Socketing diodes

I

Itsmedant

Member
I wanted to socket my diodes in this bellum fuzz I’m building but I’ve never done sockets for anything smaller than a transistor. When I was trying to break off a single one the plastic came off. Do you all think it’s fine using the socket without the plastic?
IMG_4832.jpeg
 
Depending on the sockets, you can also say, break off 4 pins, and then you can push the middle pins out with some pliars.
Or you realise you'll never really get around to testing different diodes, and just solder them in place 😅
 
If you’re using pliers to break em off I’d use little snips instead - makes a huge difference.

Also- keep in mind, most/all sockets are way less grabby once you’ve auditioned just a few components in them. That’s solved by soldering the top once you’ve chosen a part, but something to be aware of.

if you’re not breadboarding first I recommend at least running jumpers from the diode pads to a little breadboard where you can run through as many parts as you like without stressing out the sockets! :)
 
Google fails me (of course), but at some stores you can actually buy just the metal inserts without the plastic stuff. Some here prefer this uniform look without the snapped plastic bits.
 
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And, just like with transistors, if the leads are a bit thin, you can pass a loaded soldering iron over them to give the socket more to grab onto.
 
I've tried breaking SIP sockets off by hand, by clippers etc...

The best way for me is to put 'm on a cutting board and use a box-cutter or similar blade and "SAW" in one direction only — I get clean and consistent cuts with little damage/wastage.


Also, why not build yourself a diode-selector and then you can decide what's best and solder them in (or select the best options and put those options on a switch)...


Feral Feline

Post in thread 'Scientific measurements of clipping diode differences'

I've got nothing for amassing quantifiable data, but...


I'd build a clipper-switcher. Socketed, so I can swap out sets of diodes.

Could be done with a 12PDT rotary or a bunch of dip-switches.

CLIPPING DIODE DIP SWITCHER MICRO BOARD PCB TRACE.png CLIPPING DIODE DIP SWITCHER.png

flexi_clip_layout dip clip perf.gif



Clipping DIODE Rotary Switch.png

CLIPPING DIODE flexi_clip_v2-1.png
FLexi CLIP Comparator test board.jpg


And the above FlexiClip is scalable...
Flexi-clip comparator Super Size.jpg
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Feral Feline said:
I've tried breaking SIP sockets off by hand, by clippers etc...

The best way for me is to put 'm on a cutting board and use a box-cutter or similar blade and "SAW" in one direction only — I get clean and consistent cuts with little damage/wastage.


Also, why not build yourself a diode-selector and then you can decide what's best and solder them in (or select the best options and put those options on a switch)...


Feral Feline

Post in thread 'Scientific measurements of clipping diode differences'

I've got nothing for amassing quantifiable data, but...


I'd build a clipper-switcher. Socketed, so I can swap out sets of diodes.

Could be done with a 12PDT rotary or a bunch of dip-switches.

CLIPPING DIODE DIP SWITCHER MICRO BOARD PCB TRACE.png CLIPPING DIODE DIP SWITCHER.png

flexi_clip_layout dip clip perf.gif



Clipping DIODE Rotary Switch.png

CLIPPING DIODE flexi_clip_v2-1.png
FLexi CLIP Comparator test board.jpg


And the above FlexiClip is scalable...
Flexi-clip comparator Super Size.jpg
  • Like
  • This ROCKS!
Click to expand...
I actually wanted to do this soon! Thanks for the pictures and diagrams, that helps a lot! I bought a rotary switch recently to make one of these!
 
With pin headers it seems the best way is to only clip half of it and it will break the rest of the way. Seems to be the cleanest way for me with flush cutters. Maybe it's the same with those?
and ooh I'm gonna need to start making component boxes soon enough
 
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