Dip devices with pins that aren't long enough for bread boards?

[cvriv]

I just bought some dip switches and the pins are just long enough to make contact but not enough to really hold them snug with the breadboard. I bought some variable resistors a while ago and had the same problem. Whats the deal? Im about to buy some female headers to combat this problem. Am i not buying the right stuff for breadboards?

[Ian.M]

That's more common with salvaged parts - the leads get cropped after insertion in the PCB so aren't suitable for breadboarding even if they appear clean and free from solder lumps.

Its usually possible to work around it by adding a turned pin socket with long pins between the offending DIL component and the breadboard.

[jeroen79]

A lot of (nonsalvaged) parts come with leads just long enough to poke though the PCB and short enough to not require cutting off the excess after soldering.

If you want to breadboard them you could solder some extra wire to their leads.

[cvriv]

The stuff im buying isnt salvaged. The leads just arent along enough for the breadboard. I thought about solder on some longer legs.

[ZomBiE80]

I'm keeping around some wirewrap sockets of various sizes just for aforementioned reason.

[David Hess]

I have had the same problem with DIP switches and other DIP parts which are not ICs.  The solution is to mount the DIP switch into an IC socket which has pins which are long enough.  Or if you are despirate for a solution now, solder solid extension wires onto the DIP switch leads.  Cut off resistor and small singal diode leads work well because they are stiffer than soft copper.

[GreyWoolfe]

The stuff im buying isnt salvaged. The leads just arent along enough for the breadboard. I thought about solder on some longer legs.

I have also seen it with pcb mountable switches.  I have just added some hook up wire.