Adding a ZIF socket on the EasyPic7

[The_PinkFloyd_67]

The most annoying thing about the EasyPic 7 is the lack of a ZIF socket. I purchased a few of these and decided to plug it into the 40 pin DIP socket. Even though I have a vacuum powered solder station, I did not want to risk damage to the multi-layer PCB, so I carefully twisted every pin on the ZIF socket 90 degrees, so that it would easily plug into the DIP socket. I am attaching 3 pictures, the first 2 show the ZIF on my EasyPic7, the last one shows the actual pins on the ZIF socket, so you can see why twisting them is necessary.

[DigitalDunc]

Neat and simple. I like it!

I put a cheap Chinese ZIF socket onto a ZX81 years ago so that I could sort out a huge bag of Z80's I'd accumulated over the years. Only thing was that I had a couple of poor connections making it temperamental.

How's the EasyPic7 besides that lack of ZIF socket BTW?

[jayanthd]

It is good if mE provides ZIF sockets instead of non Machine Tooled Sockets in future..

[lejeff]

Good ZIF sockets are expensive
So the price will increase
I don't think that Me provide a development board equiped with poor components
Is it really necessary for most of Me development boards users

[DigitalDunc]

Whilst a ZIF socket is not an essential it is a nicety for most people. I suppose they could offer it as an option.

Do they want to stock another variant that'll be significantly more expensive and do nothing more... I wouldn't hold your breath. I would just do what's in the picture. Don't desolder the existing socket because there lays the path to trouble esp. as you may not be able to get all the pins out without ripping out any hole plating, gouging the existing socket to bits etc. Thats to say nothing of the warranty.

Personally I nearly always build my own boards anyway. Attached are pictures of the one I've very quick and dirtily made to teach myself to use SD cards. Build quality is nowhere as good as MikroE's boards but satisfaction is much higher.

Code == Ham, Electronics == Eggs. Therefore we have ham and eggs, a very good combination.

[st5]

I use the same cheap green ZIF socket.

I took a normal black 40 pin DIP socket, widened the openings with a screwdriver till the chinese ZIF fitted in it, then put the combined both in the EasyPIC socket.