ISP (re-)programming is going to become more important in the future, so I’ve built a few more of these:
The problem was to come up with a robust way to connect to the target board, but I think I’ve found a solution:
Take a 4-pin header, slightly enlarge the holes in the plastic, and then gently-but-forcefully press a couple of Pogo pins in there. I’m using the type with a large head with sharp edges. Here’s the whole assembly:
After that, it’s a matter of attaching all the wires and tying / glueing things together:
These units are all refurbished ones with a defective radio, since that’s not needed here.
The ZIP straps hold the battery and wires in place. The hot glue does the rest:
These programmers are considerably more effective than you might think – tomorrow, I’ll explain why…
Those pogo pins are just what I need for another project – where did you get them? Farnell don’t have anything when you search for “pogo”
I think I got these from eBay, some time ago.
Try here http://singapore.rs-online.com/web/p/spring-test-probes/5424990/
Careful Martyn, those are the needle point. If your board holes are too big they could go straight through. JC is using the “fat” tipped version more like these http://singapore.rs-online.com/web/p/spring-test-probes/0521611/, although JC’s ones are the fluted 6 point version.
I think these are the closest UK farnell version. http://uk.farnell.com/harwin/p25-5223/probe-star-contact-2-54mm-pitch/dp/9960252
Bit expensive at £1.66 each though. Ebay might be a better bet if you don’t mind waiting for them to arrive fromm China.
I like this, because it can be used with the standard ISP header footprint. I designed a similar ISP adapter a few months ago using the Staggered SOLO Stacker from AVX, but that requires a different footprint for the ISP header: http://daniel-spilker.com/blog/2011/04/25/isptouch-for-avr-microcontrollers/
Ah, found them in fanell – Connectors > Test > PCB Test Points, connector type = spring probe.
or maybe ebay – http://www.ebay.com/itm/P100-V-4-Point-Crown-Tip-Spring-Loaded-Test-Probe-Pin-/300642853541?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ffb5e2a5
They seem to fit so nicely in a header. Would you happen to know what diameter pogo pins they are?
The ebay link above looks like they have a bigger end.
Has anyone found any cheap ones more like the ones JCW used?