Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: noobsaibotmk on February 24, 2011, 04:16:42 pm

Title: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: noobsaibotmk on February 24, 2011, 04:16:42 pm

Hi!
First of all, nice to meet your community  :D

I recently buy two dedicated (MK & uMK3) cabinets and I would like to replace all the micro-switchs.
Before to order them, two questions (the second one is the most important) :

- gold mswitches are really better or the price difference is too big to justify the buy?
- Do I have to choose 0.1 or 15 A mswitches? I m confused with that....It seems both are used within my cab, is it possible?

thank you for your help  :afro:

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: mgb on February 24, 2011, 05:14:04 pm

Don't overthink the switches. it sounds like maybe you are looking at a source for them that is not an arcade parts shop.
here are some links to good arcade venders that sell switches.

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=346 (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=346)
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/7-microswitches (http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/7-microswitches)
http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_47 (http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_47)

the micro switches in the player buttons and joysticks aren't subject to much current.
hope that helps

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: noobsaibotmk on February 25, 2011, 07:15:13 am

Thank you for the links but my doubt is about my actuals microswitches I have.

Some come from suzo-happ and are 0.1A : http://www.happcontrols.com/electrcsup/95073301.htm (http://www.happcontrols.com/electrcsup/95073301.htm)
Others came from ebay and are 15A : http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380169006489 (http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380169006489)

I don't want to get a short circuit after installation and I m affraid to install them at the moment..

  :notworthy:
What should I do ?

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: mgb on February 25, 2011, 07:51:54 am

yeah the links I posted are for actual microswitches.
Theres really nothing to installing them. just unplug the old ones and plug in the new ones. If you're worried about swapping wires, just do one at a time. There are 3 connectors on a microswitch:
Common, Normally Open (N.O.) and Normally closed (N.C.).

Happ is not the cheapest to order from.

You may wanna post an underside pic of your joysticks too. sometimes those microswitches can be a little different. they will sometimes have a little tab on them but not always.

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: noobsaibotmk on February 25, 2011, 07:59:49 am

Thank you dude, but A doesn't matter? I can mix both 15A and 0.1A?

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: mgb on February 25, 2011, 08:11:28 am

I'm not really sure where you're getting the 15A from. Aracde switches are really just switching a control voltage with little current.
The mixing and matching is fine but it wouldn't hurt to have all the same switches for a more even feel.

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: mgb on February 25, 2011, 08:12:13 am

Oh yeah,
and I should have said this first:
Welcome to the community

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: boardjunkie on February 25, 2011, 09:10:33 am

You should be more concerned about the actuating force than the current rating. The little button pushes down very easy on some, on others its pretty stiff.

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: Kevin Mullins on February 25, 2011, 10:14:52 am

You'll find switches rated from 0.1A to 15A everywhere you look....these switches are not just "arcade" related, they are used in a variety of industrial applications. (10A is common example)

But for arcade control (buttons/joysticks, etc) the 0.1A are just fine.
There is very little current draw for basic arcade controls.

The higher rated ones (10A, 15A) just mean they can be used for running motors and such as well for industrial applications.

Doesn't matter which ones you get, they will work.

As already mentioned .... the "feel" of them may be different, but you will have to try them yourself to be the judge of that.

Looks like you may be from the Netherlands. (?) We have family there.

You might check out ULTIMARC (http://www.ultimarc.com/) for game parts since they are on your side of the pond.
(he's in the UK)

And....WELCOME TO THE FORUM !!   :cheers:

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: noobsaibotmk on February 25, 2011, 11:54:18 am

hehe, thank you very much for your help. 'Appreciate it ! 
I'll got all the answers I needed. :applaud:

By the way, I'm not from the Netherlands but from Belgium.
I didn't know the Ultimarc website. I had only ordered parts from starcab, ebay and jammaboard until now but be sure I will be checking it from now on.

I think you will often hear from me in the coming days/weeks because I have others questions in order to repair completely my cabinets :-)

Some of you got MK cabinets also?

Have a nice week-end !  :cheers:

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: rockin_rick on March 05, 2011, 08:16:12 pm

While in the end it may not really matter...

But you should use the correct button for your application.  0.1A buttons usually have gold plating to resist corrosion.  15A buttons usually don't have gold and have tin or silver or such.  These are more prone to corrosion, and thus expect a higher current to 'clean' the contacts due to arcing during the contact.  So using a high rated switch (contact) with low amperage usage can build up corrosion and lead to shorter than expected life span as it never gets 'cleaned', compared to a switch designed for low amperage usage (which combats the buildup with gold contacts).

But perhaps the amount of usage seen in a MAME machine makes the decision inconsequential.   :dunno  Just trying to help everyone understand the real point of the contact rating methodology.

Rick

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: boardjunkie on March 05, 2011, 10:21:33 pm

High current contacts should be tungsten shouldn't they?

Title: Re: pushbuttons microswitch 15A or 0.1A ?
Post by: noobsaibotmk on May 02, 2011, 11:16:56 am

 :applaud: thank you for all your answers, very helful..