Package and field-swap reality
The DS1087LU-21H+ comes in an 8-pin uMAX/uSOP (3.00 mm body width), which is the same footprint as an 8-pin MSOP or TSSOP. It is surface-mount only — no socket option. On a service call, swapping this means hot air or a preheater; it is not a DIP you lever out with a screwdriver. The part marking is small but legible under a loupe. Orientation is standard: pin 1 marked by a dot or chamfer on the package top. If you are stocking a field-repair kit, keep a few in a tape strip or cut-tape sleeve; they are small enough to lose in a toolbag pocket.
Lifecycle and compliance
Maxim (now part of Analog Devices) lists the DS1087LU-21H+ as Active with ROHS3 compliance. That means no last-time-buy clock ticking, no exemption paperwork for EU shipments, and no phthalate restrictions to chase. For a BOM freeze or a long-life industrial design, this is a low-risk line item.
