MOTM

On Thu, 21 Mar 2002, George Kisslak wrote:

> Question for those of you who have built motmized-blacet kits: would you
> recommend using or not using the supplied IC sockets?

  Recommendation of socketing is a complicated issue.  For my own part, if 
it is an analog (op-amp, OTA, analog switch) circuit, I omit sockets 
entirely unless it is some $150 Burr-Brown part.  Digital circuits tend to 
get sockets on the CPU, RAM, ROM and programmable logic devices.  When 
replacing parts, I tend to place a gold-plated turned-pin socket where the 
old part was so as to make future repairs much quicker.

  I do not care for leaf-spring sockets.  I've had a few fail on me such 
that a pin was in the socket, but not contacting the spring.  
Double-leaved are better, but nothing beats machined pins with circular 
spring sleeves (lower capacitance, too).

  I suppose it mainly depends on how comfortable one is with building 
stuff without sockets.  On a Prophet-5 voice board I once ranted about 
their using sockets for the CA3280 (OTAs).  Now I am happy they did: I 
replaced all of the 3280s in 5 minutes instead of 5 hours.

  YMMV,

Crow
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