2 pin oscillator DIP socket?

[Pavius]

I want to build a 28 pin breakout board to free up breadboard space but can't find any DIP sockets for 2 pin oscillators (since I will probably use all sorts of osc frequencies, I need to be able swap them). The smallest socket i found was 4 pin... am i missing something?

 

[Hero999]

That's because there's no simple way to make a stable two pin oscillator which gives a nice stable square wave out.

You need at lease three pins, two for the power supply and one for the output.

I can think of a way of designing a simple two pin oscillator but it's be very crude and drift a lot depending on the ballast resistor.

 

[JimB]

DIP stands for "Dual In-line Pack", the form of most through hole integrated circuits.
2 pins "Dual In-line" is a bit impossible so you won't find them.

If you want a two pin socket, find a larger socket with pins which suit your application and cut off two pins with a sharp knife.

I do that sort of thing all the time.


The "2 pin oscillator" you refer to, I think you mean a quartz crystal.

An oscillator can be made using a crystal as its frequency determining element, but a crystal on its own is not an oscillator.

JimB

 

[HarveyH42]

The crystals come in different size packages, so might have to bend the leads a little. The crystal also needs a couple of small capacitors for it to work right. Crystal oscillators usually have 4 pins, again a variety of size packages. Resonators have 3 pins... A6 pin socket might work, but you might also look into header pin sockets.
SNAPPABLE 30 PIN SIP SOCKET, .1" CENTERS | AllElectronics.com
I've used these for LEDS, capacitors, and resistors. Might work for what you want. Oddly though, square header pins don't seem to fit...

 

[Pavius]

D`oh, you're right - i meant crystals. I have a bunch of crystals lying around and want to be able to swap them. When i connect them to the breadboard i use 2 caps which i intend to solder onto the breakout board - i only needed a way to allow me to swap the crystal itself.

HarveyH42 - that seems pretty close. I thought there might be a dedicated socket for crystals (the pin spacing would be .1" but the socket spacing would be a bit wider to accommodate the crystal).

 

[Mikebits]

Why not try a SIP socket?
Tyco SIP Break-Away Socket Strips

May work, but also might add stray capacitance.

 

[Pavius]

Even though i'll have to bend the crystal's leads (as noted above), this seems like the best solution. Thanks!

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Sockets for crystals are common items, it's quite usual to use sockets for them so you can use change frequencies.

 

[HarveyH42]

Sockets for crystals are common items, it's quite usual to use sockets for them so you can use change frequencies.

Old CB radios, my R/C helicopter, R/C truck. Haven't used a crystal with an AVR yet. Used a resonator for the TV-B-Gone...

 

[nickelflippr]

Like nigel said, there are sockets for crystals. They have worked out great for the half can type crystals with the skinny leads (0.018"). They will not work with the fatty type leads on at least some full can crystals.

 

[mneary]

The spacing of 4 pins of the strips that Mike mentioned are perfect (0.3"). I use them. The capacitance is small, but if you're worried just subtract a pf or two from the crystal load caps on the board.