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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:42:06

Title: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:42:06
Hi everyone.

I recently bought a nerd60 pcb and I misunderstood and thought that it came pre-soldered with diodes.

I don't know anything about diodes, and are there different kinds? and is this something I can pick up at a local radio shack?

I was getting ready to make the build today and kinda bummed out now.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:46:17
1N4148 diode is what you want most likely.  Through hole or SMD depends on the PCB.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: MOZ on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:51:04
I'm yet to see any MX based boards use other diodes that 1N4148.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: infiniti on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:51:46
Please note that diodes have polarity:

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/20523800/GH%20Pictures/MISC/diode.png)

Happy Soldering!
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 09:56:34
okay, well now that I got that info thats helpful.

while we are on topic of this kinda stuff, why is it recomended that you solder in resistors for LED's? I've never had any issues soldering in leds without adding resistors.

And my pcb can use either the stick kind or the smd kind, and i'll check out some radioshacks and see if I can find some Diodes.

Thanks guys.

EDIT: Looks like I can buy these at local radioshacks, pfew, I was worried I was going to have to order online and end up waiting a few weeks. Was hoping to get this one built and then give one of my other 60%'ers to a friend for christmas.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:08:21
Use the through hole diodes if at all possible.
The SMD ones are ****ing tiny as hell.
If you want something for scale, it's maybe smaller than a grain of rice.
Title: diodes for PCB?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:09:53
If you're new to soldering then thru hole might be better than SMD starting out. I have the same pcb on the way and might not do the SMD stuff myself at all.

Edit: Frosty Ninja beat me.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:12:47
I believe that all he nerd PCBs are designed for through hole diodes, GON sells the correct type diode, I'm sure you can find the same specs on mouser. It shouldn't be too hard to solder, however the pads might be a bit small.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: evolveS on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:17:23
For the NERD60, all the backlighting & housing LEDs use SMD resistors but the switches require through-hole diodes (which has been said). You can check out the customizing service options for verification (http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/customizing-services/114-optional-soldering-for-nerd-60-pcb.html).
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:20:59
For the NERD60, all the backlighting & housing LEDs use SMD resistors but the switches require through-hole diodes (which has been said). You can check out the customizing service options for verification (http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/customizing-services/114-optional-soldering-for-nerd-60-pcb.html).

I actually already have some SMD resistors for the LEDs, but are they needed?
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: evolveS on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:24:24
You need resistors with LEDs because they will burn out otherwise.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 10:27:09
You need resistors with LEDs because they will burn out otherwise.

Hm... I've never had any issues in my other keyboards adding LED's without resistors.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Wed, 10 December 2014, 12:45:31
I'm guessing that you are talking about the poker II or similar boards that, as far as I know, ship with resistors already soldered.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 13:29:27
cool, radioshack had the diodes, $6 for 100 of them. Sweet.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Wed, 10 December 2014, 15:32:50
cool, radioshack had the diodes, $6 for 100 of them. Sweet.

be carefull and make sure they are the same spec and size!
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 16:54:35
box says 1n914 type diodes, 1n914/1n1948

I'll wire one up and test it first to make sure its working right before I do them all.
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 10 December 2014, 17:08:37
You should be fine with 1N914 as well.

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=1N914TRvirtualkey61370000virtualkey78-1N914

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Rectron/1N4148-T/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtoHjESLttvkr6EjNfTfTJYVe0iDtoqTpQ%3d
Title: Re: diodes for PCB?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 10 December 2014, 18:13:58
cool, wired one up and it seems to work, adn the diodes themself do have the 8 on the end, so I should be fine.

Thanks for the help guys.