Sockets for DIP oscillators?

[JohanFr]

I have been using standard machine drilled DIP-8 sockets for my oscillators so far, by cutting off the non-corner legs. I have recently noticed however, the oscillator on my SBC is wiggling a bit in the socket. I do have some occasional stability issues, so I have started to wonder if perhaps that type of socket isn't ideal for can oscillators.

For those of you that use these kinds of oscillators on your PCBs, how do you attach them to the board?

(My next revision PCB is on order, and I am planning to crank up the speed a bit, and now I am a bit paranoid about what to do).

[gfoot]

For my last one on PCBs I did use standard DIP-8 sockets for the oscillators, as you said, with the cheap type of contact ("leaf springs"? I don't recall the right term, but not "turned pin" ones). The oscillator does tend to be a bit wonky in the socket - it certainly doesn't go all the way in as the legs are too long. However for me I think the actual connections at the pins were pretty tight, and it doesn't seem to be affecting the functionality of the oscillator, though at the same time I doubt I've deliberately wiggled it around in the socket while the system is running!

[JohanFr]

I might have mixed up the terminology, but I use the ones with round holes that usually hug normal ICs pretty well. I can add that it is a random brand name (i.e. local supplier, labeled just "DIP-8 socket")

The stability issues might not be related, I haven't investigated that much as it happens infrequently.

[gfoot]

That looks like "turned pin" which is usually the preferred type for ICs. It is possible that the "leaf" ones are more tolerant of odd pin shapes though.

You could always solder the oscillator onto the board of course! There's also the DS1086 which is programmable, so you can change the frequency after soldering it to your board: https://www.analog.com/en/products/ds1086.html

[J64C]

I use standard leaf sockets also. The turned pin ones are great for one or two insertions but if you have a tendency to pull the IC’s in and out, they aren’t really designed for that. Leaf sockets are more appropriate for that as they have more spingyness.

[JohanFr]

Well I did some wiggletesting and the instability issues definitely seems to be related to the socket. (The cpu immediately crashes when I shift the position - although I have not confirmed it is a specific position that is the working position). Perhaps I should just solder the oscillator directly on to the board (or try the leaf ones instead). Regardless it makes me not want to put another one of the same type on my new board...

[J64C]

Yeah, some people will swear by the expensive machined sockets. But, I certainly prefer the leaf type.

Glad you seem to have isolated your issue.

[BigDumbDinosaur]

JohanFr wrote:

I have been using standard machine drilled DIP-8 sockets for my oscillators so far, by cutting off the non-corner legs. I have recently noticed however, the oscillator on my SBC is wiggling a bit in the socket. I do have some occasional stability issues, so I have started to wonder if perhaps that type of socket isn't ideal for can oscillators.

Aries and several others (e.g., Samtec) make sockets specifically for use with oscillators.  Attached is the data sheet for the one I have been using ever since I started building my POC units.  Specifically, I use the Aries 1108800, which is intended for half-can oscillators.  I am constantly swapping oscillators as I run tests with the logic analyzer over wide frequency ranges, and have never had any trouble with the socket.

socket_oscillator_aries1108800.pdf

Aries Oscillator Sockets

(169.08 KiB) Downloaded 46 times

[JohanFr]

BigDumbDinosaur wrote:

JohanFr wrote:

I have been using standard machine drilled DIP-8 sockets for my oscillators so far, by cutting off the non-corner legs. I have recently noticed however, the oscillator on my SBC is wiggling a bit in the socket. I do have some occasional stability issues, so I have started to wonder if perhaps that type of socket isn't ideal for can oscillators.

Aries and several others (e.g., Samtec) make sockets specifically for use with oscillators.  Attached is the data sheet for the one I have been using ever since I started building my POC units.  Specifically, I use the Aries 1108800, which is intended for half-can oscillators.  I am constantly swapping oscillators as I run tests with the logic analyzer over wide frequency ranges, and have never had any trouble with the socket.

socket_oscillator_aries1108800.pdf

Great! I was eyeing that exact socket yesterday before I wrote the initial post. I think I will order a bunch - it can't hurt, and then at least one less thing to blame

[plasmo]

Jameco has Aries oscillator sockets for both full size and half size at pretty reasonable price. Although the one I like to have are 6-pin socket that can accommodate both full size as well as half size oscillator. I made 6-pin socket by punching out unused pins of a 14-pin machined sockets.
Bill

[BigDumbDinosaur]

JohanFr wrote:

Great! I was eyeing that exact socket yesterday before I wrote the initial post. I think I will order a bunch - it can't hurt, and then at least one less thing to blame

Interestingly, the pin diameter of the Aries socket is such that it can be plugged into another socket of the same type without causing damage.  I took advantage of that feature when I built my clock single-stepper, which is designed to plug into the oscillator socket on the POC unit undergoing test.

Clock Single-Stepper Assembly

Clock Single-Stepper Plug