onboard chip programming options ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 09:26:02 am
content: I got a SOIC clip and tried programming a chip on a board. No connection, So I tried a new chip and clipping it into the clip. Ah now that works, looking at how the clip works it is quite plain that it is highly unlikely to make contact on the board. Are there any other onboard options like something that can locate on the back of the chip with sprung terminals coming down to press on the IC ? or should I really just put an ICSP header on every board ?

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 09:51:36 am
content: They are called pogo pins... Digikey has them I believe but they are categorized under a more generic name.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 10:23:05 am
content: Put dedicated pads on - SOIC clips are OK for 1-offs but not good for frequent use. Pogo pins don't work well on SO pins as there isn't a well-defined horizontal surface - you can get onto the soldered pins wih serrated popgos but this will tend to clog the pins up with solder - you want to pogo onto PCB, not solder.

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 10:35:36 am
content: Have you considered this from Microchip direct?http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en541939Looks interesting.David.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 10:59:47 am
content: This may be of interest to you Simonhttp://www.tag-connect.com/

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 12:16:47 pm
content: interesting idea, looks like I need to at least leave some pads on the board if not just use a small programming header, Incidently I failed to get the clip to work with a new SOIC IC too - those 3M clips are total shit, would not recommend at all,

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2013, 12:40:03 am
content: The 3M clips are OK once you trim the 'teeth' down a little - they tend to prevent the clip closing enough on chips taht are soldered down.A squirt of flux cleaner also helps as flux residues (either on the pin or between them) can impair the contact.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 04, 2013, 07:02:17 am
content: where do I grind it down ? (and why are they still making them wrong ? I sent the last one back as did many others). From what I can tell there are some "hooks" that go under the IC holding the clip on.I also had problems with unsoldered IC's so still very unimpressed.

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2013, 09:53:47 pm
content: You can use pogo pins but I like to use a system I came up with that is more secure and works well. When designing the pcb place some pads for programming the chips, the pads should be where there isn't a component on the other side of the board. I then made a programming adapter cable that has some bent flat copper to line up with the pads on the pcb and placed that on a piece of steel insulated with plastic to keep it from shorting. Now when I need to program I simply place the adapter on the spot on the board and a magnet on the opposite side of the board. The connection is so good that I can move around the target board without losing the connection and I don't have to install anything on the PCB itself. The adapter can be as small as you need it to be.

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2013, 06:07:00 pm
content: Quote from: notsob on January 03, 2013, 10:59:47 amI'm just doing a rev.3 PCB layout and looking at reducing space & cost of the ISP connector (dsPIC related). Does anyone have hands-on experience with the tag-connect system?