microswitches?

[davellaman]

Do places like radio shack sell microswitches, or are microswitches only really available on the net.  I didnt realize the control panel I purchased was going to be missing 14 microswitches....

If radio shack does have them, what kind exactly would I be looking for, or are all microswitches alike?

Also, the microswitches I need are for standard arcade buttons.



THanks,

Mark

[Apollo]

You would do well to invest in Cherry micros.

http://www.happcontrols.com/

http://personal.msy.bellsouth.net/b/o/bob147/

[paigeoliver]

If you live in a large city then you should have a couple of local arcade distributors who will stock the standard cherry microswitches. Look under vending in the phone book.

[grafixmonkey]

Radio Shack sells microswitches.  They're in those metal drawers towards the back of the store.  

They're smaller than the arcade microswitches though.  I picked two up to help with the electronics in my motorized keyboard project, and they look just like the switches on the bottom of a Happ joystick (with the metal lever that acts like a leaf), only smaller, with the mounting holes in much different places.

Oh yeah, and as is customary with Radio Shack, marked up to $2.00 each.

[RandyT]

Since this is sort of of "on topic", I'd like to make a comment about something I keep seeing stated.

Cherry microswitches are not the end to all ends in microswitches.  They are reliable and quieter than some, but not necessarily better than all others out there.

I've used about 10 different varieties, and have to say that my recent test with "Crouzet" switches show them to be better suited for buttons when the spring in the button is removed.  The Cherry switches common to buttons are "mushy" and don't return the button fully when used like this, whereas the Crouzet's have a longer throw and just the right feel.

The spring removal is a topic for another thread, but my point is that you need to experiment a little with any switch type to see if it's what you want.  Just because it's not Cherry, doesn't mean it's bad.

RandyT

[Grasshopper]

The nice thing about Cherry microswitches is that they tend to have a relatively quiet click. I've got some Crouzet switches fitted to my T-Stik and they are very noisy. In fact I'm trying to replace them for that reason.

[RandyT]

The nice thing about Cherry microswitches is that they tend to have a relatively quiet click. I've got some Crouzet switches fitted to my T-Stik and they are very noisy. In fact I'm trying to replace them for that reason.

Are you sure it's not the actuator resonating (the piece of plastic that contacts the switches)?  

My comparisons show the Cherry to be a little quieter (uninstalled), but not much.  In my opinion, the difference in the feel of the Crouzet's make up for the marginally louder click.  But this is when used as a button.  It may not matter with  a stick.

Now if you compare the Cherry to an Xarcade switch, that's a major difference.

RandyT

EDIT:
dyslexia