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Buying spare Cherry MX switches

post #1 of 4
10/24/12 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
I just ordered a Das Model S Professional keyboard with Cherry MX blue switches. I believe that Cherry MX switches are rated for 50 million operations. But having worked in the computer industry for 20+ years, I've seen keyboard switches with metal contacts experience failed switches while Hall Effect switches lasted forever. I'm not familiar with how long Cherry MX mechanical switches actually last.

That said, have any of you bought spare switches for your keyboard?
Anyone buy spare switches from eBay? I see some blues selling for $2.50 but seller is in China. Shipping isn't too bad at $1.50 for 1 to 4 switches (didn't check for more than 4 switches).
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post #2 of 4
10/24/12 at 7:10pm
Plate-mounted mechanical keyboards such as Das are difficult to repair as you will have to desolder and re-solder more than just the broken/damaged switch.

Whereas for PCB-mounted mechanical keyboards, they are as easy to repair as replacing a typical LED.

Things to note when buy replacement switches, there are to main types of cherry switches, plate-mounted and PCB-mounted. The difference is that PCB-mounted switches have 2 additional plastic pins at the base.
Another thing to note is, there are 2 variant of PCB-mounted switches, with diode or with jumper.
Edited by squarebox - 10/24/12 at 7:16pm
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post #3 of 4
10/24/12 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by squarebox View Post

Plate-mounted mechanical keyboards such as Das are difficult to repair as you will have to desolder and re-solder more than just the broken/damaged switch.
Whereas for PCB-mounted mechanical keyboards, they are as easy to repair as replacing a typical LED.
Things to note when buy replacement switches, there are to main types of cherry switches, plate-mounted and PCB-mounted. The difference is that PCB-mounted switches have 2 additional plastic pins at the base.
Another thing to note is, there are 2 variant of PCB-mounted switches, with diode or with jumper.

Whoa, that's really good information! Never would have suspected all of the nuances. Guess the only sure way to buy spare switches is to buy them from DAS, which will probably cost an arm & a leg. Guess I'll chance it and cross the bridge when/if the time comes.

Thanks!
Raptor
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post #4 of 4
10/26/12 at 6:09am
Somebody should do a wiki on all this!

Oh wait, I did but the Geekhack Wiki got R00TW0RMed and the morons can't copy pasta because they lost the backups.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches+and+boards

Old obsolete version here.


http://web.archive.org/web/20101117225207/http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches+and+boards

My backed up version will be at theplacethatmustnotbenamed.

And it will include the dozen or so places that sell Cherry MX switches including My fav, Mouser.
Edited by ripster - 10/26/12 at 6:12am
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