Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[Kblavkalash]

How long can cherry mx switches last? I know there are exact numbers, but they don't say anything to me.

I am using my filco with cherry mx blues for over 3 years now, pretty much every day. I wonder is it after some years the switches just become unusable, or considerably worse than new? Does that every happen?

For example if I want to buy new set of key caps, should I put them on new keyboard, or 3 year old filco is perfectly fine and will last me many years to follow?

[Melvang]

How long can cherry mx switches last? I know there are exact numbers, but they don't say anything to me.

I am using my filco with cherry mx blues for over 3 years now, pretty much every day. I wonder is it after some years the switches just become unusable, or considerably worse than new? Does that every happen?

For example if I want to buy new set of key caps, should I put them on new keyboard, or 3 year old filco is perfectly fine and will last me many years to follow?

Cherry keyswitches are rated for 50 million keystrokes.  Your keycaps will wear out long before the switches do.

[Kblavkalash]

How long can cherry mx switches last? I know there are exact numbers, but they don't say anything to me.

I am using my filco with cherry mx blues for over 3 years now, pretty much every day. I wonder is it after some years the switches just become unusable, or considerably worse than new? Does that every happen?

For example if I want to buy new set of key caps, should I put them on new keyboard, or 3 year old filco is perfectly fine and will last me many years to follow?

Cherry keyswitches are rated for 50 million keystrokes.  Your keycaps will wear out long before the switches do.

Well as I said that number does not give me any real perspective on what it means. And some of my keycaps already wore off actually

So when selling cherry mx keyboard, does its price change depending on how old the keyboard is? Is it 2 or 5 years, will the price change (considering that external look is the same)?

[Melvang]

Not really much of anything.  Care, cleanliness, and keycaps seem to affect price more than age.

[rowdy]

How long can cherry mx switches last? I know there are exact numbers, but they don't say anything to me.

I am using my filco with cherry mx blues for over 3 years now, pretty much every day. I wonder is it after some years the switches just become unusable, or considerably worse than new? Does that every happen?

For example if I want to buy new set of key caps, should I put them on new keyboard, or 3 year old filco is perfectly fine and will last me many years to follow?

Cherry keyswitches are rated for 50 million keystrokes.  Your keycaps will wear out long before the switches do.

Well as I said that number does not give me any real perspective on what it means. And some of my keycaps already wore off actually

So when selling cherry mx keyboard, does its price change depending on how old the keyboard is? Is it 2 or 5 years, will the price change (considering that external look is the same)?

If you press a single key 1,000 time a day (no idea how realistic that is - you'd have to use a keystroke capture/analysis utility for your typing patterns), a typical Cherry switch would last for 50,000 days.  That's nearly 137 years.  Pressing a single key 1000 time a day every day of the year for 137 years.

If you press a single key 10,000 time a day (now that is probably way overkill, even for a professional typist), that switch would last nearly 14 years.  If you have weekends off, then that switch would last for 1,000 weeks, which is about 19 years.

[Kblavkalash]

Not really much of anything.  Care, cleanliness, and keycaps seem to affect price more than age.

Gotcha.

If you press a single key 1,000 time a day (no idea how realistic that is - you'd have to use a keystroke capture/analysis utility for your typing patterns), a typical Cherry switch would last for 50,000 days.  That's nearly 137 years.  Pressing a single key 1000 time a day every day of the year for 137 years.

If you press a single key 10,000 time a day (now that is probably way overkill, even for a professional typist), that switch would last nearly 14 years.  If you have weekends off, then that switch would last for 1,000 weeks, which is about 19 years.

Alright that's now more clear, they are very long lasting. So apparently no one throws the keyboard away just because switches are all wored out and too old..?

[rowdy]

Not really much of anything.  Care, cleanliness, and keycaps seem to affect price more than age.

Gotcha.

If you press a single key 1,000 time a day (no idea how realistic that is - you'd have to use a keystroke capture/analysis utility for your typing patterns), a typical Cherry switch would last for 50,000 days.  That's nearly 137 years.  Pressing a single key 1000 time a day every day of the year for 137 years.

If you press a single key 10,000 time a day (now that is probably way overkill, even for a professional typist), that switch would last nearly 14 years.  If you have weekends off, then that switch would last for 1,000 weeks, which is about 19 years.

Alright that's now more clear, they are very long lasting. So apparently no one throws the keyboard away just because switches are all wored out and too old..?

Most here would get the soldering iron out and replace a 50c switch themselves rather than throw the whole keyboard out!

It's quite feasible to replace individual switches as they reach the end of their lives.  Or if they become defective and die young.

[BlueBär]

Just to add to the discussion here: The ratings mean that the switch will work after 50 million actuations, or rather that the contacts still work after that time. It doesn't say anything about how it feels.
For example you can be sure that the spring will be a lot lighter after 50 million actuations than one from a new switch. I have a few old Cherry boards with MX Blacks and some keys in the main areas are lighter than for example the F-row keys.
Another thing that is probably going to happen is that the stem will wear off a bit - this can make it smoother, but also reduce any tactility it has (that is of course not an issue for linear switches).

That said, since it's a slow, progressive change you will probably not feel it unless you compare it to a new board and it will still take a lot of time until the switch feel significantly changes.

[Kblavkalash]

Just to add to the discussion here: The ratings mean that the switch will work after 50 million actuations, or rather that the contacts still work after that time. It doesn't say anything about how it feels.
For example you can be sure that the spring will be a lot lighter after 50 million actuations than one from a new switch. I have a few old Cherry boards with MX Blacks and some keys in the main areas are lighter than for example the F-row keys.
Another thing that is probably going to happen is that the stem will wear off a bit - this can make it smoother, but also reduce any tactility it has (that is of course not an issue for linear switches).

That said, since it's a slow, progressive change you will probably not feel it unless you compare it to a new board and it will still take a lot of time until the switch feel significantly changes.

Yeah actually I can definitely notice the difference when pressing  regular (A, S, D, etc) key on my Filco vs. rarely used ones like Pause or F12.
 

[Kblavkalash]

Another question..

I want to buy this PBT blank white key cap set: http://www.banggood.com/PBT-87-Blank-White-Key-Caps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-84084.html

Is it going to fit my Filco or KBC poker 2? Are the keys have absolutely the same design?

[BlueBär]

I want to buy this PBT blank white key cap set: http://www.banggood.com/PBT-87-Blank-White-Key-Caps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-84084.html

Is it going to fit my Filco or KBC poker 2? Are the keys have absolutely the same design?

Yes it should work perfectly fine.

[Kblavkalash]

I want to buy this PBT blank white key cap set: http://www.banggood.com/PBT-87-Blank-White-Key-Caps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-84084.html

Is it going to fit my Filco or KBC poker 2? Are the keys have absolutely the same design?

Yes it should work perfectly fine.

Okay, and what about those little plastic things on wider keys like space bar which I put into stabiliser? From pictures I can see the key caps are just plain without those plastic things. Or I can just remove them from my old key caps and put to new ones?

[BlueBär]

Okay, and what about those little plastic things on wider keys like space bar which I put into stabiliser? From pictures I can see the key caps are just plain without those plastic things. Or I can just remove them from my old key caps and put to new ones?

Those plastic things you mean are Costar stabilizer inserts, you can pull them out of the old keycaps. Your Poker doesn't need them, it uses Cherry stabilizers.

[infiniti]

Hoping the answer is simple...How do I program a 360C?

[Kblavkalash]

Those plastic things you mean are Costar stabilizer inserts, you can pull them out of the old keycaps. Your Poker doesn't need them, it uses Cherry stabilizers.

Ahh so if some key caps I want to use for Filco I'll just pull them out of filco's key caps, and for Poker I don't even need them Thank you sir!

[BlueBär]

Hoping the answer is simple...How do I program a 360C?

Do you know what controller it uses? I couldn't really find anything.

Ahh so if some key caps I want to use for Filco I'll just pull them out of filco's key caps, and for Poker I don't even need them Thank you sir!

This video shows how to remove the inserts in case you're having any trouble with it:

[infiniti]

Hoping the answer is simple...How do I program a 360C?

Do you know what controller it uses? I couldn't really find anything.

It has an ATMEGA16A PU 1347.  I have a firmware file but can't seem to get it to connect to AVR Studio.

[Photekq]

http://www.otd.kr/gn/wiki/Aikon

There you go infiniti^

[Pacifist]

are ducky shine zero tkl cherry stabs pre clipped or not? Friend is getting one from mk.

[Dubsgalore]

are ducky shine zero tkl cherry stabs pre clipped or not? Friend is getting one from mk.

Is this a serious question? as in are the stabilizers preclipped?

[CPTBadAss]

are ducky shine zero tkl cherry stabs pre clipped or not? Friend is getting one from mk.

At one point, Laffindude had suggested that the Shine 3's were pre-clipped. I'm not sure about Zeros. When I was typing on one I modded, it didn't feel like they were.

[epzy]

My Mini, G2Pro and Shine 3 didn't have clipped stablizers at least.

[asgeirtj]

I have a keycool 84 with brown kailh switches and they feel super mushy.  Am I imagining this or has someone experienced something similar? Thought kailh and cherry mx were supposed to be pretty similar.  Comparing to my Filco brown tenkeypad they feel horrible.

edit: also, the spacebar is super rattly, is this normal on this board?

[Puddsy]

sounds normal to me

kalih and mx feel nothing alike, i don't know where you read that

[Jalberstone]

Does either the Realforce 87U or Leopold fc660c have volume controls and will they work on a mac?

[Puddsy]

Does either the Realforce 87U or Leopold fc660c have volume controls and will they work on a mac?

no and no

[swill]

Does either the Realforce 87U or Leopold fc660c have volume controls and will they work on a mac?

F10-F12 work fine as volume control on my FC660C. I think I have keymap4mac (I think is what it is called) installed though.

[FrostyToast]

Where can I get a US mail proxy? I can't seem to find this one item in Canada and I need it shipped to someone in the US then up here.

[epzy]

Where can I get a US mail proxy? I can't seem to find this one item in Canada and I need it shipped to someone in the US then up here.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37277.0

[digi]

When will someone make an 1800 PCB (like the leeku) but with pre soldered SMD's?

[CPTBadAss]

When will someone make an 1800 PCB (like the leeku) but with pre soldered SMD's?

When you pay someone to do the smd work for you.

Where can I get a US mail proxy? I can't seem to find this one item in Canada and I need it shipped to someone in the US then up here.

Or you can ask a friendly GHer to help you out.

[digi]

When will someone make an 1800 PCB (like the leeku) but with pre soldered SMD's?

Knew you would say that, lol. I need to find a leeku and send it off to someone I guess.

[nubbinator]

When will someone make an 1800 PCB (like the leeku) but with pre soldered SMD's?

Knew you would say that, lol. I need to find a leeku and send it off to someone I guess.

I'm pretty sure it does through hole too.  I just got one and I've been debating trying to do SMD or doing through hole.  If I do through hole, I may pop the diode out of the switch and bend the diode so that it doesn't cover the LED holes and I can still do LEDs as well.

On that matter, is there any good documentation on the Leeku anywhere so I can make sure I do things the right way with it?

[minho]

Quick check - long lead of LED is positive and short is negative correct? And square pads are negative while circles are positive...?

[swill]

Quick check - long lead of LED is positive and short is negative correct? And square pads are negative while circles are positive...?

Legs: Yes, long is (+), short is (-)...
Holes: On my Sprit PCB I have a different circle vs square config...



Edit: and from the OP http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.8650#post_BBB

[Demetrium]

Anyone know if KBT Pures are still being made? I think I want to buy one with orange LEDs and MX Reds. So sexy, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere.

[minho]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

[swill]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

It may depend on the PCB, I would expect that to be somewhat standard, but I don't know that at all.  What PCB do you have?  I am sure someone has one and knows the answers.

Another option would be to install/solder SIP sockets.  Then if you are wrong about your LEDs you can just pull them out and turn them around.  An option anyway...  If you use SIP sockets, be sure to put an LED in them before you solder them on so the spacing is right.

You can check my build log to see what I am talking about: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58969.msg1349714#msg1349714

[jdcarpe]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

Before you solder in the LED, plug the PCB into your PC and activate the backlighting. Then touch the legs of the LED to the pads. It will only light in one orientation. Then just remember which leg goes to which hole.

[swill]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

Before you solder in the LED, plug the PCB into your PC and activate the backlighting. Then touch the legs of the LED to the pads. It will only light in one orientation. Then just remember which leg goes to which hole.

Does this assume that there is a firmware flashed to the board already? 

[jdcarpe]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

Before you solder in the LED, plug the PCB into your PC and activate the backlighting. Then touch the legs of the LED to the pads. It will only light in one orientation. Then just remember which leg goes to which hole.

Does this assume that there is a firmware flashed to the board already?

Of course. You always want to solder the LEDs as the very last step.

[swill]

Hm. The OP doesn't really explain any more about determining polarity on PCB, most likely because I'm assuming most PCB's are unique? Is there a better way to determine polarity besides soldering in the LEDs and hoping they work and resoldering them the other way around if they don't work? I don't have access to a multimeter.

On a related note, is desoldering and resoldering LEDs simple? It seems like all you would need to do is desolder the legs and then just pull the LED out without desoldering anything else.

Before you solder in the LED, plug the PCB into your PC and activate the backlighting. Then touch the legs of the LED to the pads. It will only light in one orientation. Then just remember which leg goes to which hole.

Does this assume that there is a firmware flashed to the board already?

Of course. You always want to solder the LEDs as the very last step.

Cool. Thanks for confirming.

[minho]

Does this assume that there is a firmware flashed to the board already?

On a similar note, what is the easiest method of programing the GHpad? It has 4 extra buttons above the numpad, and has a mega32u4 soldered on already. Is Metalliqaz's good? (It requires starting the keyboard in bootloader mode, and I'm not sure how to do that on the GHpad).

[CPTBadAss]

1) On a similar note, what is the easiest method of programing the GHpad? Is Metalliqaz's good?

2) It requires starting the keyboard in bootloader mode, and I'm not sure how to do that on the GHpad.

1) I like metalliqaz's firmware thingy.

2) I'm not sure, I bet it's holding escape while plugging in the pad though.

[Pacifist]

1) On a similar note, what is the easiest method of programing the GHpad? Is Metalliqaz's good?

2) It requires starting the keyboard in bootloader mode, and I'm not sure how to do that on the GHpad.

1) I like metalliqaz's firmware thingy.

2) I'm not sure, I bet it's holding escape while plugging in the pad though.

1. +1 to metalliqaz's firmware, best thing ever
2. I'm also not sure, but I'm placing my bets on that there is some pads you have to short

[jdcarpe]

Does this assume that there is a firmware flashed to the board already?

On a similar note, what is the easiest method of programing the GHpad? It has 4 extra buttons above the numpad, and has a mega32u4 soldered on already. Is Metalliqaz's good? (It requires starting the keyboard in bootloader mode, and I'm not sure how to do that on the GHpad).

Does it not have a button on the back? You would press that while it's connected to the PC to enter the boot loader.

[combataran]

What caps are these?



Und

[noisyturtle]

Why does the semicolon take precedence over the colon, when the only time the semicolon ever gets used is when people meant to hit the colon key but missed the shift key. Same goes for the backslash. **** you backslash, question mark is far more loved and useful then you'll ever be. Stop being a glutton for top billing!
Also, why does no one ever notice when I use a minus instead of a hyphen? In fact, why don't they simply do away with the hyphen and just make it a minus key because the entire planet doesn't notice nor do they care.

[BlueBär]

What caps are these?

Show Image

Und

Show Image

Look like some from the Apple Extended Keyboards (would make sense since some of them use Alps).

[combataran]

What caps are these?

Show Image

Und

Show Image

Look like some from the Apple Extended Keyboards (would make sense since some of them use Alps).

Danke.