geekhack

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 20:21:01

Title: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 20:21:01
I'm trying for a last minute christmas present, and I have a wkl pcb lying around. How big of a deal would it be if I built it without diodes? I just really don't want to ****ing solder 87 little smd ****s, I'm awful at it.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: Steezus on Thu, 24 December 2015, 20:47:57
Well a diode is meant to force the current in a particular direction so the purpose of them is to prevent ghosting. Which means that you could have some keys not registering if you are pressing multiple at the same time. I'm no expert in the subject but I recommend putting the diodes on.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 20:50:59
Well a diode is meant to force the current in a particular direction so the purpose of them is to prevent ghosting. Which means that you could have some keys not registering if you are pressing multiple at the same time. I'm no expert in the subject but I recommend putting the diodes on.

Yeah... this was mostly a desperation post. I'm not actually going to do it
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: Steezus on Thu, 24 December 2015, 20:55:33
Well a diode is meant to force the current in a particular direction so the purpose of them is to prevent ghosting. Which means that you could have some keys not registering if you are pressing multiple at the same time. I'm no expert in the subject but I recommend putting the diodes on.

Yeah... this was mostly a desperation post. I'm not actually going to do it

I had to solder the switches, sip sockets, resistors, and diodes for the Jane and it took me forever to complete the whole board. If you're using the flat SMD diodes that won't roll off then perhaps it would be best to add some solder to the pad before hand, grab the diode with a tweezer, and then reheat the solder and insert the diode into it. That's what I did with the resistors and it worked quite well. Best of luck to you and happy holidays! :thumb:
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:02:00
The diodes allow the current to flow in only one direction. But they allow the current to flow. Without them, no current = no keypress. No diodes = no worky.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:03:01
The diodes allow the current to flow in only one direction. But they allow the current to flow. Without them, no current = no keypress. No diodes = no worky.

Ok, I thought this was the difference. I've done handwired stuff without diodes before.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:04:45
The diodes allow the current to flow in only one direction. But they allow the current to flow. Without them, no current = no keypress. No diodes = no worky.

Ok, I thought this was the difference. I've done handwired stuff without diodes before.

Yeah, you could jumper them all, but then you might as well solder diodes. :)

Soldering SMD diodes isn't hard, though. Just do it as Steezus described.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:13:36
The diodes allow the current to flow in only one direction. But they allow the current to flow. Without them, no current = no keypress. No diodes = no worky.

Ok, I thought this was the difference. I've done handwired stuff without diodes before.

Yeah, you could jumper them all, but then you might as well solder diodes. :)

Soldering SMD diodes isn't hard, though. Just do it as Steezus described.

Wait so if I **** up a single diode this **** doesn't work
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:15:17
The diodes allow the current to flow in only one direction. But they allow the current to flow. Without them, no current = no keypress. No diodes = no worky.

Ok, I thought this was the difference. I've done handwired stuff without diodes before.

Yeah, you could jumper them all, but then you might as well solder diodes. :)

Soldering SMD diodes isn't hard, though. Just do it as Steezus described.

Wait so if I **** up a single diode this **** doesn't work

if u **** up 1 that switch won't work, typically.
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:15:52
Kind of encouraging, ok
Title: Re: How big of an issue is a board without diodes?
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 24 December 2015, 21:16:45
on a board once i noticed that i forgot like 1 diode but the switch still worked. it just wouldn't rollover or w/e the term is. so i put one back on