Circuit Board Jumpers
What Is A PCB Jumper?
A PCB jumper allows an operator to close, open or bypass a connection on a circuit board. They allow for current to be bridged over or around tracing on a PCB, allowing you to replace obsolete components on the go, without the need to redesign a circuit board after it has gone into production.
Circuit board jumpers present you with a quick and easy way for replacing unneeded circuits and can be mounted onto your PCB by normal soldering applications.
Why Would You Need To Use A PCB Jumper?
Correcting Defects – When the PCB has already exited the design or assembly stage, and a defect is found, redesigning an alternative PCB layout can lengthen the development time significantly. Jumpers can be used here to reroute the connection and work as a quick fix, providing a more economical solution.
Inclusion As A Circuit Component – Jumpers can be included during the assembly of a PCB, and is then considered to be a circuit component.
Types Of PCB Jumpers Available
Jumpers can be available in a wide array and assortment of standard pin outs for devices, which includes SOD, SOT, TSSOP, SOIC, QFN, QFP and BGA.
We are able to provide custom configurations. All our PCB jumpers mount like any other component and are SMT solderable.
On the whole, jumpers fall into one of three main categories:
- Jumpers considered to be a component, making up part of the original design of the PCB.
- Jumpers added after the original design, usually added as a modification. These usually involve routing, terminating the connection.
- Jumpers that are added to correct a defect on the PCB after production
Considerations When Using Jumpers On Your PCBs
When relying on a jumper for a PCB, there are a few general –
- Insulated Jumpers - All jumpers on the PCB should be insulated to prevent shorting of the circuit. All Topline jumpers are manufactured to be electrically isolated (ISO) and non-conductive (insulated). This allows for them to safely plug a spot on a PCB or other special application.
- Isolated Components – You can acquire non-conductive PCB jumpers that are without internal connections. These can be used as dummy space fillers. These space fillers will not short out the circuit, or alter its current flow. Instead they can be used to cover an empty pad on your PCB design.
- Avoid Solder Bridge Jumpers On High Voltage Lines – For the safety and reliability of your application, you should use a rugged switch or relay rated for the voltage and power in your board.