Post by thread:ZIF Sockets and PICProto boards.

All I recently ordered PICProto-18, PICProto-Dual, and PICProto-64 from Micro Engineering. I was disappointed that the board layout of all three does not lend itself to installing ZIF sockets. I'm currently using Aries 28 and 40 pin sockets and AMP (Textool) 18 pin. Here's what I've found: PICProto-18 and AMP 18 pin ZIF: Forget it. The socket covers the regulator, both power caps, and crouds the header pins. It would have been nice if provisions were made for a pull-up resistor for RTCC. A traces for brown out protection is probably asking too much since the board is so small, but a pull-up for this would have been nice. PICProto-Dual, AMP 18, and Aries 28: You cannot mount both sockets at the same time. Individually the following happens: AMP 18 covers cap C6, Aries 28 covers resistor R1. This can be worked around, but it is annoying. Either ZIF socket crouds it's header pins making connection to a ribbon cable impossible PICProto-64 and Aries 40: when ZIF is mounted correctly it covers the regulator REG1, cap C4, and resistor R2. Mounted backwards it still covers R2 and partially obscures C4. If you don't intend to use these ZIF sockets the boards are great. I will probably buy more in the future. If there are smaller sockets (w/lever is a big plus) that someone has used sucessfully with these boards I'd love to hear about it. Michael J. Schreck

I recently ordered PICProto-18, PICProto-Dual, and PICProto-64 from Micro Engineering. I was disappointed that the board layout of all three does not lend itself to installing ZIF sockets. I'm currently using Aries 28 and 40 pin sockets and AMP (Textool) 18 pin. You could try the multi-socket hack used for debugging large chips (I think this was invented for dealing with the 68000 64-pin .9inch DIP.) You pile up sockets in each other until it's high enough off the board to attach the ZIF socket. It could also be done with WW socket: *BIG BAD** **ZIFSOCK* | | C WWSK O | | R MP | | R -------Board---- BillW

You could try the multi-socket hack used for debugging large chips (I think this was invented for dealing with the 68000 64-pin .9inch DIP.) You pile up sockets in each other until it's high enough off the board to attach the ZIF socket. It could also be done with WW socket: *BIG BAD** **ZIFSOCK* | | C WWSK O | | R MP | | R -------Board---- BillW

> I recently ordered PICProto-18, PICProto-Dual, and PICProto-64 > from Micro Engineering. I was disappointed that the board layout > of all three does not lend itself to installing ZIF sockets. I'm > currently using Aries 28 and 40 pin sockets and AMP (Textool) 18 pin. I know I have posted similar articles before and I agree with the machine pin 'stack' to get up above offensive components, but to add to the info on ZIF use, you can convert any DIP socket into a ZIF very easily. The Aries type will plug straight into a machine pin socket. This will then plug into any target socket. No soldering, no drama. The TEXTOOL (Green) ZIF has larger pins. This can be inserted into most 'single wipe' el-cheapo sockets, which will in turn plug into a machine pin socket. Again, no soldering. When you have finished with the target board, you remove the ZIF socket assembly. Best if you solder good quality machine pin sockets to the CPU position of your proto boards. I make mention of these types of hardware tips on my Promo Disk. I use lots of sacrifical machine pin sockets for my 'VIP Chips' so that when the pins finally let go, it's only an add on socket that I lose, not my 'VIP Chip' pin. Great for Emulator pods etc. Don... Low Cost DIY PCB's for PICs & COM1/LPT1 PC I/O Interface Kits ;! Don McKenzie. 29 Ellesmere Cres., Tullamarine. 3043 Australia ;@ Tel +61 3 9338 6286 Mobile +61 19 939 799 spam_OUTdonmckTakeThisOuTtbsa.com.au ;# Check My Promo Disk at http://rasi.lr.ttu.ee/~sis/mirror/don/ ;$ Type: 'finger .....donmckKILLspam@spam@tbsa.com.au|more' for more information.