Stabilizer, Diodes, Resistors questions

[AwSmCreator]

Hello,

I'm looking to get a keyboard from Winkeyless store and there are a few options that I'm not really sure about.

1. Stabilizer - options are Winkey style or Winkeyless Style. What is the actual difference here?

2. Diodes - I'll need to have these soldered for NKRO right?

3. Resistors - I have no idea on these. I tried to look it up but I'm still lost.

Link: http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-face-x2-pcb/

Thank you in advance for your help ^_^

[TalkingTree]

1. Stabilizer - options are Winkey style or Winkeyless Style. What is the actual difference here?

Usually winkeyless means 7u spacebar while Winkey means 6,25u.

2. Diodes - I'll need to have these soldered for NKRO right?

Correct. For anything above 2KRO, if I recall correctly.

3. Resistors

You need resistors for LEDs. One for every net if you want a backlit keyboard, or just three resistors for lock indicators.

[AwSmCreator]

1. Stabilizer - options are Winkey style or Winkeyless Style. What is the actual difference here?

Usually winkeyless means 7u spacebar while Winkey means 6,25u.

2. Diodes - I'll need to have these soldered for NKRO right?

Correct. For anything above 2KRO, if I recall correctly.

Awesome! So Diodes are a go and Resistors are a go and I guess I'm gonna do winkey! Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

3. Resistors

You need resistors for LEDs. One for every net if you want a backlit keyboard, or just three resistors for lock indicators.

[TalkingTree]

You're welcome.
BTW you can solder Diodes and Resistors yourself. Just be aware that Diodes have polarity.

[AwSmCreator]

I've been thinking about giving it a try, but I think for this board I want to have it done by someone who knows what they are doing. Then for the next one I will do the soldering, or try to at least

[kekman]

I think doing a keyboard is an extremely good way to get educated on soldering. It's fairly simple, repetitive, and if you screw up 99% of the time it can be easily repaired, or worst comes to worst you've wasted a dollars worth of components if you **** up a switch. Resistors and diodes are also really easy to solder, gives excellent practice.

[AwSmCreator]

I think doing a keyboard is an extremely good way to get educated on soldering. It's fairly simple, repetitive, and if you screw up 99% of the time it can be easily repaired, or worst comes to worst you've wasted a dollars worth of components if you **** up a switch. Resistors and diodes are also really easy to solder, gives excellent practice.

What are the chances of actually messing up the board? This is something that I'd like to learn but don't know if I should buy a new board or find one on classifieds to play with.

[appleonama]

I think doing a keyboard is an extremely good way to get educated on soldering. It's fairly simple, repetitive, and if you screw up 99% of the time it can be easily repaired, or worst comes to worst you've wasted a dollars worth of components if you **** up a switch. Resistors and diodes are also really easy to solder, gives excellent practice.

What are the chances of actually messing up the board? This is something that I'd like to learn but don't know if I should buy a new board or find one on classifieds to play with.

extremely high especially if you are a beginner. Also if you are smd soldering forget about it, expect to lift a couple pads.

I highly recommend solder paste for smd soldering and use flux for switch soldering.

Regardless this shouldn't scare you off. It is an excellent learning experience for soldering and even if you do mess up you are expected to lose a couple bucks. The pcb is readily replaceable so buy 2 if you want to practice on one beforehand. Find the best technique for soldering on your practice board and once you are confident move onto your good board.

[spanyam]

I just completed my first build that involved both desoldering and soldering. I would highly recommend watching videos on YouTube about general care for your soldering iron and the kind of equipment you will need before you start. I went into it totally blind and made lots of avoidable mistakes.

Things like tinning the tip, having a damp sponge for cleaning, buying good quality solder (rosin core 60/40 is best bang for buck), having a solder sucker and solder wick, etc are really important. Read up on the meling point of your solder and keep your tip temperature right around there for the smoothest experience.

[Moistgun]

I think you should listen tho this ^^^ and trust in your self AwSmCreator.

Only one way to learn and it is to do!

[quasistellar]

I think doing a keyboard is an extremely good way to get educated on soldering. It's fairly simple, repetitive, and if you screw up 99% of the time it can be easily repaired, or worst comes to worst you've wasted a dollars worth of components if you **** up a switch. Resistors and diodes are also really easy to solder, gives excellent practice.

What are the chances of actually messing up the board? This is something that I'd like to learn but don't know if I should buy a new board or find one on classifieds to play with.

Idk, I picked up a soldering iron for the first time in 15 years a couple weeks ago and did just fine. Watch some tutorials and buy a practice kit for cheap. Get an iron that's adjustable and keep your tip tinned and clean.  Use a tip that's the right size. For beginners I recommend only soldering the switches, and have the diodes and resisters soldered by the manufacturer.

About $100 worth of equipment on Amazon should get you everything you need. Once you realize how easy it is you might get the itch to build some more goodies.

[AwSmCreator]

Thanks everyone! Pretty excited to give this a try. Definitely gonna watch a bunch of tutorials before I buy anything.