IC socket won't hold in breadboard

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Hello,

I have a 14-pin DIP socket I want to insert in a breadboard but it doesn't stay in place. It jumps almost immediately after being insterted (even if the IC is in place).

Is there any trick to avoid this ?

Thank you in advance.

2

Is there any trick to avoid this ?

  • glue? :wink:
  • bending the pins - put one half in at the side of the breadboard to bend one row simultaneously
    ...
3

Is there any trick to avoid this

Yes don't use bread board they are rubbish.

Another trick is to get wire wrap sockets, these have longer pins.

4

...why are you trying to use a socket on a breadboard? The entire breadboard IS a socket!

1 Like
5

Some IC sockets have pins too short for breadboards - as mentioned there is no need to use a socket in a breadboard if is a standard DIP one. IC pins are long enough (just!).

6

Some IC's pins are very fragile. They bend easily and may break if you try to plug them into a breadboard.

7

But that applies equally well to a socket does it not?

8

Yes, but sockets are often (not always) less expensive than IC's.

9

No wrong way round,
if an IC's pin is too delicate to put in a bread board, it is surely too delicate to put into a socket.

10

if an IC's pin is too delicate to put in a bread board, it is surely too delicate to put into a socket.

I agree with this... This is why BoB's or Break Out Boards are popular. Maybe you can find one for your IC and use that.

11

Ok, I'll take your word for it :slight_smile:

12

Maybe try a zif (zero insertion force) socket. They have longer pins but are also pain to press into a breadboard. They should take care of fragile IC pin problems.

The last picture has a red/orange zif socket on an arduino:

13

Hello,

Thank you for all the advice.

ZIF seems to be nice but a bit costly too. Any advice where to buy them at good price in Europe ?

I think I shall otherwise find a breakout board but is there any made for standard 14-pin DIP like mine ?

One additional question :

I have already inserted the IC in the socket. Is it easy to remove it securely ?

14

Is it easy to remove it securely ?

I think you mean safely.

The major problem is that you tend to leaver from one end and that leaves the pins bent at the other. You need to ease the chip out a little at a time with a very small screwdriver swapping ends.

Alternately you can get IC extractor tools:-
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts-kws/ic-extractor

15

I just figured out that I could build a breakout board easily myself as it's not an SMD chip !

Thanks everyone.