I want to share a simple hint on how to reassemble a ZIF socket.
I printed a 3D enclosure for my cheap component tester, which I downloaded the STL file from the internet. Everything was OK except I could not fit the board, because of the ZIF socket handle. Therefore, the only solution was to disassemble the ZIF socket to remove the top part and the handle. Now the board fitted perfectly into the enclosure. Nice (see Fig 1).
The problem was, how to reassemble the ZIF socket?...
This is not a simple task. A search on the internet revealed only a YouTube video where the guy removes all the pins. This was not a solution because the socket is soldered to the PCB.
So I made the adapter shown in the Fig 2 with some resistor leads.
The procedure is the following (See Fig 3 – the arrows represent the movement direction):
1 - Insert the top part with the adapter in. All leads must be in the right place between the socket pins.
2 - Slide the top part of the ZIF socket until it is aligned with the bottom part.
3 - Turn down the handle.
4 - Insert the top part in place (now it shall be easy), remove the adapter and tighten the screws.
Problem solved
