How to solder small IC's for prototyping?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

Hi all,
is there a PCB i can buy that just takes a small IC and expands the ports out to bigger and easier to solder blobs?
The company that sent me the IC didnt say it was of the smaller form factor. And im going to struggle to solder on to it.
The chip is the http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1542235

Is there a PCB i can solder it on to and use that to connect my wires too?
thanks for any help. Sorry i dont know the name for that size of IC etc.
Thanks again for any help

2

You need a "breakout" board, they are available from several suppliers. I make my own.

3

The company that sent me the IC didnt say it was of the smaller form factor.

Assuming you ordered using the Farnell link you provided, the package style is clearly indicated. The datasheet also indicates the 4 packages it is available in, which are all small form factor.

From Farnell: "Package / Case:SO" (in which case you are still missing the number of pins.)

From the ST-Micro datasheet, SO-24.

So you need a breakout board for a SO-24.

4

www.schmartboard.com has the kind of breakout board you are looking. Nice video on how to use it also.
http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=products_so&id=54

Another option is SOIC to DIP adapter: http://www.logicalsys.com/
if you want a smaller form factor, like a DIP package size.

Get some solderflux also.

5

Wait a minute - isn't the breakout adapter you need listed as an accessory right on the same page you linked in?

6

The company that sent me the IC didnt say it was of the smaller form factor. And im going to struggle to solder on to it.

You really should look at the datasheet more carefully next time and see what the "Package / Case:SO" on the product page really means. Lucky you didn't get a BGA or something harder.

You can adapt your chip into a DIP package by using an adapter like the ones other posters mentioned. Only, the breakout board on the accessories page is twice the value of the chip, and the SchmartBoard is twice as expensive as that one. You can probably get them cheaper on eBay or something. It'll take longer, though, since it ships from outside the UK. (If you can, get some TSSOP, QFN, and QFP adapters while you're at it. Better to have them on hand than get a new part and wait 2 weeks to use it)