DIP Op-Amp Sockets

[Richard Crowley]

The "TE" sockets are stamped metal. The Mill-Max sockets are "screw-machine" pins.

Screw machine pins are generally regarded as more secure, rugged, and reliable. They have a higher insertion force, but they generally hang on much better.

Gold plating is not necessarily a good thing depending on what kind of surface the IC pins have. You don't really believe that the "TE" pins are solid gold, do you? They are a very thin plating of gold over (likely) Beryllium Copper just like the Mill-Max. You can tell just by the number of "specs" that Mill-Max are more serious about disclosing all the facts.

[tINY]

20-PIN HI-REL SNAPPABLE SIP SOCKET | AllElectronics.com

I always liked this style (they come in long strips too). That way I can socketize 8-pin, 14-pin - narrow/wide with one item to stock.



-tINY

[Psychlist1972]

If you think you might ever remove the chip, use the machined sockets. They wear better, don't bend the pins, don't fatigue as much etc. I've slowly stopped using the stamped sockets.

If you need 8 pin sockets, these are a great deal (last on page) DIP Sockets - Sockets - Connectors & Sockets

I've used a bunch of them in my modules; they work well.

Pete

[mexicola]

Use these. Period. Don't look back.

Dip8
http://www.digikey.com/product-searc...rds=ed60000-nd

Dip14
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea...=0&y=0&cur=USD

[Psychlist1972]

Originally Posted by mexicola

Use these. Period. Don't look back.

Dip8
210-93-308-41-001000 Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp. | ED60000-ND | DigiKey

Those are 10x the cost of the ones I posted

Pete

[mexicola]

Originally Posted by Psychlist1972

Those are 10x the cost of the ones I posted

Pete

I used the ones you posted one time a long time ago, and never again. They're awful, the quality was not up to my standards. They reek of cheapness. The pins can bend. The contacts aren't gold plated, so they can oxidize over time. And they hold the opamps in place by the tension of bent metal tabs. If those tabs eventually get worn and lose their tension, they won't hold the opamp in place. I would never use these cheapo sockets in the gear I build.
None of these things are problems with the millmax sockets. If you want a quality component, it's worth the extra few dimes.

[Psychlist1972]

Originally Posted by mexicola

I used the ones you posted one time a long time ago, and never again. They're awful, the quality was not up to my standards. They reek of cheapness. The pins can bend. The contacts aren't gold plated, so they can oxidize over time. And they hold the opamps in place by the tension of bent metal tabs. If those tabs eventually get worn and lose their tension, they won't hold the opamp in place. I would never use these cheapo sockets in the gear I build.
None of these things are problems with the millmax sockets. If you want a quality component, it's worth the extra few dimes.

Sorry, I see the link I posted ended up at the category and not the actual socket. This is the one I use, which is 1/10 the price of the ones from your post.

8 Pin Machine Tooled IC Socket

I agree that the other stamped sockets are horrible.

As far as gold plating, I don't think that's necessary in an IC socket, but we can disagree.

Pete

[drtechno]

I recommend machine contact sockets as these 'grasps' the ic pin and provides mechanical stability as well as a low impedance connection. ( like the mil-max ones)


leaf-spring type (te connectivity) is a cheap alternative, but they do have a tendency to degrade. and they don't lock the chip in place.

gold pins don't mean much here. the electrons don't care.

[Psychlist1972]

Originally Posted by drtechno

I recommend machine contact sockets as these 'grasps' the ic pin and provides mechanical stability as well as a low impedance connection. ( like the mil-max ones)


leaf-spring type (te connectivity) is a cheap alternative, but they do have a tendency to degrade. and they don't lock the chip in place.

gold pins don't mean much here. the electrons don't care.

Yep. The ones I posted are machined pins, but not gold plated.

One thing I've seen happen with the spring leaf sockets in the past is the socket pins pull out, or they bugger up the IC pin. If you remove more than a few times, they get loose. I totally agree that they are not worth it.

The only downside: the machine pin sockets have a lot more thermal mass, so getting a good solder joint that actually bridges both sides of the board usually requires more effort. If you solder them like you would the leaf ones, you're probably not getting as good a joint as you think.

Pete