> > As a small scale manufacturer of programmers it is cause of 
> continual
> > irritation to us that the 40 pin multi width ZIF socket 
> forms over 80%
> > of the material cost of the programmer ! 
> 
> As a hobbyist the cost of the darned things annoys me too!  :-)

Then why do you use those stupid things at all? Alternatives:
- include an ICSP connector in you dedign
- use a DIP (or SOIC) testclip
- make your own DIP ICSP adapter: take a tower of ~ 5 round-pin DIP
sockets, stack them towgether. Solder the ICSP wires to the appropriate
pins, PIC enters at the top, the whole stack is put in the socket where
the PIC was intended.

If you still think you need ZIFs: I'll lower the price of the 40-pin
universal in my shop to ~ E 10 when I have a receive the next shipment.

The only reason I use ZIF sockets myself is for (medium-scale)
production: I use the stack described above, but with a ZIF at the top
and a Wisp628 permanently attached, and a 5 V supply. This makes an
all-in-one program and test system. 

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

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