Author Topic: Hot swap or Not swap?  (Read 1906 times)

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Offline bdegal

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Hot swap or Not swap?
« on: Fri, 25 October 2019, 13:26:44 »
When it comes to the PCB I can't decide which way I wan't to go. I'm really new to all of this. I have the stuff necessary for soldering but I'm by no means good at it. I've used the stuff literally 2 times on my guitar. Also I will definitely lube my switches (right now leaning towards 78g Zealios) and I've heard that having to re-lube is a massive pain if you solder. I think I want a pcb that allows for hot-swapping keycaps but i'm scared that the switches will be wobbly or the connection will fail. Can anyone offer me some advice either way? 

Offline Sup

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Re: Hot swap or Not swap?
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 25 October 2019, 14:18:52 »
Just lube the switches before you solder ;). Also depends if you are new and don't know what your switch is that you like i think a hot swap is a good idea then. I just dislike hot swap because the switches will never sit flush and not all switches are compatible some have to thick of a leg.
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Filco Zero -  NOS Yellow Alps | Canoe R1 Gateron Red | AEK II JP Cream dampend |Filco Majestouch 2 Tex case Gateron Yellow | HHKB Pro 1 2003 Rev AO Serial 000171 | HHKB Pro 1 2003 Rev A1s|DZ60 OG Panda's with Fei spring and stem. | Sentraq S65_Plus OG Invyr Panda's | A17 Gateron Black TX 65G 3204 | Lubrigrante Wildcard Cherry MX silent blacks 3204 58.5G Springs | Rukia Everglide Tourmaline Blue 58.5G Springs | MGA Standard Greetech brown |
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Rest in peace Byron Daniel 1989-2020

Offline bdegal

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Re: Hot swap or Not swap?
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 25 October 2019, 17:06:59 »
Just lube the switches before you solder ;). Also depends if you are new and don't know what your switch is that you like i think a hot swap is a good idea then. I just dislike hot swap because the switches will never sit flush and not all switches are compatible some have to thick of a leg.

I probably won't be swapping switches to be honest. I know what I want as far as switches. I was mainly concerned with re-lubing them, and with them not fitting properly.

Offline Sup

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Re: Hot swap or Not swap?
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 25 October 2019, 17:10:00 »
Just lube the switches before you solder ;). Also depends if you are new and don't know what your switch is that you like i think a hot swap is a good idea then. I just dislike hot swap because the switches will never sit flush and not all switches are compatible some have to thick of a leg.

I probably won't be swapping switches to be honest. I know what I want as far as switches. I was mainly concerned with re-lubing them, and with them not fitting properly.

For re lubing you could get a plate that allows switch opening.

Video demonstration below.

current
Filco Zero -  NOS Yellow Alps | Canoe R1 Gateron Red | AEK II JP Cream dampend |Filco Majestouch 2 Tex case Gateron Yellow | HHKB Pro 1 2003 Rev AO Serial 000171 | HHKB Pro 1 2003 Rev A1s|DZ60 OG Panda's with Fei spring and stem. | Sentraq S65_Plus OG Invyr Panda's | A17 Gateron Black TX 65G 3204 | Lubrigrante Wildcard Cherry MX silent blacks 3204 58.5G Springs | Rukia Everglide Tourmaline Blue 58.5G Springs | MGA Standard Greetech brown |
Coming soon
Rest in peace Billy Herrington(William Glen Harold Herrington) 1969-2018
Rest in peace Byron Daniel 1989-2020

Offline Fraught

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  • Location: United Kingdom
Re: Hot swap or Not swap?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 25 October 2019, 17:12:02 »
If you have any special layout in mind, you could also just put hotswap sockets on your board yourself. I just put holtites on my DZ60 because I use an ISO layout with all the split options. As long as you feed some solder into the holes and then gently press on top of the sockets with a hot iron to slighly melt the solder and push the socket into the hole, it'll stay put just fine.

As far as using hotswap or not...from my own personal experience, I'd say go for it, 'cause even with a pretty "universal" plate that leaves a big part of the bottom right part of my board with relatively little plate support on the switches, the switches still stay put well. With regular hotswap boards that have specialized plates, it should be even better/easier.