Buttons, Rotary Encoders and Vector boards, oh my!

[miggyb]

warning! the parts i link to might be the wrong parts, don't order them if you're planning on using them for a midibox sid

I need help figuring out what parts i need to buy. i know that i need those things for a midibox sid, but i'm having problems getting the right parts. I ordered these buttons and these 'rotary switches' only to find that they are the wrong parts, i needed to return them, and i have to pay the shipping back and a 15% restocking fee.

i bought some knobs from mouser.com, and found that they have an excellent selection and shipping for the continental US. only problem is they have diagrams and not pictures for most of their parts. this kind of scares me because i really don't want to order the wrong parts and have to send them back again.

i'd appreciate if someone could help me out with these questions:

i'd like a rotary encoder that "steps" forward or backward, instead of having one that has a continuous smooth motion. is that what "Detents" means? also, this might be obvious, but is the "switch" that is included in some rotary encoders just using the shaft as a push-down button?

the buttons i bought, although i guess they would be functional, are way too small!  :o I'd have to select stuff with my fingernail instead of being able to push on it with my finger or thumb. i really don't know where to start when looking for buttons. i'm sitting here with a ruler, trying to figure out wether 15 millimeters is too big for a button or not. does anybody know what the circuit of the button would be? i was thinking that the circuit would be off, you push the button and the circuit is on, and then you release it and it's off again. would this be an "OFF-(ON)" circuit? could someone tell me if this would be the right button to buy?

as for vector boards, what pattern am i looking for? what spacing? does it matter? could i go with the cheapest option they have?

thanks in advance for any help.

-miggyb

[DavidBanner]

. is that what "Detents" means?

yup - that's right, and yes the one's with switches you push the shaft down

check out smashTVs store on the web, or search the forums, lots of detailed data on suitable encoders

when buying buttons you want MO - momentary, SP single pole - but double will be okay too.

The mouser site isn't giving much away on the action - I've never seen the OFF-(ON) terminology before myself, but a google search should answer the question

[stryd_one]

My Mouser advice - download the PDF catalogue. You'll thank me after you compare it to trying to filter and search on the website.

OFF-(ON) is used to specify that the switch is normally OFF (OPEN) and sends a momentary ON (CLOSED) when actuated.

Note that you (as we recently learned) should ensure that as well as being electronically momentary, the actuator (button) is also momentary, and not latching. It is possible to buy an OFF-(ON) switch which latches physically (it stays pushed in).

Is it just me or do we need a wiki page on switches?

Edit: "could someone tell me if this would be the right button to buy?" Yes that'll work.

[miggyb]

My Mouser advice - download the PDF catalogue. You'll thank me after you compare it to trying to filter and search on the website.

actually, they sent me their catalogue through the mail. it's insanely huge!

i only link to the parts page for internet purposes.

anyway, that clears up things for the rotary encoders and the buttons, but what about the vector boards?

-miggyb

[stryd_one]

That vector board appears to be standard 1mm (0.42") hole spacing, go for it