Any reason NOT to use paper clips for bridges on stripboard?

Hi All

I am planning to use paperclips - bent & cut to the right length - to form bridges from one track to the other on my stripboard stepper driver.

Is there any reason for me NOT to use them?

Further, the wire of a paperclip seems pretty thick - would it be adequate to carry the 12v for the motor?

Thanks for any advice

Is it _that_ difficult to get some copper wire? Every electrician should have some.

Other than that, the only drawbacks are some possible difficulties to solder the material. Wether your flavour of paper clips works can be tested easily.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

Just use short bits of 16/.2 or 24/.2 wire or whatever copper wire you have around

paperclips are steel. You need copper or tinned wire really.

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[richrap.blogspot.com]

The paperclips here are plated with some sort of tin/nickel alloy. It's tricky to wet with solder, and when it does, they easily delaminate from the steel underneath. I have used paperclips many times, and I suggest against them. Also, the resistance is much higher than copper so you get more heating under high current than a similar sized copper wire.

However, if you're willing to replace them with copper when you can, they'll do the job if you have nothing else.

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Wooden Mendel
Teacup Firmware

I have found some scrap housing wire where the live and ground wires are 5 stranded copper with each strand about 0.75mm so that will do.

It just seemed that the paperclips would make for neat and easy bridges.

I use the legs of the resistors or capcitors that I have cut off after soldering the components on a board. Learned that from my pops. He has a little box full of cut-offs for use as bridges. If you need something thicker to carry more current, then the legs from the 30Ohm ceramic resistors are pretty good.

A small piece of hookup wire with the ends of the sheath removed can also be used, but the sheath usually ends up melting when you solder it on.