A2b

A2B - Audio & Power to Breadboard Interface

A convenient open-source hardware interface board for integrating 1/4" audio and 9V DC power with breadboard projects.

Overview

The a2b project provides an open-source hardware solution for seamlessly integrating common audio and power sources directly into your breadboard experiments. This board is designed to take standard 1/4" audio input jacks and a 9V DC power input, breaking them out into breadboard-friendly header pins.

Whether you're prototyping audio circuits, experimenting with effects pedals, or simply need a stable power supply for your digital or analog breadboard designs, a2b simplifies the connection process, reducing clutter and the need for awkward jumper wire setups. It's ideal for hobbyists, educators, and professional engineers working on audio electronics and general prototyping.

Features

• 1/4" Audio Input Jacks: Standard stereo 1/4" (6.35mm) jacks for easy connection of audio sources.
• 9V DC Power Input: A dedicated 9V DC jack for powering the board and providing a stable voltage to your breadboard.
• Breadboard-Friendly Output: Standard 0.1" (2.54mm) header pins for direct connection into a breadboard.
• Comprehensive KiCad Design: Full schematic and PCB layout files provided for transparency, customization, and learning.
• Ready-to-Manufacture Files: Includes Gerber files and a Bill of Materials (BOM) for easy PCB fabrication and component sourcing.
• Open Hardware: Licensed under CERN-OHL-S-2.0, promoting collaboration and reuse.

Renders & Photos

Tech Stack

ECAD Software:

Ver. 10.0 or greater

Getting Started (Building & Ordering)

This project is hardware-focused, meaning "getting started" involves either reviewing the design files in KiCad or preparing the files for manufacturing.

Prerequisites

• KiCad EDA Suite: To view, modify, or export the design files. You can download it from kicad.org.

Design Files

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/spikekips/a2b.git
   cd a2b

2. Open in KiCad:

   • Launch KiCad.
   • Open the project file a2b.kicad_pro.
   • You can then open a2b.kicad_sch for the schematic and a2b.kicad_pcb for the PCB layout.

Manufacturing Your Own Board

The repository includes all necessary files to order the a2b PCB and assemble it yourself.

1. Gerber Files:

   • The gerber.zip archive contains all the necessary files for PCB fabrication (e.g., copper layers, solder mask, silkscreen, drill files).
   • You can upload this .zip file directly to most PCB manufacturers (e.g., JLCPCB, PCBWay, OSH Park).
   • An unzipped gerber directory is also provided for review.

2. Bill of Materials (BOM):

   • The bom/ directory should contain the list of electronic components required for assembly.
   • You can use this BOM to source components from distributors like Digi-Key, Mouser, or LCSC.

3. Assembly:

   • Once you receive the PCBs and components, assemble them by soldering the components onto the board according to the schematic (a2b.kicad_sch) and the PCB layout (a2b.kicad_pcb).
   • Refer to the silkscreen markings on the PCB for component placement.

Usage & Pinout

The a2b board is designed to be plugged directly into a breadboard. The output header provides audio input and output along with 9V in.

T R S is your audio signal if you plug in a 1/4" jack into the plugs you can output the signal to your bread board or jump them to make a passthrough.

Your voltage outputs are determined by the polarity of your power supply. Wether or not you have a positive or negative center pin on your powersupply is determined by the LEDs. Determine the polarity from which light is on. The polarity symbol on the lit up side will be your reference for your Vout.

Contributing

This is an open-source hardware project, and we welcome contributions! If you have suggestions for improvements, find errors in the design, or want to contribute to documentation:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create your feature branch: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
3. Make your changes.
4. Commit your changes: git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'
5. Push to the branch: git push origin feature/AmazingFeature
6. Open a Pull Request.

Please ensure your contributions adhere to the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal.

Development Setup for Contributors

To contribute to the design files, you'll need the KiCad( > 10.0) EDA Suite installed. After cloning, simply open the a2b.kicad_pro file in KiCad.

License

This project is licensed under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal - see the license.md file for full details.

Acknowledgments

• KiCad Community: For providing an excellent open-source ECAD suite that makes projects like this possible.

Support & Contact

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Feel free to reach out to the repository owner, spikekips, for questions or support.

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