Transistor Sockets

[les_chupacabra]

Anyone have a favorite manufacturer/model?  I've got an order to make at mouser and figured I'd throw a couple in.

Thanks - John

[petemoore]

I haven't had any problems, since I flatted the ends of the tranny er whatever leads with the flat jaw area near the hinges of me needle nose pliers...then the slide right in...

[Samuel]

For most layouts you need inline sockets (some transistor sockets are arranged in a triangle pattern) so I usually take a six pin IC socket and snap it in half with a pair of wire cutters.When the circuit is finished to my satisfaction I'll drop some solder into the socket 'cause the transistor isn't THAT tightly held...

[Peter Snowberg]

Whatever socket you use, if you get ones with "machined pins" they will be the most reliable. The down side is that they are very expensive in most cases. You often pay more for the socket than the IC going in it. The up side is that they won't fail. I can't tell you how many devices I've repaired over the years where the culprit was simply dirty sockets.

That's my 2 cents.

Take care,
-Peter