Stupid- simple tip but worth it ....
2006-09-13 by lcdpublishing
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2006-09-13 by lcdpublishing
Hi guys, Many of us make double sided boards and have to create vias from one side to the other. Often it's a piece of wire or a cut-off leg of a component. For power routings I just realized that a header pin is great! During diagnostics, testing, etc., it's always handy to have a place to clip on a test lead for checking voltages etc. A header pin allows for that and creates the via. Just a simple realization this morning, but in case you have not thought about it, there you go! Chris
2006-09-13 by derekhawkins
>Often it's a piece of wire or a cut-off leg of a >component. First option to explore would be the leg of an existing installed thru hole (TH) component (headers included). That's why the move from TH to SMD doesn't always reduce the amount of hole drilling for the homebrewer as drastically as some would have us believe. SMD needs more forced or dedicated vias. --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" <lcdpublishing@...> wrote: >
2006-09-13 by Tony Smith
I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip an alligator clip to it to take measurements. Might not be overly successful, real test pins are flared at the end to stop the clip falling off... Tony
> -----Original Message----- > From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of derekhawkins > Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:47 AM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Stupid- simple tip but worth it .... > > >Often it's a piece of wire or a cut-off leg of a component. > > First option to explore would be the leg of an existing > installed thru hole (TH) component (headers included). That's > why the move from TH to SMD doesn't always reduce the amount > of hole drilling for the homebrewer as drastically as some > would have us believe. SMD needs more forced or dedicated vias. > > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" > <lcdpublishing@...> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, > Files, and Photos: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs > > If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/ > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >
2006-09-13 by Stefan Trethan
On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:26:45 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip an alligator clip > to > it to take measurements. > Might not be overly successful, real test pins are flared at the end to > stop > the clip falling off... > Tony Who says you can not simply make test leads with header sockets? Much better than a clip lead. You can also buy round solder pins that are excellent for this purpose, with matching female connectors. ST
2006-09-13 by Tony Smith
> > I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip an alligator > > clip to it to take measurements. > > Might not be overly successful, real test pins are flared > at the end > > to stop the clip falling off... > > Tony > > > Who says you can not simply make test leads with header sockets? > Much better than a clip lead. > > You can also buy round solder pins that are excellent for > this purpose, with matching female connectors. 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
2006-09-13 by Stefan Trethan
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
2006-09-13 by Sander Pool
I often use .1" pitch Berg connectors as test points. Very convenient. I
use a flexible wire with a Berg connector on one end (shrink tubing
around it to prevent shorts) and bare wire on the other that I grab with
an alligator or other clip.
In fact when I put together my M128 board from http://www.bdmicro.com I
put headers in that are long enough that the bottom part fits in a
breadboard and the top ones accept connectors. Sweet.
Sander
Stefan Trethan wrote:> 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 > > > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs > > If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/ > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > >
2006-09-13 by derekhawkins
>I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip an alligator >clip to it to take measurements. My point was that the leads of existing installed TH components are potential vias and test pins. A scopes probe will probably hold better to a resistor lead than an upright header pin. --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Smith" <ajsmith@...> wrote: >
2006-09-13 by lcdpublishing
Just a simple suggestion guys - no need to get excited. My point being that while you can use the leads of resistors and other components to make vias, sometimes you need a via where there isn't such a component. Normally, I just stick a piece of wire in the hole, solder it on both sides, clip it off and move on. However, when measuring voltages, I like to clip (with an aligator clip) my VOM to the board, then probe for voltages or whatever. I don't normally think to add some sort of test points on my boards - crap, I can barely make a board! Thinking a bit further, even using a scope this is handy to have. While ground pins are handy, sometimes the positive voltage pins are handy too. I can understand the need for something better than a header pin, however, I always seem to have them laying around and they are a bit more stiff and sturdy than typical cut-off leads and such. So, that was my thinking. Chris
2006-09-14 by derekhawkins
>I can understand the need for something better than a header pin, >however, I always seem to have them laying around and they are a bit >more stiff and sturdy than typical cut-off leads and such. Header pins make the best homebrew vias IMO. All my dedicated vias are clipped header pins. However, a dedicated via is always a last resort. --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" <lcdpublishing@...> wrote: >
2006-09-14 by Tony Smith
> > 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 ;-) > 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 As I said, sheesh. Hobbiests are cheap and use dodgy stuff which doesn't work all that well at times. Not exactly the newsflash of the century. Good thing I didn't insult your mother, I'd be still reading your response. Chill out, dude. You're either smoking too much wacky baccy or not enough. Tony
2006-09-14 by Stefan Trethan
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:40:56 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > > As I said, sheesh. > Hobbiests are cheap and use dodgy stuff which doesn't work all that well > at > times. Not exactly the newsflash of the century. > Good thing I didn't insult your mother, I'd be still reading your > response. > Chill out, dude. You're either smoking too much wacky baccy or not > enough. > Tony What are you talking about? Have you actually read my post? I clearly established header pins as test pins are _not_ dodgy stuff, which is what you claim as i understand it. If you say tektronix uses dodgy stuff, well, that's an opinion too but you are probably standing alone there. I'll just ignore you from now on for apparent lack of reason. My claim that square test pins make fine test points was sufficiently established, while there isn't many arguments coming from you apart from "it'll all fall off". ST
2006-09-14 by Tony Smith
> > > > As I said, sheesh. > > Hobbiests are cheap and use dodgy stuff which doesn't work > all that well > > at > > times. Not exactly the newsflash of the century. > > Good thing I didn't insult your mother, I'd be still reading your > > response. > > Chill out, dude. You're either smoking too much wacky > baccy or not > > enough. > > Tony > > What are you talking about? Have you actually read my post? > I clearly established header pins as test pins are _not_ > dodgy stuff, > which is what you claim as i understand it. > > If you say tektronix uses dodgy stuff, well, that's an > opinion too but you > are probably standing alone there. > > I'll just ignore you from now on for apparent lack of reason. > My claim > that square test pins make fine test points was sufficiently > established, > while there isn't many arguments coming from you apart from > "it'll all > fall off". Yeah, header pins, leaving the component lead long, works fine. As I said, hobbiests are cheap. And they use the cheapest clip going, being the alligator clip. When you pick up the board and turn it over, half the time they either fall off or short against something else. Using header pins as vias can lead to solder joint failure. Won't stop people doing it, but at least you know there's a possibility for failure. If you've got better stuff, go use it. Some people don't use test pins at all. Some people have never seen pogo pins. Most don't have a scope. It's called homebrew for a reason, ghetto tech might be a better word. Here's a good ghetto example - http://uanr.com/sdfloppy/. Work? Sure. Ghetto? Sure. Possible problems? Sure. Vibration, crosstalk, all the fun stuff. My point was simply real test pins are a funny shape for a reason. Why this surprises you or why you actually care enough to respond is beyond me. Tony
2006-09-14 by Stefan Trethan
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:09:15 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > > Yeah, header pins, leaving the component lead long, works fine. As I > said, > hobbiests are cheap. And they use the cheapest clip going, being the > alligator clip. When you pick up the board and turn it over, half the > time > they either fall off or short against something else. > Using header pins as vias can lead to solder joint failure. Won't stop > people doing it, but at least you know there's a possibility for failure. > If you've got better stuff, go use it. Some people don't use test pins > at > all. Some people have never seen pogo pins. Most don't have a scope. > It's called homebrew for a reason, ghetto tech might be a better word. > Here's a good ghetto example - http://uanr.com/sdfloppy/. Work? Sure. > Ghetto? Sure. Possible problems? Sure. Vibration, crosstalk, all the > fun > stuff. > My point was simply real test pins are a funny shape for a reason. Why > this > surprises you or why you actually care enough to respond is beyond me. > Tony Ok, when i meet a Fluke or Tektronix or Siemens or Norma engineer i will tell them that they are doing it all wrong and square pins are not acceptable for test pins. I'm not sure if they will be insulted when i tell them they are ghetto technicians ;-). I'll just tell them the great Tony Smith has said so, and he must know after all, i'm sure they'll immediately see their folly. No many people will indeed not have seen a pogo pin, because they are utterly useless for anything other than series production testing. We were talking about test _pins_, not _pads_, you do remember that? I care enough to respond because i can't stand it when people write nonsense and insist on it without giving any decent reasons, let alone proof. ST
2006-09-14 by Tony Smith
> > It's called homebrew for a reason, ghetto tech might be a > better word. > > Here's a good ghetto example - http://uanr.com/sdfloppy/. > Work? Sure. > > Ghetto? Sure. Possible problems? Sure. Vibration, > crosstalk, all the > > fun > > stuff. > > My point was simply real test pins are a funny shape for a > reason. Why > > this > > surprises you or why you actually care enough to respond is > beyond me. > > Tony > > > Ok, when i meet a Fluke or Tektronix or Siemens or Norma > engineer i will > tell them that they are doing it all wrong and square pins are not > acceptable for test pins. I'm not sure if they will be > insulted when i > tell them they are ghetto technicians ;-). > I'll just tell them the great Tony Smith has said so, and he > must know > after all, i'm sure they'll immediately see their folly. Yep, while you're at it, ask them if they use alligator clips. Or do they use parrot clips, which tend to hang on better. Tony
2006-09-14 by Stefan Trethan
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:02:59 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > > Yep, while you're at it, ask them if they use alligator clips. Or do > they > use parrot clips, which tend to hang on better. > Tony I would expect they use the _proper_ _matching_ _receptacle_ which anyone can easily do with little or no cost, certainly less than an alligator clip. ST
2006-09-14 by Tony Smith
> > Yep, while you're at it, ask them if they use alligator > clips. Or do > > they > > use parrot clips, which tend to hang on better. > > Tony > > > I would expect they use the _proper_ _matching_ _receptacle_ > which anyone > can easily do with little or no cost, certainly less than an > alligator > clip. > > ST Sigh. And my original comment was alligator clips tend to fall off striaght pins. Look folks, round and round it goes, where it stops only ST knows. Tony
2006-09-14 by Stefan Trethan
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:21:47 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > Sigh. > And my original comment was alligator clips tend to fall off striaght > pins. > Look folks, round and round it goes, where it stops only ST knows. > Tony Any my response to that was that alligator clips are the wrong tool to go about the job, and that suitable sockets should be used, which reply you attacked by saying they'll fall off as well. You know this is email, it is easy to go back and look what someone said, so don't try to turn around the facts: Tony: > > > I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip an alligator> > > clip to it to take measurements. > > > Might not be overly successful, real test pins are flared> > at the > end> > to stop the clip falling off... > > > Tony ST: > > Who says you can not simply make test leads with header sockets? > > Much better than a clip lead. > > You can also buy round solder pins that are excellent for> this > purpose, with matching female connectors. Tony: > 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 My point was, and is, that square header pins are excellent test pins, especially if you use the proper (free to build, cheap to buy) test lead to probe them (with a 0.64mm socket on the end). Examples of very reputable manufacturers show they they too believe square pins are suitable test pins. You subsequently claimed use of square pins means poor homebrew quality (remember: ghetto tech). If you would just believe that square header pins are accepted industry standard for test pins, and not a botch job, and that alligator clips are simply not the most suitable tools to use on them, then i wouldn't have to repeat myself all the time. ST
2006-09-15 by Tony Smith
> > Sigh. > > And my original comment was alligator clips tend to fall > off striaght > > pins. > > Look folks, round and round it goes, where it stops only ST knows. > > Tony > > > Any my response to that was that alligator clips are the > wrong tool to go > about the job, and that suitable sockets should be used, > which reply you > attacked by saying they'll fall off as well. > You know this is email, it is easy to go back and look what > someone said, > so don't try to turn around the facts: > > Tony: > > > > > I think he meant you can use it as a test pin, ie clip > an alligator> > > > clip to it to take measurements. > > > > Might not be overly successful, real test pins are > flared> > at the > > end> > to stop the clip falling off... > > > > Tony > > ST: > > > > Who says you can not simply make test leads with header sockets? > > > Much better than a clip lead. > > > You can also buy round solder pins that are excellent for> this > > purpose, with matching female connectors. > > Tony: > > > 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 > > > My point was, and is, that square header pins are excellent > test pins, > especially if you use the proper (free to build, cheap to > buy) test lead > to probe them (with a 0.64mm socket on the end). Examples of very > reputable manufacturers show they they too believe square pins are > suitable test pins. You subsequently claimed use of square > pins means poor > homebrew quality (remember: ghetto tech). > > If you would just believe that square header pins are > accepted industry > standard for test pins, and not a botch job, and that > alligator clips are > simply not the most suitable tools to use on them, then i > wouldn't have to > repeat myself all the time. Must be a peculiar property of the internet where two people who agree on something can go around and around and around and around and bore the rest of the world shitless. Or decides that Poland needs invading or something. Once more, slowly, with picture. In colour too! Exhibit One: http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_5515.jpg. Look children, a component. If you have a double sided boards, and you solder both sides of a lead, you can made a via. If you don't cut the lead short, you can use it as a test pin. Exhibit Two: http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_1183.jpg. An alligator clip, so called because it looks like the jaws of one. Ain't that cool? You can uses these to connect to your test pins. Sweet! Exhibit Three & Four: http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_1487.jpg, http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_7558.jpg. Don't like using component leads? A bit too ghetto? Bit flimsy for you? Well, try these! Exhibit Five: http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/images/300/bw_crying_girl.jpg. This is you after you clip an alligator lead to exhibit one, three or four and it goes wrong. The smoke really gets in your eyes after it leans over and shorts something out, and having to clip the damn things back on all the time gets annoying. Thank $deity for teddy, he understands. (Yeah, black and white. Sorry!) Exhibit Six: http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_1189.jpg. Or you could use these. Don't need no stinking test pins, you can hook then direcly to the leg of an IC if need be. Won't short and won't fall off. Yay! Yes, alligator clips suck. Yes, there are better things. Gosh, that's what I said, wasn't it? Alligator clips fall of pins? Which is why the message is titled 'stupid simple tip', not 'this is the way you are supposed to did it like all the research labs and manufacturers and people with letters after their names do'. Yeah, and they get cheap sometimes too. No doubt ST will respond with a carefully constructed response that says exactly the same thing as this one, advancing the field of Homebrew PCBs exactly nowhere. Imagine what would happen if it was something important. Meantime, I'll go and do something more interesting, like watching the grass grow. (hmm, needs mowing.) Far out, brussel sprout. I'll have what you're smoking. Tony (Yeah, I've too much free time)
2006-09-15 by Stefan Trethan
On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:05:20 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > Or decides that Poland needs invading or something. Ha! that sounds to me damn close to someone invoking Godwin's Law! :-) Look, i don't care if you admit you were wrong or if you claim i misunderstood you, as long as you agree square header pins can very well make decent test pins everything is fine with me. ST
2006-09-15 by lcdpublishing
Well, seeing as I started this whole mess, it's time again for me to voice some comments and opinions... Aligator (or some folks call them crocidile) clips are just fine and dandy for me. They are what I can purchase, I know how to use them (even for purposes that are frowned upon). I use the type with the insulation on them. Yes, they pop off at times, yes I know that, so I deal with it. If I had other types of clips on hand, I would probably have them too. I have seen square pins used for "test points" on a variety of PCBs, at least that is what I think they are for. Usually it's just a square pin poking up through the PCB - sometimes with a marking, sometimes not. I figured if others use it for what I believe to be test pins, AND by combining it's function to that of a via, you get two "Features" out of one device. I have also seen other things used for test points, I don't know what they are called, but they are round and have a head on it - sort of looks like a nail. I can see the benefit to those, but don't have them on hand, nor do I intentionally purchase them - don't know what they are called (Posts ?). Otherwise, how is everyone doing with their ink jet systems? Chris
2006-09-20 by Tony Smith
> > > Or decides that Poland needs invading or something. > > Ha! that sounds to me damn close to someone invoking Godwin's Law! :-) > > Look, i don't care if you admit you were wrong or if you > claim i misunderstood you, as long as you agree square header > pins can very well make decent test pins everything is fine with me. > > ST Well, back from watching the grass grow. Very exciting. Still need mowing. Why can grass shrink when it rains? More exciting than this thread anyway. Yeah, round pin, square pin, component leg, triangular pin, one made from barb wire, an (now, pay attention) alligator clip will short out or fall off them all eventually. Big deal. As I said, nothing to go off and invade Poland for. That's why I use the hook type clips. Downside is they cost more, and only seem to come in red & black. If you have a different clip that just happens to work superbly on a square pin, well, ain't that great. I'll bake you a cake in the shape of it. Or Poland. Tony
2006-09-20 by Stefan Trethan
On Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:04:22 +0200, Tony Smith <ajsmith@...> wrote: > > Well, back from watching the grass grow. Very exciting. Still need > mowing. > Why can grass shrink when it rains? More exciting than this thread > anyway. > Yeah, round pin, square pin, component leg, triangular pin, one made from > barb wire, an (now, pay attention) alligator clip will short out or fall > off > them all eventually. Big deal. > As I said, nothing to go off and invade Poland for. > That's why I use the hook type clips. Downside is they cost more, and > only > seem to come in red & black. If you have a different clip that just > happens > to work superbly on a square pin, well, ain't that great. I'll bake you > a > cake in the shape of it. Or Poland. > Tony I'll not try any more, you seem incapable of processing what i say and you just repeat the same thing over and over, so it's really no fun. You may want to discuss this obsession about invading Poland with your consultant though. ;-) ST
2006-09-20 by Tony Smith
> > only > > seem to come in red & black. If you have a different clip > that just > > happens > > to work superbly on a square pin, well, ain't that great. > I'll bake you > > a > > cake in the shape of it. Or Poland. > > Tony > > I'll not try any more, you seem incapable of processing what > i say and you > just repeat the same thing over and over, so it's really no > fun. You may > want to discuss this obsession about invading Poland with > your consultant > though. ;-) > > ST Alligator clips tend to suck. What's hard about that? Tony
2006-09-21 by Steve
Let's drop this. End of line. Steve Greenfield Listowner