Construction Phase 2; Preparing The Microcontroller For Installation - Progress Direct Systems Volt Tattler 2 Owner's Manual

Construction Phase 2

Preparing the Microcontroller for Installation

Here we must install the microcontroller. Whether or not we are using a socket, handling 20 pins takes
patience. Carefully straighten the pins so that on each side of the chip the pins are perpendicular to the
body of the chip. Pins on both sides must be parallel or installing the processor, socket or no, will be
difficult. Here we see some views of the end of a DIP chip like the microcontroller.
When we get the chips from the supplier the leads are usually splayed out on an angle. This promotes
proper tension for automated insertion machines but causes grief trying to manually install the chips
into a board or socket.