screw terminal, 2-pin
  • Qty 1 – 100uF 25V electrolytic bulk filter capacitor
  • Qty 1 – 0.1uF ceramic bypass capacitor
  • Qty 1 – 3mm green power LED
  • Qty 1 – 1Kohm LED current limiting resistor
  • Qty 1 – 2×2 male header for optional VIN/V jumping
  • Qty 2 – Header Shunts for optional VIN/V jumping

KEY FEATURES OF MCU PROTO BOARD WITH DC INPUT:

• Extra wide MCU slot that accommodates virtually any DIP style MCU Module
• Flexible DC input power options
• Fully distributed power and ground with clear silkscreen top and bottom
• Standard 0.1″ / 2.54mm hole patterns with extra large plated through holes and pads
• High quality construction with ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold) finish
• Compact 4″ x 4″ size

These boards are a great option when it comes time to move a small to medium size MCU project from the solderless breadboard to a more permanent construction.

Compatible with Wide Variety of MCUs

This board incorporates an extra wide center section to facilitate mounting virtually any DIP style MCU from very narrow to very wide.

It features a standard 0.3″ wide center with power and ground rails.  Extra wide 6-hole pad pattern on either side makes it wider than a standard solderless breadboard.  The MCU section is 32 pins long.

This configuration allows the board to be used with anything from as small as a Attiny85 DIP IC to the sometimes too wide ESP8266 NodeMCU or the extra long Teensy 4.1.  It will also fit any of the Arduino DIP style modules like the Nano or Micro.

This section can also be handy for mounting other wider pinned modules such as some types of LED driver modules.

Flexible Power Input Options

The input section of the board provides for multiple power options.

It can mount a standard DC power jack, a JST PH-2.54 style 2-pin battery connector or a small 2-pin screw terminal with 2.54 lead spacing for connecting to wires.

This VIN input section has locations for an electrolytic filter capacitor with 2mm lead spacing, a ceramic bypass capacitor with 2.54mm lead spacing as well as a 3mm power on LED with current limiting resistor.

Note that a reverse polarity protection diode is not included as the voltage drop across it would prevent the option of using a direct 5V or 3.3V power source.  The board is clearly marked to make correct hookup easy.

An optional kit is available which includes all the components to fully populate this section of the board.  These parts can be populated as needed for the particular application.

Flexible Power Distribution

The VIN input power which comes in through one of the power connectors is available on a VIN rail near the input power section.  This can be jumpered to the MCU VIN input if using a typical 7.5V to 12V AC adapter or it can be jumpered directly to the MCU 5V or 3.3V input if a suitable 5V or 3.3V power source is being used.

The main V power rail that is distributed around the board is separated from the power input VIN rail by two jumper locations.  Jumping those locations allows the VIN input power to power the entire board such as when using an external  5V or 3.3V power source.  More commonly, by leaving the jumpers off, the MCU can be powered from the VIN input and the MCU on-board regulator output can be connected to the V rail to power it by running suitable sized wires.  Optionally an external linear regulator or DC-DC converter can be added to the perf area to drive the V rail.  The large perf holes will easily accommodate a standard 7805 TO-220 type regulator.

All power and ground runs are silk-screened on both sides of the board and the VIN and V power rails and ground pads are square to further clearly differentiate them.

The distributed power and ground runs allow for easy placement of additional bypass or filter caps as needed if the board mounts high speed / high current circuits.

Flexible Prototype Areas

Besides the wide MCU area, the rest of the prototyping area uses a 3-hole pad pattern to keep things compact.

The back edge of the board has a 2 x 20 header area with separate solder pads as well as a 2 x 10 area with offset pads that can be useful for some types of connectors that use offset pins such as RJ45s.

All holes are large 40 mil plated through with large 70 mil pads.  These are large enough to use with TO-220 type packages like power MOSFETs.

The 3-hole and 6-hole patterns have 30 mil traces connecting them on both the top and bottom of the board for good current handling capability.

Optional Component Kit

The optional component kit includes all the parts needed to completely populate the DC input section of the board.  This includes a DC power jack for use with a standard AC wall adapter as well as a JST 2-pin connector for connection to a battery pack that uses that connection as well as a small 2-pin screw terminal connector which can be mounted in the same J1 location depending on the application for connecting to wire leads.

A 100uF 25V or 50V electrolytic bulk filter capacitor and 0.1uF ceramic bypass capacitor are included to provide input filtering.

A 3mm green LED with a 1K current limiting resistor are included if a power on indicator is desired.  The 1K resistor keeps current draw fairly low.

A 2 x 2 header is included along with two header jumpers.  This can be used to optionally bridge the VIN input to the V Rail.

High Quality Finish

The boards are constructed of 1.6mm FR-4 with 1oz copper.

The copper has an ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold) finish for maximum performance.  ENIG ensures extended shelf life against corrosion, provides excellent solderability with lead or lead-free solder, provides a completely flat soldering surface and gives good visibility of the soldered joints compared to the gold plating.  It is also fully ROHS compliant.

Green solder mask is used as it provides the highest performance compared to other colors and also provides excellent trace visibility in case trace customization is desired.

Board Mounting

The board is 4″ square.  It has four 0.138″ diameter holes which can accept up to 3.5mm or #6 screws.  The holes are spaced 3.6″ apart on each side

Notes: 

1. None

Technical Specifications