Help identifying a button? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: brendan-petrol
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 07:53:47 am
content: Hello!I recently broke my netbook (that I was less than a month away from selling -). I have pulled it apart and found that the faulty part is a single component on a tiny PCB - a button.Guess how much a spare part is? $90. Because you can't buy that single board. You have to buy the entire top panel - of course!I was wondering, has anyone seen a similar button before? Or know of one with similar dimensions that I could de-solder and resolder in? I've got a hot air rework station and if it breaks it - well - it doesn't work now and I'll just buy the entire top panel.But if I can replace the button with a 50c button, the price saving would be greatly appreciated!Sorry for the crappy photo!

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 08:19:35 am
content: What are the dimensions of the button?Regards

author: brendan-petrol
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 08:46:10 am
content: Good point, I should have included that in the first place!The button is approximately 5mm x 4mm. I'm only using a standard ruler since I don't have anything more accurate - I really should buy a vernier caliper!On that note - is there any particular brand of caliper I should buy (for a decent price)? Digital or a normal vernier caliper?

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 09:05:09 am
content: You can get a reasonable digital vernier from eBay for about $30 shipped from China.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 09:13:15 am
content: There are a number of eBay stores that sell odd things like this. The following is similar to what you need, may be a usable substitute.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100pcs-5x5x1-5mm-SMT-SMD-Momentary-Tact-Tactile-Push-Button-Switch-4-Pin-/300821841807?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item460a61078fRegards

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 12:14:51 pm
content: That's not even a real switch, that's a tactile dome and some Kapton tape... and tactile domes are *cheap*. Try asking for some samples ofhttp://www.snaptron.com/domesdomesstanpserzxqL3162.cfmorhttp://www.snaptron.com/domesdomesstanmserzxqL3163.cfmonce you've figured out the dimensions (measure the cavity it resides in).

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 12:57:01 pm
content: If it was me, since you've already got it apart righ there in front of you, I'd be trying to bodge something to work, cut a piece out of a coke can in a roughly circular shape, bend it a bit to make it sort of dome-like, and stock some tape on top. Might work.

author: jeroen74
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 09:19:56 pm
content: Any tactile switch has such metal dome, just take it apart and tape it to the board.

author: jmullett
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 06:31:17 pm
content: Hello. I am the marketing manager at Snaptron. We are a metal dome manufacturer. It does look like a cheap China dome with kapton tape. I would be glad to send you a variety of equivalents (diameter) as samples. I can also throw in some adhesive tape to secure the dome. Let me know.www.snaptron.com

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 07:50:30 pm
content: Quote from: jmullett on September 30, 2013, 06:31:17 pmI'm astonished by your kind attitude.This is what makes a pleasure to deal with a Company.I'm no more in the market for membrane keyboards but, for any future need, I'll put your Company's website in my favorite's list.Best regards

author: mamalala
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 08:31:09 pm
content: Hi,see attached image. It's an ALPS button, 4.7something x 4.7something mm in size. Should fit, i think. If you want let it, let me know your address through a PM. Unfortunately i have only one of them left, so you would have only one try to putting it inGreetings,ChrisEdit: And just in case, i got them from here:http://www.ebay.de/itm/100x-ALPS-SKRBA-0-5mm-ULTRA-MICRO-Taster-SMD-/300959783911. This seller only send to people in the EU, but has a lot of not-so-common parts, especially from ALPS (probably mainly for car radio stuff). Each time you buy something there you get a small bag with random parts and stuff as a freebie. If you (or anyone else outside the EU) wants something from there, let me know...Edit 2: And here the URL to the shop there:http://stores.ebay.de/logoselektronikkiste.Edit 3: And if needed, he also sells complete reels of the SMD parts, at least i had no problem getting them in the past.