Alan B. Pearce wrote:
>
> >I have fitted my only PIC16F84-10/P in a high-quality turned-pin socket
> >though. Tinned beryllium copper contacts (according to my supplier).
>
> These are the only sort of sockets that I ever consider using. Had too much
> trouble with cheaper ones over the years.
>
> They also make great "pin savers" for putting a chip into that is going to
> be fitted and removed many times, such as UV erasable chips that are used
> for development. The socket pins have the nice touch that they will fit into
> the same sort of socket and make reliable contact. Then if you bend and
> break a pin on your chip saver socket, you put the chip into another socket.


Turned-pin sockets (even the best gold plated ones)
are not good for multiple insertions. Or should I say
the socket is good for it but the chip won't be.
I keep two types of sockets, turned-pin gold plated
for finished devices, where the chip is inserted once
and stays in there, and the cheaper double flat sprung
type for anything where the chip will be pulled in/out
a number of times, like development and test boards.

The turned pin sockets work by CRUSHING the chips pins
and getting good contact. But if that chip is pulled
in/out 3 or more times you will feel it get noticably
looser as the soft chip pins wear on their edges where
the crush happens. This is bad. They are not meant
for multiple insertions.

The double flat sprung sockets have two spring devices
and press flat against the flat chip pins, and are ok
for hundreds of insertions.
:o)
-Roman

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