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Ask an Expert Forum Best way to disconnect a SOIC-8 pin?
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Best way to disconnect a SOIC-8 pin?

Andrew J
Andrew J over 3 years ago

I've accidentally connected a pin to GND and it should have been left unconnected.  It's pin 5 of an 8-pin SOIC so reasonably accessible but what would be the best way to actually disconnect it without stressing other pins?  Note that the track that connects it to GND is very short and actually under the IC so isn't accessible.  I don't really want to de-solder the chip so all I can think of is to try and wick up the solder from that pad and then gently bend the pin up.  I've found that trying to wick it up is quite difficult because there's always some that remains under the pin.

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 3 years ago +6
    Go big! lol
  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 3 years ago +4 verified
    I would heat up the pin, lift it, and then wick any solder left making a connection. In fact, you may find adding some solder first helps to make lifting it easier.
  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 3 years ago +3
    I would cut the pin, I do have a nice pair of rather expensive micro cutters for this purpose. Works well on SOIC, less good on 0.5mm pitch pins. You can (with care) use a scalpel with a nice new blade…
  • Andrew J
    0 Andrew J over 3 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    Is that for real (I can't be bothered to look it up, I'm lazy and it's christmas)?  Surely they'd just go for a NC on that pin.  

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  • scottiebabe
    0 scottiebabe over 3 years ago in reply to Andrew J

    lol its a 700 V rated pin so they omitted the adjacent pin for clearance and creepage 

    image

    You could blame the manufacturer for leaving the pins on a no connect pin lol

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  • baldengineer
    0 baldengineer over 3 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    image

    Without a microscope, it was almost impossible to tell the difference between pins 1 and 5.

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  • scottiebabe
    0 scottiebabe over 3 years ago in reply to baldengineer

    LOL! Is that a genuine 74LVC2GU04 ? Yikes!

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  • baldengineer
    0 baldengineer over 3 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    Yeah. I used them as a buffer / logic converter for 3.3 and 5 volt logic.

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  • dougw
    0 dougw over 3 years ago

    I like lifting the pin as described above, but it may cause less stress to cut the pin as mentioned by scottiebabe and remove the soldered part with an iron. This also prevents the pin from getting bent later and causing a short.

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  • michaelkellett
    0 michaelkellett over 3 years ago

    I would cut the pin, I do have a nice pair of rather expensive micro cutters for this purpose. Works well on SOIC, less good on 0.5mm pitch pins.

    You can (with care) use a scalpel with a nice new blade. Then clean up with fine tip iron and flux. I've removed 144 pin TQFPs like this. It takes a while and you have to saw away patiently for a long time but I must have done a couple of dozen of them in the last few years and I haven't lost  a pad yet. Trying to save a £1000+ board helps one to keep focused.

    MK

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  • Andrew J
    0 Andrew J over 3 years ago

    I snipped and cleaned up in the end.  I just couldn't get leverage with tweezers and the soldering iron tip on the pin at the same time and I didn't want to stress the chip.  I was 100% certain that pin was the problem so there were going to be no @£$%! moments.

    And as Scottiebabe shows, no one will notice Grinning

    It's good to see that I'm not the only one who does stupid things though as I'm guessing these responses came from bitter experience.

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  • Fred27
    0 Fred27 over 3 years ago

    Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

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  • baldengineer
    0 baldengineer over 3 years ago in reply to Fred27

    Your lab has different equipment from mine …

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