geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jyh on Mon, 28 October 2013, 02:11:07
-
So a few weeks ago I got a Noppoo Choc Mini from Amazon (sold by Focalgadgets) and it was one of the new ones that have been posted about. All white text, strange LED placements, etc. but perhaps the strangest part is that the switches are upside down. I realized when I was experimenting with the keycap puller and wanted to take out my shift key. The stabilizer would not stand up straight like I'd seen in pictures, and I realized it was because all the switches are turned 180 degrees. Is this some kind of weird design? It has one imperfection on the lettering which is on the 2 key of the numpad (K). Should I demand a refund from Amazon? Pics can be provided if needed. I love the layout and the material the keycaps are made out of, but it just seems like this keyboard is a step down from the older version with the detachable cable and whatnot.
-
Some keyboards have their switches turned around 180 degrees for backlighting purposes, this not a faulty keyboard. You could get a refund for the bad keycap though I guess.
-
It's common. My WASD has an upside down switch, I think most QFR's do too. This is done for many reasons, I think in these cases to get the PCB one layer more easily. The QFR has one of the modifiers I think, and it allows them to make a JIS keyboard if they need with the same PCB.
Cherry often will put the enter key stabilizers upside down. No idea why.
Many backlit keyboards will have the switches in different orientations to better light up the legends.
Many alps keybaords put switches in there sideways.
-
It's common. My WASD has an upside down switch, I think most QFR's do too. This is done for many reasons, I think in these cases to get the PCB one layer more easily. The QFR has one of the modifiers I think, and it allows them to make a JIS keyboard if they need with the same PCB.
Cherry often will put the enter key stabilizers upside down. No idea why.
Many backlit keyboards will have the switches in different orientations to better light up the legends.
Many alps keybaords put switches in there sideways.
My WASD keyboard also had some of the bottom 1.25 switches sideways. So it's quite common
-
Thanks for the feedback! The thing is though that every switch is turned, not just a few of them, and there is no backlighting on the keyboard (besides for the numlock, etc.) The light is placed between 2 keys so you can kind of see it, rather than the design before which just had a circle in the key and the light directly under it, which makes way more sense.
-
Pictures.
-
Thanks for the feedback! The thing is though that every switch is turned, not just a few of them, and there is no backlighting on the keyboard (besides for the numlock, etc.)
Sometimes manufacturers use the same PCB for different versions of the keyboard, in this case they use the same PCB for the backlit and the non-backlit version. On the Poker II for example the PCB is backlight capable even though there is no backlit version yet.
Ducky uses upside-down switches on some of their keyboards, too: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35789.0
-
The Blues on my Blackwidow TE are also upside down.
-
I understand now, thanks guys.
Video for good measure.
Forgot to mention. Because of the switch being upside down and the stabilizer being the way it is, the left shift makes that springy noise. Not a big deal though, I rarely use my left shift.
-
Forgot to post it, lol.
-
Well, first of all, the stabilizers don't NEED to stand up completely. No necessity for it. They seem to have been reengineered in the bends. Maybe these are the ones that were designed to work with LEDs? I'm not sure. But they seem to look like they go up enough to work with a keycap on.
Secondly, there is nothing wrong with having the switches turned, as you might have determined based on every other post in this thread.
Lastly, are you planning on replacing the caps? Because if so, what difference does a little blemish (that I can't even see in the video because of no focus) on a cap make? If you are, and it's a really big deal, then return it. You don't seem to be happy with it, and you have a valid reason to return it.
-
Well, first of all, the stabilizers don't NEED to stand up completely. No necessity for it. They seem to have been reengineered in the bends. Maybe these are the ones that were designed to work with LEDs? I'm not sure. But they seem to look like they go up enough to work with a keycap on.
Secondly, there is nothing wrong with having the switches turned, as you might have determined based on every other post in this thread.
Lastly, are you planning on replacing the caps? Because if so, what difference does a little blemish (that I can't even see in the video because of no focus) on a cap make? If you are, and it's a really big deal, then return it. You don't seem to be happy with it, and you have a valid reason to return it.
It was more of an observation as it could have been a sign of poor build quality or that it was a knockoff. Similar to the "SorLock" typo.
-
Same thing with my Filcos...I was like what the heck?!
-
If it helps: most switches cannot be fitted to the PCB the wrong way around. The legs are off to one side of the switch. The only way that a switch can be soldered in the "wrong" way, is if the PCB is specifically designed for the switch to be in that orientation. In other words, it was designed that way.
[attachimg=2]
Since the slider travels completely vertically, the switch orientation is not actually relevant. Since many keycap mounts (including Cherry MX) are 90° rotationally symmetrical, sideways-facing switches will work too:
[attachimg=1]
-
If it helps: most switches cannot be fitted to the PCB the wrong way around. The legs are off to one side of the switch. The only way that a switch can be soldered in the "wrong" way, is if the PCB is specifically designed for the switch to be in that orientation. In other words, it was designed that way.
Since the slider travels completely vertically, the switch orientation is not actually relevant. Since many keycap mounts (including Cherry MX) are 90° rotationally symmetrical, sideways-facing switches will work too:
Great explanation! Of course I immediately pulled off a keycap and put it sideways.