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Faulty ZIF socket

bob_3765

Apr 13, 2014
1
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
1
Hi,

I have a faulty ZIF socket, I get erratic connection - removing and re - plugging in sorts this temporarily, but after several days it loses connection again.

A 'chip decoder' has been in the socket for sometime - this has a 'thicker' male end that fits in the ZIF, instead of the very thin 'ribbon/flat cable' it was originally designed for. You could tell this was a bad fit as the plastic bar when pushed down looked bowed in the middle.

I have taken a nail file to try make the decoders PCB material thinner, but the problem still exists, the chip decoder is much thicker than the cable - and I suspect the 'prongs' inside have become bent back.

Does anyone know of a way to fix this, apart from replacing the ZIF connector, I assume you would need specialist soldering equipment to do that.

Here is an image of the offending ZIF connector (the one soldered to the PCB):

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b633/b...zpsb104090a.jpg
 

daberbaber

Feb 2, 2012
18
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
18
Here's what I surmise from your description and the picture...you are planning on leaving the "chip decoder" in the flat cable connector as you have tried to thin down the PC board's material. With that part inserted, the connector bows and possibly loses contact in the center. you could take a small piece of flat ribbon and solder that to the PC board's contacts and insert it the way it was meant to be. I've also had some luck inserted a flat bladed jeweler's screwdriver into sockets and slightly bending the contacts outward but I think my first approach would help the most in the long run. Dave
 

shrtrnd

Jan 15, 2010
3,876
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Messages
3,876
I don't know why you're using a ZIF socket for a semi-permanent installation.
You can mount the decoder in a permanent socket, and then solder leads to the permanent socket, and insert the leads into the ZIF socket.
 
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