Half-Size Breadboard with 400 Tie Points - Buy in South Africa

Overview: 400 tie-point half-size breadboards

A half-size breadboard with 400 tie points is a compact solderless prototyping board commonly used for circuit experiments, education labs and quick proof-of-concept builds. These boards typically provide a convenient working area that balances space and component density, making them popular for Raspberry Pi/Arduino companion projects, sensor breakout testing and portable bench work. Communica stocks a range of breadboards and accessories suitable for classroom and maker use, with options to check local availability and branch pickup.

Typical features and specifications

Most 400 tie-point half-size breadboards include:

• Four 10- or 20-column terminal strips totalling ~400 tie points
• Two power rails (often marked red/blue) on one or both sides
• Self-adhesive backing and/or mounting holes for enclosures
• Compatibility with 0.1" (2.54 mm) pitch components and jumper wires

Selection criteria for South African makers

When choosing a 400 tie-point half-size breadboard, consider the following practical factors for local use:

• Durability of contact clips - frequent reuse in labs
• Mounting options - adhesive vs screw holes for project enclosures
• Inclusion of jumper leads and power rails in bundles
• Availability and lead time - check stock at the Samrand warehouse or nearby branches

You can browse related categories such as development boards and prototyping tools on our Collections page, or see the full product range on the All Products index for compatible jumper sets and power modules.

Consider whether you need a single 400-point board for compact projects or multiple boards that can be clipped/combined for larger prototypes. For classroom kits, look for bundles that include jumpers, power rails and storage.

Compatibility, accessories and specification callouts

Breadboards with 400 tie points are designed around 2.54 mm spacing, so they are compatible with standard DIP ICs, resistor networks, headers, sensor breakout boards and common jumper leads. Typical accessory bundles to consider:

• Male-to-male and female-to-male jumper wire kits (20-120 pieces)
• Battery holders or USB power modules for portable testing
• Dupont header pins and shorting jumpers for rail linking
• Clear acrylic mounting plates or project enclosures

Practical wiring and simple example

A basic LED + resistor circuit on a 400 tie-point breadboard follows Ohm's law: V = IR. Example for a 5 V microcontroller pin driving an LED:

Required resistor R = (Vsup - Vf) / I. If Vf (LED forward voltage) = 2.0 V and desired I = 10 mA, R = (5 - 2) / 0.01 = 300 ohms (use 330 ohm standard resistor).

Simple ASCII wiring diagram:

 MCU 5V ---+----[LED]>---[R]--- GND
           |
           +---- Power rail of breadboard

Troubleshooting common breadboard issues

• Poor contacts: gently wiggle component leads or replace the board if clips are fatigued.
• Wrong rail orientation: verify power rails are continuous and correctly mapped before applying voltage.
• Noisy signals: keep long jumper leads short and use decoupling capacitors on power lines for microcontroller projects.

For local logistics, check stock and branch pickup options at our Samrand head office or view branch hours for collection in Pretoria or Cape Town via the Branches & Trading Hours page. If you need branded accessories or specific jumper kits, our Shop by Brand page lists popular suppliers stocked locally.

Buying options and value-added services: Shop Now for single units, Check Stock in Samrand for same-day collection, Compare Specs using product datasheets, or Request a Quote for education kits and bulk procurement. Communica provides VAT invoices and account quoting for school and institutional purchases; delivery times and lead times are shown on product pages and may vary by branch.

Local use cases and recommendations

For South African universities and maker groups, a common starter kit includes one 400 tie-point breadboard, a 40-120 jumper wire set, an assortment of resistors and LEDs, and a USB power module. Estimated starter-kit cost ranges vary; check current pricing in ZAR on product pages. For production prototyping, consider combining multiple half-size boards or upgrading to full-size breadboards if space becomes limiting.

Sources

• Communica homepage - product categories and company information
• Communica About Us - company background and services
• Breadboard (electronics) - practical overview and common usage