Peter Todd wrote:

> So given that almost all ICs, especially in DIP format, are tin and or
> lead finish where are all the gold-plated sockets that I see absolutely
> everywhere in catalogs and surplus pins used?

Not in high reliability applications. I'm not sure, but my view of this is
that I usually don't use sockets for anything that's made to last. I use
sockets where I expect to exchange a component a lot. (To say the truth,
it's been a while; I don't have much use for sockets anymore. I may stick
something together quickly on a breadboard... but once I'm at the PCB
prototyping stage, things get usually soldered. Most components are SO or
below anyway.) 

In such a scenario, I think that the gold-plated contacts have the
advantage of more insertion cycles. Tin-plated contacts wear out pretty
quickly. And since the components don't stay in for a long time, corrosion
is not that much of an issue.

Gerhard

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist