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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Organic Jerk on March 06, 2009, 12:41:18 am

Title: Problem with microswitches or wiring?
Post by: Organic Jerk on March 06, 2009, 12:41:18 am

So I have microswitches that seem to be very "sensitive" to presses, as in unless the button is pressed all the way down it will not stay in an on position, but rapidly switch on and off..

I have taken the switches off the buttons and tried to troubleshoot the wiring and test the switch with my fingers, and it still seems to keep the problem.... As long as the wire make any contact, there shoudnt be problem like this, correct?


If the problem is the microswitch... is there any way to fix it, or do I have to order a new set?

Title: Re: Problem with microswitches or wiring?
Post by: ViciousXUSMC on March 06, 2009, 12:49:55 am

Unless there is a short or a bad connection in your wire that is going on/off from barley touching it sounds like a switch issue.

You can test the wire with a multi meter, id put it on resistance (ohms) testing and you should get a number 0 or very close to it, if the number fluctuates from your switch to what ever its connected too something is interrupting the connection.

As for the switch you may be able open it up and mod it activate sooner, and more sensitive that could fix the issue.

It could also just be the hardware they are connected to, maybe it is malfunctioning.  You can test the hardware just by taking the ground & signal wire off your switch and touching the two manually and see if the button goes off/on.

Via process of elimination doing the above you can find the problem, and then we can hunt deeper for the best solution.

also here is a video that shows opening up a switch and moding it to be more sensitive, if your switches can be opened and moded in this manner it would have them active with less of a push in and seems like it would fix the issue your having if its the switch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QytcbzZmXaI

Title: Re: Problem with microswitches or wiring?
Post by: surface tension on March 06, 2009, 04:24:54 am

That's one big avatar at nearly 3MB!

It might be helpful to feed us some more information about what buttons and switches you have. Did they come as a pair?

It's possible that one might be faulty, but the chances of them all being faulty is fairly slim.

You say you have taken the switches off the buttons... did you try just holding the ground and input together? If this doesn't give a solid press on-screen then your fault lies i the wiring or the keyboard encoder (or whatever you're using).

With the small amount of info you've posted, and if I understand correctly that it happens on all inputs, it sounds like a ground problem. As vicious suggested, test with a multimeter.

Title: Re: Problem with microswitches or wiring?
Post by: Organic Jerk on March 06, 2009, 10:22:34 am

Thanks guys, I will try those methods tonight..

The ones that have this problem are really random... it will happen with the switch on P1 button 4 and also P2 start... it's spread randomly like that...


I will definitely try holding the wires together... don't know why I didn't think of that...


As for my avatar... I didn't even realize the filesize!

Title: Re: Problem with microswitches or wiring?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on March 06, 2009, 11:12:15 am

Ah, man....why'd you have to get rid of that avatar? It was my favorite one. :(