Happ/FX Clear Buttons, RGB-Drive, and Ponyboy's Leaf Switch Brackets. Success!

[Santoro]

I was able to modify a Leaf Switch Bracket from Ponyboy to work with a clear button and GGG's RGB-drive insert.  Here's what I did:

Apologies in advance for the absymal photography.

1) Drill a hole in the center of the underside of your pushbutton large enough to accomodate the RGB-Drive LED.
Before: After:

Put the button aside.

2) This part will take a little care, you need to cut part of the bracket off of your leaf switch bracket using a strong utility knife.   Cut small amounts off at a time,you can always take more off, but you can't put it back on. 

You need to take off about as much as shown here, including the bottom portruding part - I estimate it to be 1/16th of an inch.


Hints:
a)Be sure not to cut too close to the hole on the right!  If you do it might break when you install it. 
b) You really can't cut this plastic by drawing the blade along it very well. I found that carefully 'stabbing' it with the tip of a strong utility knife broke off small managable slices.


When I did this and fitted everything, I found that when the button was pressed it would sometimes hit the white bracket or catch on it because I had not taken enough off. 



So I carefully trimmed it again.  Bingo, perfect fit.



Standard disclaimers, use common sense and caution, at your own risk, etc.  You might ruin a few brackets before you get this down.  I doubt it, but it's possible.  I didn't.

[whammoed]

Hey, great job!  Good news, I like the clean install of using the rgbwiz pcb.  Question:  what is holding the rgbwiz to the button since there is no microswitch there.  Is part of the leaf bracket holding it down or is it simply held in by the friction of the led in its hole?

Off topic:  Have you play tested the leaf yet?  Is it adjustable like the old leaf switch buttons are?

[pointdablame]

Off topic:  Have you play tested the leaf yet?  Is it adjustable like the old leaf switch buttons are?

I haven't installed mine yet, but I did play around with them for a bit.  I'm about as far from a leafswitch expert as you can get, but it was pretty simple to bend the leafs to get them closer/farther apart.  I'm assuming this is what you mean.  If it is, then yes, you can do it with these pretty easily.

[whammoed]

Off topic:  Have you play tested the leaf yet?  Is it adjustable like the old leaf switch buttons are?

I haven't installed mine yet, but I did play around with them for a bit.  I'm about as far from a leafswitch expert as you can get, but it was pretty simple to bend the leafs to get them closer/farther apart.  I'm assuming this is what you mean.  If it is, then yes, you can do it with these pretty easily.

Yep!  Thanks, I plan to order some regardless, but I was curious.  Thats very good news, its a big reason to go with leafs...no clicks is nice but adjusting them to a very short throw is what makes them perform better.

[DrewKaree]

Santoro, wondering if a Dremel sanding drum would work instead of the knife.  If so, mebbe sticking some sandpaper to a flat surface and running the bracket along that would work in case you don't have a Dremel

[mccoy178]

Thanks Santoro for getting this resolved .  Not that any of the vendors this involved shouldn't have jumped on this a while back.  This was a major reason I jumped ship and went with real leaf switches.  Thanks again and you should get some commision.

[pointdablame]

Yep!  Thanks, I plan to order some regardless, but I was curious.  Thats very good news, its a big reason to go with leafs...no clicks is nice but adjusting them to a very short throw is what makes them perform better.

Yeah, that's why I tested them.  I remembered reading about the adjustments and gave it a shot.

There is a white plastic piece above and below the respective leafs, so it isn't the easiest thing in the world, but all you need to do is get your fingernail in there and they bend ok.  I was definitely able to vary the distance between the contacts, so it should be easy to do for everyone else

[Santoro]

Whammoed - they are 'sandwiched' between the button and the bracket.  To be safe I might secure it with a drop of hot-glue, or even better, try a few different drill bits until I get a button hole that fits the LED snugly.

Drew, I think a Dremel with a sanding or cutting attachment would work well.  I actually didn't think of my Dremel for this.  I will try it out this weekend.

[DrewKaree]

I actually tidn't think of my Dremel for this.

I think that's one of the signs you caught teh ghey.

[boykster]

As I was reading your excellent write-up, the first thing that came to mind was DREMEL.....sweet..I'm definately going this route.  I'm so glad I'm a lazy bastard and haven't built a single thing yet, letting less slack-fu persons such as you blaze the trail 

[Santoro]

So this will sound crazy, but I never had a Dremel until a few years ago.  I always forget I have it and go do things the old fashioned way.  Old habits die hard.

I actually tidn't think of my Dremel for this.

I think that's one of the signs you caught teh ghey.

[DrewKaree]

So this will sound crazy, but I never had a Dremel until a few years ago.  I always forget I have it and go do things the old fashioned way.  Old habits die hard.

Were you just thinking I was right and wanted to confirm it for the rest of us?  I'll take your above comments as the confirmation of my previous statement

I actually tidn't think of my Dremel for this.

I think that's one of the signs you caught teh ghey.