What is it?

An adapter board containing a SOIC14 ZIF socket, breaking out every pin to a DIP14 layout. This allows the chip to be mounted on a breadboard, DIP-socket programmer, or otherwise used as if it was a DIP14 layout. Additionally the board contains a standard AVR6 ISP header wired to the appropriate pins for the 14-pin ATtiny layouts (of the ATtiny24, ATtiny44, ATtiny84, ATtiny481 and ATtiny841 chips). This allows in-circuit programming and development without removing the chip from the board. It also has a convenient button wired to the RESET pin.

As the major cost and shipping size/weight of this board is the ZIF socket, it is also available at a substantial discount without the socket, should you wish to source one locally and solder it on yourself.

I find that some ATtiny chips (e.g. the 841) do not successfully enter HVSP mode when the 10k pullup resistor is in place between RESET and VCC, and that to program one of these chips you need to remove it. Furthermore, its absense doesn't seem to cause any ill effects (due to the internal pullup the chip has anyway) it seems best to leave it absent. This is another option for you - either I'll attach the resistor, or not.

Why did you make it?

I've been working lately with ATtiny AVR chips and looking specifically at the ATtiny841. This only comes in SOIC14 size and is not available in DIP14. This makes it harder to use on a breadboard or in my HVSP programmer, which this board allows.

What makes it special?

There are a number of SOIC8 and SOIC16-sized adapter boards like this one, I couldn't find any SOIC14-sized ones, so I had to make it.

See also:

As the major component cost of this board is the SOIC14 ZIF socket, if you don't need this you may find other products cheaper and more suitable.

• If you're just looking for a way to use an ATtiny841 on a breadboard, rather than programming a chip for eventual use on a custom PCB, and don't need to be able to mount it in a DIP14 programmer socket, you might like https://www.tindie.com/products/bot_thoughts/eezeetiny841/