DIP chips vs SOIC chips, how to interconnect them?

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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Not sure if this makes sense, but we have a DIP-format AVR mega168 processor. That basically means it has rather large pins and can fit on a breadboard (so we just pop it in instead of soldering anything).

However, we also have a SOIC-format hall sensor (Analog Devices AD22151). The chip in this case has really small pins and its meant more for a PCB than a breadboard.

Now the problem is connecting the two. I tried soldering wires to the pins of the AD22151, but its a big pain in the ass, and I'm pretty sure I damaged the chip in the process. The pins are so tiny and close together that makes it very challenging. And I'm a soldering newbie. :(

Is there a way I get some sort of adaptor or something for the AD22151 that will make it easier to work with?

Thanks
 

jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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They make small SMT breakout boards that are package dependant. You can check sparkfun.com, and I'm sure theres other places as well. Also, you can try flipping the SOIC chip onto its back, and then tacking it down in place with some glue. Then solder to the pins with very fine wire (30 AWG).

I'm not sure how many pins your sensor has, but heres an SOIC-8 breakout board.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=494

Here's a SOIC-20 pin board
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=495
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
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^yep thats your cleanest/easiest option. I've made little SOIC->DIP boards before with presensitized boards and they're pretty handy sometimes. Got access to a bandsaw or saw and a vise? Got some old boards with SOIC chips? Desolder the chips and saw off an area a little larger than the pads and solder on your chip in a pinch. Of course making sure that none of the pads are interconnected internally.
 

bobsmith1492

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2004
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Mill out a breakout board and solder to that (if you have access to a mill).

On a side note, I thought it had 168 pins at first - as a DIP?? :p 16 isn't so bad, though...
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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Thanks for the link to the SOIC board, it looks like exactly what we need. We don't have a mill either.

The mega168 chip (in DIP form) is pretty easy to work with, the problem is with the AD22151 SOIC hall sensor. But that board (linked) seems to fix our problems.