DIP-8 IC Sockets In Need!

There was a  time for an electronic hobbyist like me forgot to order DIP-8 IC Sockets when I ordered some of these 8-pin ICs, for examples,  DS1307 - Real Time Clock, LM555 - Timer IC, LM386N or TDA7052 Audio Amp IC, ..., etc., to be used in the project. 

I did not want to order only a $0.69 IC Socket or I did not want to wait around for another three or four days. Or I did not want to drive around try to find it (or may be not), at the local electronic supply store. And I did not want to solder the IC to the PCB directly, or permanently, since some of the IC would melt on the inside.

Here's what I did to make the 'DIP-8 IC Sockets In Need!'

Find more number of pins DIP IC socket in your component chest, or box, or wherever you store your components, or even the one that already soldered on the PCB. (Here I used DIP-18 that I had long, long time ago, when I had to order in a package of 10).

Then I pushed the middle pins on each side (pin # 5 and 14)  out using the needle nose pliers.

And I cut it in half using small pull saw.

Here we go! I got two DIP-8 IC sockets that I need!

Whenever I used the 'emergency' DIP-8 socket I made, I would place the cut side as indicator of pin #1 and #8 similar to the notch on the ordinary DIP-8 IC socket.

Comments

[ancienthart]

I tend to keep a batch of these around instead.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PI6470

Just break two strips off to the number of pins you need, put them onto your component and place through circuit board.
Then solder the two end pins of both strips, (four pins in total) remove component (to avoid overheating during soldering) and solder the rest of the pins in place.

[sath02]

Hi ancienthart,

Thanks for the Very Good tip! I'll keep this in mind.

You should submit yours to Instructibles' Electronic Tips & Tricks Contest too.

[pfred2]

I've seen the strips I went with just pins. Not that I use IC sockets very much. I find ICs to be generally more durable than sockets in use.

I worked at a place that had a console device and when it broke tech support on the phone told us to pick it up, then drop it. The board inside it had all socketed ICs and the ICs would walk right out of the sockets. Picking the unit up, then dropping it reseated the ICs. It worked too, dropping the unit invariably fixed it.

IC sockets are that bad. I have to have a really good reason to use a socket in a project I make. Then I usually use a machine turned turret socket. The rolled spring clip sockets are garbage. Chips are so cheap when I am making a board I just solder the little buggers right down to it.

If a chip ever goes on you the trick is to cut all its little legs, then pull each leg out individually as you desolder them. Who needs sockets? You do need really nice little cutters to do that though. I have a pair of Plato flush cutters that can get in there and do it.

P.S. the bad console with the walking ICs was probably the printed circuit board itself, it was likely too thin, or took on moisture that lead to the board warping. In any event if the ICs had been soldered directly to the board it'd have been better off. Sockets still fail more than ICs do.

[pfred2]

I've used your pull a pin trick to cut in line female connectors too. Sometimes sanding the cut end can dress that side up. I use a piece of wet or dry sandpaper on a flat surface, then rub the part on it. Usually I won't saw the plastic, I'll just use diagonal cutters. The slot I pull the pin out of is a write off for me.