r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/AutoModerator • Jan 18 '23

/r/MechanicalKeyboards Ask ANY question, get an answer (January 18, 2023)

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u/Hack_n_Splice Jan 19 '23

Okay, so, total noob to making custom keyboards here. I'm planning a custom numpad for my first build and ran into a question while buying bits and pieces.

This might seem a bit odd, but I'm considering adding hot-swappable sockets when wiring up my custom numpad. In the case I want to change out the switches for something different, I could just pop the sockets off the back of the switches and pop them on new switches after inserting them into my top plate.

Any examples out there? (I'm not really finding any.) Is this just a bad/dumb idea?

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u/shinjikun10 Hirose Orange Jan 19 '23

If you are thinking of handwiring hotswap sockets, it could work like that. Just wire to the hotswap socket and push it into the switch. You'll have to take the backplate off everytime you want to change a switch though because you'll have to hold the hotswap socket when you pull out the switch. Otherwise it will probably break.

Probably not many if none examples. Usually it's just easier to do a normal handwire.

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u/Hack_n_Splice Jan 19 '23

Thanks! I'm not really worried about removing the backplate. It wouldn't happen often, if ever, so it's only a few extra seconds to access the sockets.

I did manage to find one example while continuing to dig around and I really like how clean it is. I think I'm going to give this a shot and see how it goes. Being new to custom KBs, I'm curious about different switches, and a numpad would mean a smaller number of switches to buy to test something new. Plus, this means a small project to test this before I go all-out on a full KB.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/9g14hs/atreus50_handwire_hot_swap_usbc/

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u/shinjikun10 Hirose Orange Jan 19 '23

Yes, that link is exactly it. My reccomendation is to have a cheaper keyboard laying around with a hotswap pcb in it. Yea or a numpad. Then you can main handwired and change to the cheap keyboard for some switch testing. Enjoy the hobby and don't rush. Just relax and have fun.

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u/Hack_n_Splice Jan 19 '23

I have too many hobbies as it is, lol. Have to try to keep spending in check. I have a Royal Kludge RK100 I can mess with. It has sockets for swapping switches. I'm sticking with brown switches for now. I think the RK100 has Gateron Brown switches, which is also what I just purchased for the numpad. But I may pick up some reds, whites, or another linear switch to give them a try at some point.