Hi everyone!
I've got a bit of a quandary going on. I'm working on a project to log some environmental data on our roof (insolation, tempareature, etc.) I've got most of the project spec'd out, and have figured that I can run for a good period of time off of a couple of supercaps connected to a solar panel, since most of the time, the logger will sit in an ultra lower-power mode. However, I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep the caps charged up.
I've been poking around on the internet and found the LTC3625, along with a project designed for pretty much what I want: LTC3625 Datasheet and Product Info | Analog Devices
However, the chip only comes in a 12-lead 3mm × 4mm DFN Package. I don't have even remotely any capabilities of handing a chip like that.
So, I guess I've got two questions:
1.) Does anyone know of a 12DFN socket that'll make the thing through-hole? I haven't been able to find anything on my Googling and Binging...
or
2.) Does anyone know how I could get one of the chips stuck onto a breakout board, without breaking the bank?
I can pick the chips up from Digikey for under $5 apiece, so this should be a rather inexpensive project, assuming I can figure out how to use the silly things in a format that I'm physically capable of working with 
I know that I could do something like this :: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/SchmartBoard/204-0028-01/ , but I still don't have the tools to actually mount the chip to one of those things. Unless someone has pointers for how that would be possible??
-OR-
Is there another product/circuit that would work just as well for what I'm needing (taking a small solar panel and using it to keep a couple of 12F caps charged from solar, ideally with MPPT?
Thanks in advance!
