I'm looking at prototyping a project on a breadboard but have come across a slight problem. One of the chips I'm looking to use has 12 side connections then 1 central pad underneath that is the ground. I can't find any breakout boards that accommodate this and am wondering what solutions there may be.

My first thought is to try and flatten the end of a wire and solder it to the pad on the chip, before then going on to solder the other 12 connections to the breakout board. I can then just connect up this wire to a ground on the breadboard.

Does this sound like an acceptable solution or does anyone have any better suggestions?

 

The pad should be soldered to the PCB.
It is needed so the IC can transfer heat on the copper clads just like a transistor mounted on a heatsink
Without soldering the pads the IC will overheat

 

The pad should be soldered to the PCB.
It is needed so the IC can transfer heat on the copper clads just like a transistor mounted on a heatsink
Without soldering the pads the IC will overheat

So does it need to be a true ground or is it purely for heat?

 

So does it need to be a true ground or is it purely for heat?

Before I start up my ESP generator to determine a speciation of an unspecied part... why don't you just simply read the data sheet for your device by yourself?

 

Before I start up my ESP generator to determine a speciation of an unspecied part... why don't you just simply read the data sheet for your device by yourself?

I have, and as far as I can understand it's the ground connection and needs to be wired in, the previous reply made me question that, in much the same way as when someone says "did you lock the door".

It's the LT3652 I'm looking at.

If it does have to be wired to ground, as in my initial question, do you know of good ways of doing this on standard breakout boards that don't have that connection?

 

Drill a small hole through the board in the middle of the footprint and make a solder connection from the underside of the board.

 

Drill a small hole through the board in the middle of the footprint and make a solder connection from the underside of the board.

Brilliant idea, thanks. Seems obvious now =)

PCBs aren't something I'm used to dealing with. Everything before has just gone straight onto breadboards.

 

I did not check the physical dimensions beyond counting pins but you can get DFN12 adaptors that also connect toe exposed pad.

I doubt these do much for thermal relief, but they are still useful.

From EBay (one example)

 

This http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3100088 might work for you. If digikey carries the part, they can order it and solder it for you.