How do you tell horizontal switch buttons from vertical switch buttons?

[Timstuff]

I read in the FAQ that vertical switch buttons should be avoided, but unfortunately it didn't really specify how to tell them apart from a horizontal switch button.





If I had to guess, I'd guess that the ones on top are vertical switch, because the connectors come out vertically from the button, and the one below is a horizontal switch, because it has an external microswitch that's going horizontal. Is that all there is to it? I really don't want to get stuck with vertical switch buttons by mistake.

[pointdablame]

you're right.

[Goz]

I'd be interested to find out why you should avoid vertical switch buttons. These buttons are standard in Japanese cabs.

 The vertical switch buttons have two posts only and the blade where you would wire to is very small but solderless connectors are available. They typically dont use a nut to secure them in place (push in).

Only thing I can think of is the whole convex vs concave preferrence for button style.

-Goz

[mahuti]

From BYOAC

In the case of a vertical microswitch the prong on the bottom of the plunger is cut off at an angle (narrow at the bottom and wide at the top), when the top of the plunger is pressed the prong slides past the microswitch and activates it that way. This is susposed to be a good thing as no matter how hard you press the button you cannot damage the microswitch however what usualy happens is:

[Goz]

From BYOAC

In the case of a vertical microswitch the prong on the bottom of the plunger is cut off at an angle (narrow at the bottom and wide at the top), when the top of the plunger is pressed the prong slides past the microswitch and activates it that way. This is susposed to be a good thing as no matter how hard you press the button you cannot damage the microswitch however what usualy happens is:
 
The prong on the bottom of the plunger slowly wears away and pushes outward, the button becomes less responsive (you really have to hit it to get a response)

The pushbutton was so badly made in the first place that there is room for the plunger to move side to side in the barrel rather than just up and down, if you don't hit the button dead centre the prong goes right past the actuator without closing the switch.

Sounds reasonable in theory. I have one control panel though that gets regular use over the past maybe year and a half and the buttons still work great.

[Thenasty]

I made both color red so it's gonna be a little hard for you to detect which one is Vertical on this pic. 

Its really one of the RED color for sure 

[Toonces]

From BYOAC

In the case of a vertical microswitch the prong on the bottom of the plunger is cut off at an angle (narrow at the bottom and wide at the top), when the top of the plunger is pressed the prong slides past the microswitch and activates it that way. This is susposed to be a good thing as no matter how hard you press the button you cannot damage the microswitch however what usualy happens is:
 
The prong on the bottom of the plunger slowly wears away and pushes outward, the button becomes less responsive (you really have to hit it to get a response)

The pushbutton was so badly made in the first place that there is room for the plunger to move side to side in the barrel rather than just up and down, if you don't hit the button dead centre the prong goes right past the actuator without closing the switch.

I don't think that thread is talking about the Japanese style buttons as pictured at the top. It's talking about the Happ vertical style. The Sanwa type buttons don't have the same design as mentioned.

Toonces

[RayB]

Nasty, show us a top view... (show us your tops!)

[Thenasty]

here are some pics and disassembled pics.