On April 30 Don McKenzie wrote a response to my original (and erroneous) post which suggested "Universal" ZIF sockets: >..cut.. >We know about the Aries Universal, trouble is they don't fit a .3" >target board hole as the base is at .6" spacings. >..cut.. Try again. This time I think I've got it right. Objective is to handle 0.6" DIP ICs where the PCB has a footprint for 0.3", ideally without losing ability to handle 0.3" DIP. 1. Buy an Aries "Universal" ZIF. 2. Turn it upside down, remove the clips securing the pegs which hold the socket body together. (The plastic moulding has hex recesses, so some old sockets may have proper screw/nut assemblies, but mine uses the "Spire" fastening type.) 3. Turn it right way up, and separate the top from the bottom. (Oh dear, it came apart before I read this bit, so pause to scrabble around on the floor for the 145 bits and pieces that fell out.) 4. Swap the pins from left "column" to right - the base is already pierced to allow this to be done. (Presumably, at some time Aries intended marketing 0.3" mounting Universals, and some design engineer sensibly future-proofed the moulding.) 5. Reassemble. 6. You now have a ZIF socket with 0.3" pins which will accept 0.3" and 0.6" ICs. 7. Curse and swear because the PCB has components that wouldn't obstruct a 0.3" socket but do prevent you fitting your 0.6" unit. The solution to this is left as an exercise for the reader (as they say in all the worst text books). OK, Don? Tim Forcer tmf@ecs.soton.ac.uk Department of Electronics & Computer Science The University of Southampton, UK The University is not responsible for my opinions.