DIP packaged resistors???

[Tony Clark]

> Why bother?
> Why not just take regular resistors and solder them in vertically, so that
> one of the leads runs parallel up the side of the resistor and bends at the
> top? You can stick your resistors into pads with a .1" spacing. Korg used
> to do it, Roland used to do it, I do it....

   Heh, this is a serious NO-NO in manufacturing.  When I started working 
for A.U. Physics Enterprises all of the circuit boards were done in this 
fashion.  Hand drawn and practically all of the resistors up on end.  
What kept happening is that since the meniscous (sp?) of the resistor 
(that is the plastic coating over the metal body) sits IN the pad 
thruhole, solder could not flow from one side of the board to the other, 
causing some disconnected traces.
   Of course if you have single sided boards only, this is NOT a 
problem!

> Maybe it adds extra noise or stray capacitance, but really, how much?? I
> suppose it's a little more convenient from the perspective of clipping
> leads and doing the soldering to use arrays, but that's about it. Mmmm I
> guess the arrays will look better. OTOH, arrays are much more limiting as
> far as what you can do with your layout.

   In some circumstances you might be causing the exposed lead to act as 
an antenna of sorts, causing your circuits to pick up all sorts of 
environmental noise.
   Also, for mass production, the fewer the components, the better.  So 
resistor arrays are a god-send for those of us who are trying to cut 
component count.
   There really is no right or wrong in this situation.  The parts are 
there for those who find them perfect for their application.  In general, 
if cost is an issue, you'll want to avoid arrays.  They tend to cost 
10-20 times as much as just using stock resistors.

   Tony

-------------------------------
I can't drive (my Moog) 55!
-------------------------------
Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu 
http://www2.andrews.edu/~clark
-------------------------------