Reseating chips

From: Bob Shannon <bshannon_at_tiac.net>
Date: Thu Aug 22 14:03:00 2002

This problem is common with lower-quality IC sockets.

Sockets that do not use the fancy machined-pin contacts have a upwards
spring-force against each pin.
Add thermal cycles, and the chips will start creeping out of the socket.

Part of the problem is mechanical creep, but oxidation is also a factor,
as the sockets that exhibit this
problem are tin-plae phosphor-bronze. Gold-clad sockets don't generally
fail this way, and the round
pin (Augat style) socket pins basically never fail.

Bob Lafleur wrote:

>How many of you remember the problem of chips coming unseated in older
>computers (like the PET) and having to push all the chips down as the
>equipment ages?
>
>I've now got this problem with my Kurzweil MIDIBOARD (a 6502-based MIDI
>keyboard controller). A few months ago I had to open it and reseat all
>the chips. Now I have to do it again.
>
>Does anyone know any tricks to keep this problem from occuring? I fear
>I'm going to have to do this a lot now, especially with the vibrations
>of playing the keys.
>
>Thanks for any tips.
>
> - Bob
>
>
Received on Thu Aug 22 2002 - 14:03:00 BST