"silly" noob question

Archive SparkFun Site Questions/Comments
1

Could someone help a noob?

Could someone please tell me what a “breakout” board is in VERY basic terms. I am soooo new to all of this.

Thanks

Mike

2

It’'s a PCB for a fine pitch device that brings the leads out to wider pads, making it easy to wire it into a circuit.

3

okay, so, (knowledge check) it is a board that will attach to a “main” board, that does a certin task, that is larger-and easy to work on.

A) True

B) False

C) All of the above… lol, just kidding

Thanks for the help!

Mike

4

D) Not sure what you mean

Things in this category are breakout boards:

http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/20

5

To combine all the above: Breakout boards often describe one of two things

  • Adapters to convert either connectors or ICs to a convenient footprint. This includes ones that go from a fine-pitch LCD connector to 0.1" headers, and boards with hard-to-mount parts (tiny surface mount parts, BGA or QFN footprints) and a header or connector. They often include other components that are always needed or have to be close to the part (bypass caps, pullup resistors, crystals). http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9614 and http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9719 are examples of this type

  • Modules that encapsulate functionality, like a complete MP3 decoder/audio amp or USB to serial interface, that can be used as part of a larger project. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10277 and http://www.sparkfun.com/products/718 are examples of this type

/mike