To socket or not to socket

[bit_slicer]

So basically, what it boils down to is....socket the chip if you want. But either way someone on here will think you are either smart or stupid no matter what you do.

Don't take it personally. It's just of those Ford vs. Chevy arguments, like the sense mod, that you could argue about for hours (not that I would). You just happened to re-light the fuse.

So do whatever the hell you want.

 

[ELutz]

like the sense mod,

Oh man, you don't know how close I was to posting this same thing

Edward

 

[jehuie]

Don't take it personally. It's just of those Ford vs. Chevy arguments, like the sense mod, that you could argue about for hours (not that I would). You just happened to re-light the fuse.

So do whatever the @#!*% you want.

Oh don't worry. I'm not that sensitive! I know I suck at electronics but I still enjoy it.

 

[G-P-E]

It's just of those Ford vs. Chevy arguments...
So do whatever the hell you want.

I almost put this in my comment as well. In fact, I was waiting for this conversation to boil down to a leaf versus machine pin socket issue.

FORD!!!
... no wait, they screwed my wife on her headgasket eating windstar.
CHEVY!!!
... um, no.... headgasket eating as well.
Yugo?

 

[ELutz]

I almost put this in my comment as well. In fact, I was waiting for this conversation to boil down to a leaf versus machine pin socket issue.

FORD!!!
... no wait, they screwed my wife on her headgasket eating windstar.
CHEVY!!!
... um, no.... headgasket eating as well.
Yugo?

Bleah!!!! Honda, all the way. Too bad they can't make a real pick-up.

Edward

 

[Alpha-tron]

I like machine pin sockets personally.
I don't see popup issues with using machine pin sockets consideing everything I have repaired in my pass.
But I have noticed that since the socket grips the legs of the IC very well. If you have a brittle chip you might loose a leg when you try to pry it out.

If your board is prone to delamination and your pads tend to lift making sure the solder flows from the top to bottom is important. Installing a wipe design socket might hide issues with pads lifitng and cause you issues down the road.

 

[flex]

where is the best place to order these machine pin ic sockets?

 

[Riptor]

FORD!!!
... no wait, they screwed my wife on her headgasket eating windstar.
CHEVY!!!
... um, no.... headgasket eating as well.
Yugo?

Neither is the correct, the answer is Mopar.

 

[Shavenyak]

Quality of the sockets is the key issue. Using single leaf sockets is always asking for trouble. Some people only use twin leaf sockets...which is usually ok. I always use machine pin sockets and socket every IC I work on.

Ed

Anyone have pics of these? I've never given thought to socket types but I'd want to get the good ones.

One reason to socket that no one has mentioned is that by doing so, you're protecting the chip from getting too hot during the soldering process.

 

[RetroHacker]

Anyone have pics of these? I've never given thought to socket types but I'd want to get the good ones.

I don't have pictures, but here's how to tell by looking at them:

Single wipe sockets - only have contact pins on one side of the holes the pins go into. These rely on simply pressing against one side of the chip pin, and therefore are unreliable, especially as the metal pins get dirty or worn.

Dual wipe sockets - these have contacts on both sides, grabbing both the front and the back of the pin. Much more reliable.

Machine pin sockets - these are little, individual solid round pins held together with a plastic frame. They do not rely on the plastic housing to hold the contacts in place and against the pin of the chip. The holes the chip pins go into are round. They tend to be tighter fitting, which makes them better in some ways - but since chip pins are square, they really only contact the corners of the pins. Much harder to insert slightly bent chips into. More expensive. Usually very high quality.

Personally, I use good quality dual wipe sockets for just about everything. But, again, it comes down to preference. Some people swear by machine pin, others hate them. One reason people tend to dislike machine pin sockets is that many people damage the board when they install them, especially people that try to top solder them. Used properly, machine pin sockets are superb. But in other cases, they cause problems.

It comes down to - use whatever you like best... except single wipe sockets. I don't even think they make single wipe sockets anymore - or rather, I hope they don't...

-Ian

 

[delayed]

Where is the place to get 40 pin or 28 wide pin machine sockets for $0.10?

 

[RetroHacker]

Where is the place to get 40 pin or 28 wide pin machine sockets for $0.10?

Your dreams?

But seriously, machine pin sockets cost a fair bit more than that, especially large ones. Futurlec has 40 pin machined sockets for about a buck each, and the 28 pin ones for 75 cents.

Normal dual wipe sockets are much cheaper, in the 12/15 cent range.

-Ian

 

[Witchboard]

Anyone have pics of these? I've never given thought to socket types but I'd want to get the good ones.

Sorry for the big pic on the single wipe, but it comes in handy so you can see why they suck.

Single Wipe

Dual Wipe

Machine Pin

 

[Shavenyak]

Sorry for the big pic on the single wipe, but it comes in handy so you can see why they suck.

Single Wipe

Dual Wipe

Machine Pin

Good info! Thanks!

 

[delayed]

I was going off post #11 for the question.

Your dreams?

But seriously, machine pin sockets cost a fair bit more than that, especially large ones. Futurlec has 40 pin machined sockets for about a buck each, and the 28 pin ones for 75 cents.

Normal dual wipe sockets are much cheaper, in the 12/15 cent range.

-Ian

 

[mattosborn]

I was going off post #11 for the question.

Hey, post #11 is mine....
I said that I can buy most machine-pin sockets for a dime. You (most likely) can not.
Large ones, like 32 or 40-pin, usually cost me $0.25 each. And gold-plated are ~2x that. I buy from a local surplus electronics dealer, so I don't pay for shipping either.