Hallo Michael Neary,

I use bread boards very often in my work as analog hardware designer. There are tons of situations, which cannot be solved in any theoretical manner, because many parameters of analog integrated circuits are not specified in datasheet or which are to complex to calculate. How behaves input protection circuit of OP497, when input is overdriven? How to prevent the circuit from beginning oscillations? How reacts an active bandpassfilter with low Q, when its input is overdriven? Will an output phase reversal occur, because common mode input voltage range is violated? How to make an operational amplifier circuit to oscillate? What is the critical complex load, which results in oscillation? Etc. etc.

Bread board circuit is fabricated in five minutes. Connect to sinus oscillator, connect to scope and you are ready to make your experiments... It's much easier to stick the components into board than to solder.

It's a pleasure to work with bread boards. BUT: They have their limits. They fail totally, when working with video amplifiers, etc. or fast digital circuits! Then a solid ground plane is a must. An arrangement like Charles demonstrated can be very helpfull. Or a fabricated PCB (with solid ground plane :-).

Kai