[Elecraft] When to snip leads?

[Bob]

Hi Paul,

It's okay to trip the leads on IC sockets but it's not necessary.
These leads are designed with PCB mounting in mind, so they're not too long.

If the sharp ends sticking out bother you, then go ahead and trim them.  It won't affect the operation of the IC.
The same goes for connectors that are designed for PC mounting.  In a commercial assembly operation, trimming the leads would cost
money, so manufacturers don't want to do that.  They want to use parts that have leads with the proper length to begin with.

One possible advantage to trimming the leads is it gives you another chance to inspect the solder joint on each of them. Leaving one
lead of an IC unsoldered is not hard to do and it can cause a maddening problem later with an intermittent joint.  Therefore, if you
don't want to trim the leads, at least visually inspect them carefully. That's the route I take.

The  manual says don't trim the relay leads because of mechanical stress that might damage the relay internally.

73/ Bob - AG5Q


----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Clay" <vpaulclay@cox.net>
To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:22 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] When to snip leads?


> Is it always ok to snip off all excess component
> leads after components are soldered to the board
> (at least, unless you're specifically told in the
> assembly manual not to do so)?
>
> Initially, the instruction manual seemed to
> include explicit instructions for removing leads
> after components were soldered on the PC board,
> but but later seems to omit any explicit
> instruction even though it seems to me it ought
> to be ok to remove the excess component leads.
>
> As a specific "for instance", I just finished
> soldering U6 (the MCU socket) to the Control
> Board.  Is it ok to go ahead and snip of the the
> excess pin/lead material?  Same question for P5
> and P6 (2 pin male connectors on the Control
> Board).
>
> Apologize for the goofy question (especially if I
> missed some instruction in the manual that
> answers it), but better safe than sorry, I guess.
>
> - Paul
> N6LQ (Ser. 03640)