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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: noisyturtle on Sun, 30 June 2013, 19:46:39

Title: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 30 June 2013, 19:46:39
Never had an issue with sticking, but today is the hottest it's been here in like 2 years. 95, which means it's more like 101 in my unairconditioned room with the tiny window and hot ass electronics running. I noticed my ergo-clear board is sticking some so tested my red and same shizz. Is this a known issue with lubing, or does it have to do with the specific kind of lube used (victorinox.)
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: calavera on Sun, 30 June 2013, 19:48:45
Never experienced sticking due to heat. Wouldn't heat make lube more "slippery" or something?
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 30 June 2013, 19:50:00
yea, heat would lower the viscosity.. 


It's probably because your fingers are sticky.. and also during hot days you're more sensitive to friction because your hands are not cold.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 30 June 2013, 19:50:56
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 30 June 2013, 20:00:05
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..

My cpu is idling at about 60C and I'm in a vortex of fans strapped with otter pops so it's bearable.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: Photoelectric on Sun, 30 June 2013, 21:30:48
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..

My cpu is idling at about 60C and I'm in a vortex of fans strapped with otter pops so it's bearable.

Idling at 60C!  That's quite high... what's its normal idling temperature? 
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: Lu_e on Sun, 30 June 2013, 21:34:37
When lubing you should be sure it is "plastic safe" grease... otherwise it could actually 'burn' the plastic by chemical reaction.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 30 June 2013, 22:39:40
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..

My cpu is idling at about 60C and I'm in a vortex of fans strapped with otter pops so it's bearable.

Idling at 60C!  That's quite high... what's its normal idling temperature? 

about 50, I don't even worry unless it pushes high 70s which only happens if I'm doing a high level stress test.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: 222lu222 on Mon, 01 July 2013, 00:17:07
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..

My cpu is idling at about 60C and I'm in a vortex of fans strapped with otter pops so it's bearable.

Idling at 60C!  That's quite high... what's its normal idling temperature?

My laptop which is a 4 year old hp runs at 170F idle, :cool: granted it is a laptop with ****ty quality build, but that's still so hot to the touch, I will be using that laptop till I get my 1k build for my birthday. But until then my laptop is a ticking bomb  :))
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: The_Beast on Mon, 01 July 2013, 00:27:21
I haven't been getting that hot in my room, but I haven't had any problems with my lubed switches
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: rootwyrm on Mon, 01 July 2013, 02:24:23
also do not use computers in extreme heat... unless you're used to it...

I've had heat stroke doing this a few summers back when My AC was being replaced..

My cpu is idling at about 60C and I'm in a vortex of fans strapped with otter pops so it's bearable.

Idling at 60C!  That's quite high... what's its normal idling temperature? 

Er, 60C is not even remotely high...

The TJmax for a Core i7 3820 is 100C. Meaning yes, 40C of headroom. 60C isn't even remotely hot for a modern CPU - TJmax hasn't been under the 70's since the Pentium 4. (And the 70C TJmax on a 130W+ CPU was considered ridiculously unrealistic.)

Given the extremely high temperatures, it's not impossible that the issue is thermal expansion. Plastic expands the same as metal - at different rates of course - but it expands all the same. Chances are it's not specific to the lube, just the reduced tolerances from the lube make it more noticeable.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: Photoelectric on Mon, 01 July 2013, 06:48:23
It's hot for a recent processor that's not been heavily underclocked.  My i7 3770 (at a mild 4.3GHz overclock) idles at 25-30C in normal temperature, and staying below 40C while browsing the web now when it's hot.  60C is going to be for heavily overclocked processors or bad cooling.  Which is why I was wondering.  I know all about TJmax :)
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 01 July 2013, 08:16:37
It's hot for a recent processor that's not been heavily underclocked.  My i7 3770 (at a mild 4.3GHz overclock) idles at 25-30C in normal temperature, and staying below 40C while browsing the web now when it's hot.  60C is going to be for heavily overclocked processors or bad cooling.  Which is why I was wondering.  I know all about TJmax :)

I think they're using laptops.

The laptop equivalent 3770 processors idle at 50C is normal, cuz the cooler is so small, and the slits for airflow is also tiny.

My desktop 2500k @ 5ghz, I turned off speedstep, idles at 35 C,  but the Cooler weighs as much as a macbook air. 2.3 lbs.

So yea 50C is normal for laptops..  and anything from the 130nm era
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: Photoelectric on Mon, 01 July 2013, 08:27:02
Just noticed something in the OP: Victorinox [Multi-tool Oil]--did you use it on more than just springs?  I thought you need lower viscosity for actual switches.  Could potentially be an issue in general.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: UniClown on Mon, 01 July 2013, 08:36:24
Put your keyboard in the refrigerator for a bit and take it out and retry. I'm actually serious.
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: Photoelectric on Mon, 01 July 2013, 08:37:59
Put your keyboard in the refrigerator for a bit and take it out and retry. I'm actually serious.

But if it's humid, it's going to get a lot of condensation on it, so I'd be careful to not short anything on the PCB...
Title: Re: Lubed switches sticking in extreme heat
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 01 July 2013, 10:34:55
Put your keyboard in the refrigerator for a bit and take it out and retry. I'm actually serious.

But if it's humid, it's going to get a lot of condensation on it, so I'd be careful to not short anything on the PCB...

you could put some rice in a plastic bag along with the keyboard.. obviously don't shake it..

let that sit for a few hours.. Put the bag n'all in the freezer.