Build Instructions question regarding appropriate Diode to use for kailh choc switches.

[floodedcodeboy]

Hi @MakotoKurauchi,

Just wanted to say thank you for designing such a beautiful looking board.

I wanted to ask if you think you could use through-hole diodes in place of SMD diodes and still be able to complete this build with kailh choc switches.

Thank you.

[jpconstantineau]

The potential problem with through-hole diodes is the fact that even when you cut the legs very short, they could still touch the top plate. I have had problems with using through-hole diodes on my ErgotravelLight (choc Switches) and even if the diodes were at the bottom of the PCB, the cut legs (and small solder "mountain") was still too high and they contacted the top plate. With SMD diodes on the bottom side, you do not have this source of problem possible.

I don't know the specifics for the helix but I would suspect that a similar problem would be possible.

On Tue, 21 Jan 2020 at 10:42, Jacob Gabriel [email protected] wrote:

Hi @MakotoKurauchi https://github.com/MakotoKurauchi,

Just wanted to say thank you for designing such a beautiful looking board.

I wanted to ask if you think you could use through-hole diodes in place of SMD diodes and still be able to complete this build with kailh choc switches.

Thank you.

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-- Pierre

[floodedcodeboy]

@jpconstantineau So i went ahead with the through hole anyways and you're quite right , I now have an issue where the top plate is raised by these tiny solder mountains. and the legs for the chocs can't quite make it all the way through the holes... so i'm left with a few options i guess:

• buy new pcb's and SMD diodes (a part number would be handy here)
• buy SMD Diodes and remove the soldered through hole diodes
• use cherry switches
• get a thinner plate cut

thoughts and suggestions welcome.

[jpconstantineau]

If you have copper wick or a solder sucker, you could unsolder those little mountains and cut the wires very close to the pcb. As long as there is solder between the legs and the sides of the holes, you should have electrical contact. Alternately, you could pull the diodes out slightly until the mountains gets pulled in and are almost flush with the pcb. It’s not as nice but sure is the fastest.

On Sat, Jan 25, 2020 at 9:58 AM Jacob Gabriel [email protected] wrote:

@jpconstantineau https://github.com/jpconstantineau So i went ahead with the through hole anyways and you're quite right , I now have an issue where the top plate is raised by these tiny solder mountains. and the legs for the chocs can't quite make it all the way through the holes... so i'm left with a few options i guess:

• buy new pcb's and SMD diodes (a part number would be handy here)
• buy SMD Diodes and remove the soldered through hole diodes
• use cherry switches
• get a thinner plate cut

thoughts and suggestions welcome.

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MakotoKurauchi/helix/issues/22?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAIYW6EHUBJW5BJFDF2R6ZDQ7ROSHA5CNFSM4KJWRNS2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOEJ47JJI#issuecomment-578417829, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAIYW6FLY2DMXXBJPRT7J5TQ7ROSHANCNFSM4KJWRNSQ .

-- Pierre

[N6UDP]

This should probably be added to the docs. I ran into this and went with a thinner plate which is working so far... edit: made a PR for the docs.. Also for what its worth a 1/16" (its what the local plastic shop had) worked for me with through hole and choc.

[georgwacker]

I have a couple of questions regarding diodes with kailh choc:

• if I don't use a top plate, can I solder through-hole / smd diodes on the top side?
• for SMD diodes, do I want 1N4148 in SOD-123 or SOD-323 package?

[mtei]

FYI:

I think it would be okay to solder it to the top side.

I used the SOD-123.