Adding Sockets When Replacing IC's

joneddy

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I was wondering if you guys put sockets on when you need to replace an IC that is soldered to the board? I have seen on a few members pages that they do add them but I have also seen other repair pages that don't. What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Jon
 
Depends on the part. Sockets are good when you need to remove the part (i.e. ROMs) or when the part is likely to fail (either due to a known design issue or it being an interface part (where external "forces" can damage it). The problem with sockets is that they are connectors... and the most trouble-prone part of almost any system is the bloody connectors!

my .02
/Tim
 
Depends on the part. Sockets are good when you need to remove the part (i.e. ROMs) or when the part is likely to fail (either due to a known design issue or it being an interface part (where external "forces" can damage it). The problem with sockets is that they are connectors... and the most trouble-prone part of almost any system is the bloody connectors!

my .02
/Tim

+1. TTL gates, buffers, etc. are usually good for another 10-20 years. I only socket RAMs, ROMs, CPUs, customs, or if there is already a socket on the board. Personally I stay away from machine-pin sockets because they are a PITA to rework.
 
What are machine-pin sockets?

see http://www.mouser.com/catalog/catalogUSD/642/1544.pdf

Machine pin sockets are a type of socket where the socket (that the leg of the part goes into) are machined from a piece of metal. This is vs say a single or dual wipe socket where a bent piece of metal presses against the leg of the part to make contact using the spring force (from being bent).
Machine pin sockets are considered by some to make a superior connection (tighter tolerances?). Dual wipe sockets are more than likely good enough fro home use arcade games and are cheaper and, as bit_slicer points out, a bit more forgiving to work with.

cheers
/Tim
 
I always use a socket. I figure if the chip died once, it may die again, and desoldering the same chip a second time usually costs me a pad or two.
 
I was wondering if you guys put sockets on when you need to replace an IC that is soldered to the board? I have seen on a few members pages that they do add them but I have also seen other repair pages that don't. What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Jon

Always... and I always use good quality dual-wipe sockets...

Machine pin sockets are relatively easy to damage, and are MUCH harder to remove from the board if you ever need to than dual wipes....

...and NEVER solder machine pin sockets on both sides of the board... they'll just ensure they can never be removed.
 
Always. I usually use machined sockets. Over the years they have been more reliable than either single or dual wipes.

ken
 
I always socket. I use whatever is available (usually wipe sockets) but will use machine pin at times if I think I may have to use a wire wrap tool on the bottom of the pins to replace severely corroded traces. In these cases there are generally no pads left to lift....
 
I always socket a replacement IC. The whole idea is to preserve the PCB traces. If you ever have to replace the IC again (and it happens), it is a simple mater to change it. With no socket, the next time you go to replace the IC the chances of PCB traces lifting or being damaged increases. The only reasons that I can see for not doing this is if the Z height is an issue or if the circuit is so sensitive that the added capacitance, etc. of the socket will affect the circuit. So far for me this has never been the case.

Machined vs. dual wipe? That's a religion vs. politics issue. I've not worn out a replacement socket as it typically does not see a repeated insertion/removal scenario. The replacement chips get plugged in and left that way for the next 10 or more years. If you are repeatedly inserting and removing the IC, then use a ZIF (zero insertion force) socket instead.

Machined sockets can be harder to remove - the pins are not flexible like the dual wipes.

Personally I prefer the dual wipes as I am always looking at the future and if I have to remove the socket how difficult it might be. That said, I have no qualm with machined sockets as long as you are not repeatedly removing and inserting a device. Last thing to consider is if you will be using a high score save kit or other add-in board. Generally on the ones I've seen, they use the square header pins and they will not fit in a machined socket. A standard dual wipe will accommodate the square header pins with no problem.
 
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