SMT
A problem with SMT footprints is their sheer variety. We combined SOIC and SOT-23 footprints into one and dropped four multi-package SMT prototyping areas on the board, two on each side. Together they allow you to mount up to 20 3-pin SOT-23 parts (or ten 6-pin), or eight SOIC-8s, or four SOIC-14s or -16s and even two SOIC-20s. Two-terminal packages like 0603, 0805 or 1206 fit here too. The SMT areas are on top of each other for creating very compact circuits.

Cutting corners
With safety and ergonomics in mind the ELPB-NG has rounded corners. Every ‘corner’ has a 3.2-mm (0.126”) diameter hole allowing the board to be fixed easily to a supporting surface.

Elektor.Labs Smart-Grid™ technology
No more stripping small bits of thin (enamelled) wire or drawing traces with solder thanks to Elektor.Labs Smart- Grid™ technology (patent pending). Most of the wires you need are available at the bottom side of the PCB! The thin traces can be cut to length easily and together with the top side columns they form a wiring matrix.

Holy holes
A prototyping board without holes is not very practical. This is why each ELPB-NG is carefully perforated 620 times. With 548 0.9-mm (0.0354”) holes plus 58 1-mm (0.0394”) holes there’s great freedom to mount components. The remaining holes of various diameters serve connectors.