Ordered some ZIF and DIP sockets from eBay yesterday, all the way from Hong Kong. The ZIF connector will be used for the microcontroller development board. The DIP socket will be used to mount the microcontroller onto the lamp veroboard.
ZIF connector
DIP Socket
With a ZIF (zero insertion force) connector, I don’t have to worry about bending, or worse, breaking pins when working with microcontrollers. When removing ICs from a socket, a relatively large amount of force is needed to insert and remove the part. With a ZIF, simply unlock, place the chip on top and lock into place.
DIP sockets come in handy during the soldering. Too much heat can destroy microcontrollers and other ICs. With that being said, simply solder the socket onto the veroboard then insert the device onto the socket.
