[Elecraft] KPA100

[Don Wilhelm]

Ken,

It is not something that is apparent just by looking.  It has to do with 
the contact material and the plating.  Is the material springy enough to 
retain tension on the IC leads?  Is the plating of sufficient depth to 
withstand many removals and insertions?  Questions of that nature can 
only be determined from the specifications (if you can get them).
I would not recommend sockets for anything other than the firmware 
(already socketed in the kit).  A soldered-in IC will be more reliable 
over time, and the frequency of IC failures (unless abused) does not 
warrant it.  But then make your own decision. 

Machined pin sockets are usually better because they should have a 
gas-tight contact area, but require more force to seat the IC.

BTW - gold plated sockets should only be used with ICs having gold 
plated leads - use tin plated sockets because normal ICs have tin plated 
leads.  There were industry studies about tin/gold contact problems that 
I was aware of about 20 years ago (yes, I worked in a reliability 
group), and I do not know that anything has changed in the meantime - 
just because it is gold does not make it better.

73,
Don W3FPR

Ken Alexander wrote:
> I hope to be building a KPA100 myself in another month or so.  How does one distinguish a good quality IC socket from a less-than-good one?  Is there something apparent to the naked eye?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Ken
>   
>