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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hwood34 on Sat, 12 July 2014, 17:38:29

Title: Switch Identification
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 12 July 2014, 17:38:29

Anyone know what kind of switch this is? It's linear, pretty heavy, has four pins to hold it in the corners and one actual pin in the center
[attach=1]

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: JPG on Sat, 12 July 2014, 17:47:37

My guess is Hall Effect, but just a just from shape.

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 12 July 2014, 23:45:08

Quote from: JPG on Sat, 12 July 2014, 17:47:37

My guess is Hall Effect, but just a just from shape.

Hall stems are a little different.

This looks just like a maxi-switch magnetic reed.
https://plus.google.com/photos/113845661925823397356/albums/5799760518465710385

Instead of a screw anchoring it is it just soldered on?

Can you show a picture of the bottom? that'll let us know for sure.

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Tue, 15 July 2014, 16:37:41

Considering that the keycap typeface is also identical (on identical-looking keycaps), it seems pretty likely.

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 15 July 2014, 16:45:50

Yeah, it has to be that. The only thing that is off is the soldering at the bottom

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 16 July 2014, 02:42:22

Interesting... This explains what we saw in your other thread. The reed itself is not contained in the switch housing, so the "switch" doesn't actually have any contacts. The reed fits into recesses in each key housing, so it can be wired any way you like. You just have to be careful to hold the reed switch at the correct height.

If you unscrew the switch housings from the board you will be able to see exactly how your reed switches have been wired.  :D

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 16 July 2014, 07:56:01

The reed switch is more or less the forerunner of the Hi-Tek "Space Invader" isn't it?

I know that these things are complicated and finicky to take apart, but they really feel great.

Title: Re: Switch Identification
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Wed, 16 July 2014, 14:53:01

I don't personally see a relationship between reed switches and Hi-Tek switches.