Introduction: ICSP Pogo Pin Programming Adaptor

This is an edited version of a blog entry dated 25/06/2014 on my website - www.ProjectAVR.com

Driven by my frustration at not being able to find a reasonably cheap supply of 2x3pin shrouded header sockets, I have knocked up an adaptor to avoid using them altogether. This is not a new idea and I’ve seen a few variations online before. However, I wanted to make one with the materials I had available. I don’t like stripboard much but I have a supply of it to use up so I decided that was the way to go. The theory of making it is quite easy, the practice is something else. I believe this is the most fiddly project I’ve ever undertaken.

The design I came up with requires two pieces of stripboard, each with 12×7 holes available. On the top layer goes (from left to right) a 6-pin male header with all the pins pressed down as far as they will go. A shrouded 6-pin header socket. Three short hook up wires and six 1.36mm Pogo Pins (I sourced these from eBay)

Step 1: Stabilising Header

To prepare the header, use a pair of pliers to press down the black plastic against a firm surface. I used my workbench.

Step 2: Prepare the Stripboard

Next, make the relevant cuts in the stripboard. Remember to make a track cut between each of the pins of the shrouded socket (not shown in illustration). Three sets of cuts in total on the top layer and one set on the bottom layer between the Pogo Pin positions. Also be aware that my initial illustration is looking from above.

You will then need to drill out the six Pogo Pin holes to 1.36mm, the circumference of the Pogo Pins. The standard strip board holes aren’t large enough. I used a small Dremel-like drill in a small drill press to accomplish this. The holes need to be absolutely vertical otherwise it will cause registration issues later on with the pins. Finding it very difficult to measure the drill bits I have, I did a few test holes on a gaff piece of stripboard to ascertain the correct bit for the job.

Once you have done these steps, you can proceed with the assembly. Brace yourself, it’s a fiddly process! Not kidding.

Step 3: Soldering the Pins

Solder the 6-pin spacing header, the one you pressed the plastic down on. Then solder the shrouded header socket. Now the fun begins; Because the Pogo Pins will only go through the enlarged holes one way, you need to feed both boards onto them over the back of the pins. But you still have to leave enough room for soldering the top layer. I managed to get the bottom layer to stay above the copper coloured part of the Pogo Pins to give me enough room…eventually. I set the inverted board down on a level surface and used the shrouded header socket as a stand. All the Pogo Pins should align at roughly the same level. This is important so don’t rush it. You may need to encourage one or two of the pins to get them all aligned equally.

Very carefully solder the Pogo Pins taking care not to bridge across either your track cuts or between the tracks themselves (I managed to do both!). It’s worth mentioning I used the thinnest soldering iron bit I could find.

Once you have successfully soldered the pins, you need to solder three small hook-up wires between the shrouded header connections and the front most Pogo Pins. The first diagram indicates these. By the way, can you spot the obvious mistake in the above image? Answer later on…

Step 4: Getting It Together

Once you have got this far, you can feed the bottom board down the Pogo Pins and align it with the back pins on the header. The header helps to align the two pieces of stripboard correctly. Be careful not to stress the Pogo Pins at this stage. Again, take your time. Once you have fed the board down, you can solder both the header pins and the Pogo Pins.

Step 5: Finishing Up

Hopefully your adaptor will now look like this without the rather obvious drilling between the hook up wires and the Pogo Pins. This was the mistake I alluded to earlier. I’d forgotten one of the track cuts. After assembly, the only way I could break the connections was to drill them out. A lesson learned!

Step 6: In Use

After all the trials of making it, the adaptor works well and it will save me a bundle in 6-pin shrouded header sockets. I just don’t want to have to build another!

This is my first instructable - I hope you have enjoyed it and have a go at building an ICSP Pogo Pin Programming Adaptor. Find more AVR fun on my website - www.ProjectAVR.com