Micro-Leaf Switches

[D_Harris]

I've been waiting for feedback on the Micro-Leaf switches at Groovy Game Gear and was wondering what the initial verdict is on these: http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=309

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[Bender]

They're AWESOME!!!

very quiet and quick response
I've been using them for about 6 months now
I started off with just two on my panel to try em out
I had swapped the rest of the old cherry switches out by the end of the week

[saurian333]

I thought leaf switches wore out faster than microswitches; do I have the wrong impression?  That's basically what I remember from when I first started reading about cabs/controls several years ago.  Has something changed that I missed?  Figures I'd have my mind made up, and something would change by the time I actually start building one.

[Thenasty]

True Leaf Switches requires more maintenance/adjusting from time to time, while microswitches is set and forget until broken. Thats what you probably read.

I got all True Leaf Switches in my CP (except P1-P2 Start, Exit, Help, Coin Switches).

[bkenobi]

As I recall, these will fit a standard push button, right?  The only bad thing I see is the price then (~$60 to switch my main cab's CP isn't horrible, but...).

[bungy]

I have some of the microleafs and I like them.

They feel a little flimsy and they do make a very quiet click, but I can't hear them when they're installed in my CP.  The buttons don't even feel like there's a switch connected to them.  Right now I only have them installed on my primary fire buttons.  

Out of the six I got, one or two were a little "off".  It just wasn't consistent and would sometimes not fire.  I swapped with another micro-leaf and it worked fine.  I haven't fully diagnosed / tested the ones that gave me problems so I'm not positive they are defective, could be user error.  As I noted, they feel a little flimsy and if you don't install them correctly, the metal arm can get caught on the side of the pushbutton actuator (I have HAPP buttons).

My only other issue is that the connectors are very thin, about half the width of a .187" connector.  My .187" female disconnects don't feel tight on them, but they haven't ever fallen off by themselves.

I will probably end up ordering more for the rest of my CP when I get aound to it.  They're worth buying a few just to try them out.

EDIT: I also wanted to add that I tried out some of these leaf switches even though they're expensive as hell: http://www.arcadeshop.de/Button-Parts-Leaf--vs-Microswitch_566.html
But they felt really tight in a HAPP button and I actually preferred a regular microswitch to it.

[D_Harris]

The two things that concern me are what you said about them feeling "a little flimsy", and the width of the connectors.

Flimsy is not good. If I were to come up with a new design I'd at least make it as solid as existing switches on the market. And cutting corners on the width of the connectors demonstrates that shaving pennies was obviously a priority.

This doesn't make sense considering how much the Micro-Leafs cost.

I can accept gamers like the feel, but I wonder if they are anywhere near as reliable as conventional micro switches.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[bungy]

I should probably take back what I said about them being flimsy.  It's been awhile since I handled one and I guess their size and the size of the connectors left me with that feeling.

Here is a side by side comparison with a Cherry switch.  The switch is less than half the size of the Cherry.  There are two plastic rails that hold the arm in place and there is virtually no wiggle - it feels solid.  The actuator arm is never loose and provides a nice bit of resistance; it actually feels more resistive than the Cherry switch.  But when it's installed in a button, it feels like nothing is there and the pushbutton actuator is smooth through the entire length of travel.

There is a BIG difference in feel between the two, and I like the micro-leaf better.  I have had four of them installed in my CP for over a year and have had no problems other than a couple that were flaky when I got them.

The switch looks like it's off the shelf from Mouser or somewhere, and the money was spent on the plastic bracket that comes with it.

[SephYuyX]

Hmm, indeed the connectors are much slimmer, but youve said you never had an issue with the 'stock' .187?

On the same token, these dont work with joysticks, correct? Youd have to get the Versa-Micros? Which dont work with pushbuttons?

I assume the 'feel' and 'technology' of both of these are one in the same, just differently modeled to fit either a jotstick, or button?

[saurian333]

True Leaf Switches ...

OH I see, I didn't actually look at the link posted. 

Now I see what we're talking about; not the same thing.

[bkenobi]

Oh wow!  I didn't realize these are basically an off the shelf switch with an added plastic bracket/adapter.  Those pictures make it much more clear.  On the up side, if the switch breaks for whatever reason, you can replace it with another switch from Mouser or Digi-Key.  I wonder if they make a similar sized switch with 0.187 contacts?  I suppose it doesn't matter as long as the QD doesn't fall off.

[D_Harris]

So basically it comes down to maintenance. The Micro-Leafs would only be worth it if they are more durable than regular leaf switches.(Someone would need to scientifically compare the response time(spring-back) of these to conventional leaf switches to see if they can be just as effective when used to play a game like Track & Field).

BTW. Would this be similar?
http://www.jammaboards.com/store/zippy-microswitch-for-joysticks/prod_265.html

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.