Jim, I agree with Mac, one downside to sockets is some tend to come loose. It is mechanical retention after all, and at times with questionable quality sockets. Not usually a problem with stationary electronics, something in a high vibration environment like a vehicle will give you more problems. Corrosion is another 'issue'.. but if it's that bad you should be coating your boards anyway. Vintage stuff tends to be problematic at times, ICs that have been sitting in a socket for 40 years may not be making the best contact.
Most low frequency signals, KHz, a few MHz for example, should be fine with a socket. Sensitive feedback circuits, for example on a DC-DC switching IC, I would not put in a socket. I usually use sockets on a prototype where I think I may need to swap parts, or the likelihood of destroying an IC during testing is high. Otherwise modern stuff is so reliable these days, if it's a production PCB or part that I know I'm not going to mess with, I won't use a socket. Modern integrated circuits, if used within their design limits, will last decades. I've been doing this for a while, and some stuff is just difficult to desolder without damage, that's how you learn PCB trace repair! :) Regards, -Moses On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 3:26:06 PM UTC-8 Jim KO5V wrote: > I've built many electronics projects over the years, and most of them have > actually worked. However, I am an ME, so my actual knowledge of electronics > is a bit spotty, and most of my ham radio experience is not with TTL level > stuff. > > I would like to use IC sockets on my current clock project, but this > design does not call for using them everywhere. I've had to unsolder a few > ICs in the past, and the PC boards have almost always suffered, sometimes > requiring some really ugly repairs. > > So, is there a reason other than saving a few parts for not using the IC > sockets - like added paths for noise, or?? > > Thanks in advance. I hope this isn't too stupid a question! Jim > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/fb1baff9-1bfb-43b2-8d94-db0ad4c95cf7n%40googlegroups.com.
