Homebrew PCBs

On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:11:09 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...>  
wrote:

>
> Sheesh.  You can make your test pins out of barbed wire for all I care.
> Just don't complain when the leads fall off after you bump it.
> Tony


I'll have you know in lotsa high quality lab instruments the test pins are  
normal square header pins (0.64mm).

I'm also not the one complaining, i'm the one with the soldering iron who  
can make a couple of test leads ;-)

There is even a whole lab lead system based on that connector, you can  
readily buy leads and probes and adapters and hooks and clips and... the  
whole lot in miniature just like with 4mm (and 2mm) round plugs, from  
reputable manufacturers such as hirschmann, and others. Tektronix uses  
them for example in logic analyzers. They don't seem to agree that the  
leads will just fall off if you bump them.

If you think a alligator clip is better than a matching plug/socket  
connection.. well..

To the reasonable people who might want to make such leads, use better  
quality sockets like used by berg connectors. The cheap sockets are one  
sheetmetal part, stamped and folded cleverly so that part of the shape  
forms the contact spring. Of course this is not an ideal spring, so it  
will get tired after some use. If you find a high quality connector you  
will notice a separate piece of spring material used which lasts much  
longer.

You know, if you criticise some post you should really make sure your  
facts are sound, ideally beforehand. I would save me time not having to  
defend my opinion.

ST