is the optocoupler a delicate part ?

Parts Questions
1

i’m quite comfortable with my soldering skills lately and some time ago i stopped using sockets for most of my parts. with din, douts and ains i had no problems until now. - all those chips seem quite durable.

the problem is that i have now completed another core and i can’t get the midi in port to work. i have made the optocoupler test 1 and the led won’t go off once i ground the optocoupler.

might i have killed the optocoupler with the soldering iron ? is it that delicate ? or are those couplers a bit buggy and i might just got a dead one ?

2

The opto is the only component I’ve ever killed in a midibox, so I guess the answer is “yes”.

3

i guess so - changed it, works.

4

This probably varies between manufacturers.  I have dwelled with a very hot iron for very long periods on surface-mount optocouplers and had no issue.

On the other hand I’ve heard of a few MIDIboxers who blew up a 6N138.

5

I’ve heard of several instances where an opto has just died for no reason, in use, long after soldering. They just like to f*ck up :wink:

6

I hereby recommend using a socket for the 6N138 :smiley: