How to install zealios switches

[snarfarlarkus]

Hi GH,

Just impulse bought some zealio switches from the round 2 group buy but I've no idea on how to install them to a keyboard... I was wondering, can I just buy any PCB mounted keyboard and change the stem and spring and that'll be a zealio switch installation done or must I install the whole thing by desoldering, resoldering, etc like on a plate mounted keyboard?

Cheers!

[Jokrik]

The Zealios is made with pcb mounted leg

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_mount - see the difference here

In order to assemble it on a plate mounted, you can just clip the two legs away

you can just buy any plate mounted keyboard available on the market like Ducky, Filco, etc but it requires you to desolder the switch , and solder the zealios

and for pcb mounted keyboard, you still need to desolder it too

or you can buy those new keyboard which allow you to easily swap the switch

[joey]

The Zealios is made with pcb mounted leg

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_mount - see the difference here

In order to assemble it on a plate mounted, you can just clip the two legs away

you can just buy any plate mounted keyboard available on the market like Ducky, Filco, etc but it requires you to desolder the switch , and solder the zealios

and for pcb mounted keyboard, you still need to desolder it too

or you can buy those new keyboard which allow you to easily swap the switch

With a PCB mounted board, you can just remove the tops and replace the spring and stem.

[suicidal_orange]

The Zealios is made with pcb mounted leg

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_mount - see the difference here

In order to assemble it on a plate mounted, you can just clip the two legs away

you can just buy any plate mounted keyboard available on the market like Ducky, Filco, etc but it requires you to desolder the switch , and solder the zealios

and for pcb mounted keyboard, you still need to desolder it too

or you can buy those new keyboard which allow you to easily swap the switch

With a PCB mounted board, you can just remove the tops and replace the spring and stem.

You can, but a Gateron/Zealio stem in a Cherry housing isn't as smooth as it is in a Zealio/Gateron housing

[joey]

The Zealios is made with pcb mounted leg

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_mount - see the difference here

In order to assemble it on a plate mounted, you can just clip the two legs away

you can just buy any plate mounted keyboard available on the market like Ducky, Filco, etc but it requires you to desolder the switch , and solder the zealios

and for pcb mounted keyboard, you still need to desolder it too

or you can buy those new keyboard which allow you to easily swap the switch

With a PCB mounted board, you can just remove the tops and replace the spring and stem.

You can, but a Gateron/Zealio stem in a Cherry housing isn't as smooth as it is in a Zealio/Gateron housing

You can use the top half of the Zealio housing!

[suicidal_orange]

You can, but a Gateron/Zealio stem in a Cherry housing isn't as smooth as it is in a Zealio/Gateron housing

You can use the top half of the Zealio housing!

But the bits the slider rubs against are in the bottom half - see this image from the lube guide

[joey]

Hm, I was planning on using full cherry housing, or just cherry housing for the tops.. I hope it won't affect them too much!

[Jokrik]

The Zealios is made with pcb mounted leg

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_mount - see the difference here

In order to assemble it on a plate mounted, you can just clip the two legs away

you can just buy any plate mounted keyboard available on the market like Ducky, Filco, etc but it requires you to desolder the switch , and solder the zealios

and for pcb mounted keyboard, you still need to desolder it too

or you can buy those new keyboard which allow you to easily swap the switch

With a PCB mounted board, you can just remove the tops and replace the spring and stem.

Yes, I misread what the TS wanted

[jaffers]

Hm, I was planning on using full cherry housing, or just cherry housing for the tops.. I hope it won't affect them too much!

You know people who put Zealios in Cherry housings go to hell right?

[joey]

Hm, I was planning on using full cherry housing, or just cherry housing for the tops.. I hope it won't affect them too much!

You know people who put Zealios in Cherry housings go to hell right?

It might be worth going to hell for an all-black build.

[Zeal]

Hm, I was planning on using full cherry housing, or just cherry housing for the tops.. I hope it won't affect them too much!

You know people who put Zealios in Cherry housings go to hell right?

?

[suicidal_orange]

I've just had a quick play with 62g Zealio springs and in order of smoothness for linears - Zealio > Zealio stem in Cherry > Cherry stem in Zealio (this feels really heavy)

Tactiles didn't work.  They just don't feel the same as there's more of a defined bump using the Zealio housing, and the Cherry stem in the Zealio housing feels like it has two bumps which is just weird!

Short answer - you've bought premium switches, for best results use all of them!  Or if you want it to look black just swap the tops...

[snarfarlarkus]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I appreciate all the help!

So gathering from you guys have said, I should not place the zealio stem in the cherry housing but that will be the easiest way to install the zealios right? Like a lazy, half-arsed way to do it? Whats another way to install the switches easily but using the zealio stem, spring and housing? I'm new to this stuff and never built a keyboard before so I apologise for the noobyness.

Cheers!

[joey]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I appreciate all the help!

So gathering from you guys have said, I should not place the zealio stem in the cherry housing but that will be the easiest way to install the zealios right? Like a lazy, half-arsed way to do it? Whats another way to install the switches easily but using the zealio stem, spring and housing? I'm new to this stuff and never built a keyboard before so I apologise for the noobyness.

Cheers!

Using a PCB mount board and removing the top half of the switches, and replacing with Zealio springs, stems and housings will be the easiest.
Better would be to de-solder the old switches and replace with Zealios.

[snarfarlarkus]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I appreciate all the help!

So gathering from you guys have said, I should not place the zealio stem in the cherry housing but that will be the easiest way to install the zealios right? Like a lazy, half-arsed way to do it? Whats another way to install the switches easily but using the zealio stem, spring and housing? I'm new to this stuff and never built a keyboard before so I apologise for the noobyness.

Cheers!

Using a PCB mount board and removing the top half of the switches, and replacing with Zealio springs, stems and housings will be the easiest.
Better would be to de-solder the old switches and replace with Zealios.

Will replacing the springs stems and housings feel the same as desoldering the old switches? Or will it achieve a different overall feel? I'm not experienced enough with a soldering iron haha.

Also, what if the plate was a hot-swappable one? Will that be an easy alternative too? Just pop the old switch out and hot swap it with the zealio?

Cheers

[Geroximo]

Would it be better to solder the Zealios into a fresh PCB or to swap them in a common board (Filco, Ducky, Poker)?

[suicidal_orange]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I appreciate all the help!

So gathering from you guys have said, I should not place the zealio stem in the cherry housing but that will be the easiest way to install the zealios right? Like a lazy, half-arsed way to do it? Whats another way to install the switches easily but using the zealio stem, spring and housing? I'm new to this stuff and never built a keyboard before so I apologise for the noobyness.

Cheers!

Using a PCB mount board and removing the top half of the switches, and replacing with Zealio springs, stems and housings will be the easiest.
Better would be to de-solder the old switches and replace with Zealios.

Will replacing the springs stems and housings feel the same as desoldering the old switches? Or will it achieve a different overall feel? I'm not experienced enough with a soldering iron haha.

Also, what if the plate was a hot-swappable one? Will that be an easy alternative too? Just pop the old switch out and hot swap it with the zealio?

Cheers

Zealio stems in Cherry housings do feel nice, I can't deny that, but not quite as smooth as in their own housing.

There are four types of board - PCB mount, plate mount with openable tops, plate mount with non openable tops (damn near every commercial keyboard) and very recently removable switches are an option, though how widely available these are I'm not sure.

With a PCB mount or openable top plate mount you can take the switch tops off and swap the springs and stems to Zealios, with a solid plate you have no option but desoldering.  Whichever you have (except the new removable switch boards) if you want to swap the housing you need to desolder - if you can't do it yourself perhaps a friend or relative can?  Or if you're in the UK I could do it for you, but if it's a big board postage costs might be expensive...

Would it be better to solder the Zealios into a fresh PCB or to swap them in a common board (Filco, Ducky, Poker)?

Desoldering is harder than soldering, but an assembled board is usually easier to get your hands on.

"Better" would depend on your skills as well as what you have and need - if you have a board you like the look of and a soldering iron, and you don't need two boards you'd may as well mod the one you have.

If you don't want fancy caps then the cost of a new assembled board may still be cheaper than finding a PCB and/or plate, case, stabilisers and a set of caps, plus you can sell the switches - but it still won't be fully programmable if that's something you'd like.

[demik]

Put them in a bag. Dump in the trash. Purchase hhkb. Dunzo.

[snarfarlarkus]

Is the zealios in cherry housing much different from the zealios housing? Its so much easier to just replace the stem and spring of the zealio than to actually desolder the switch just to fit it in with the housing?

I would be keen on that offer but gosh, shipping internationally is so pricey here. Thanks for the offer though!

Put them in a bag. Dump in the trash. Purchase hhkb. Dunzo.

I'm selling my RF 87U 55g because topre just isn't my thang, a bit too plain and boring for me although undeniably smooth.

Cheers