How to make PCB compatible to HE (hall effect) switches?

[Eszett]

Hi, is there any documentation out there how to render my PCB compatible with these new Glorious HE switches?

[wjrii]

Other than buying a new keyboard, I think your only hope is that you have a common enough PCB design that someone has made a HE compatible one to fit in the case.  Cherry MX and HE switches work on completely different electrical principles.

Happy to be corrected if I'm missing something, but I just don't think it will ever be reasonable to convert a PCB. 

[Leslieann]

Make compatible? You really can't, not reasonably at least.

Hall effect is not on/off switch, it's progressive or analog and the processor in a typical MX keyboard isn't designed to interpret analog input. If you have one that's QMK compatible in theory it could be programmed to do it but are you able to write a driver for it, can it be done in the confines of memory on the processor? Can you write the App for the OS? You also need to do considerable modifications to the PCB. You need a way to semi-precisely attach the sensor since it's not in the switch and you would also need to add more traces or add wires since MX switches do not require power but hall effect does.  So yes, it's possible but it would be a lot easier to just make a custom PCB, it's not THAT difficult or costly, though you need to learn electrics CAD and mechanical CAD which is honestly not that hard (Youtube)  as they're somewhat similar in how they work. Don't forget you will still need a processor (and possibly software) to make it work.

[Eszett]

I'm a maker, I do make my own PCB's. And I'd like to do research how to make them Hall-Effect compatible, can't be that hard?

[wjrii]

Here's a github where somebody made a split board that uses Hall Effect sensors.  If you are meaning to use your skills to design a new PCB that is compatible with the new switches, that can probably be done.  It's conversion of an existing PCB that would be so inefficient as to be pointless.