Raise buttons off pcb? I can't find anything

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

I have a small project but my problem is that the buttons that are on my pcb are very small and below the level of the other components. I was wondering if anybody knew of something that could go over the buttons that would make them bigger and possibly raise them.

What I'm imagining is a rubber plug that just sits over the top of the button and goes through the top of the project box but it doesn't have to be rubber.

I searched for what I thought made sense on this forum and google but didn't find anything similar.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

2

It very much depends upon the specific buttons you are talking about. Part number? picture?

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3

those are the buttons I'm using.

4

These button caps seem designed for your switch:

http://www.components.omron.com/components/web/PDFLIB.nsf/0/2BEDA666CE9AFDC885257201007DD53F/$file/B32_1109.pdf

Would they work?

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5

Those look like exactly what I'm looking for. I didn't see anything like that on sparkfun, digikey, or radioshack websites.
Is there anywhere I can buy them not in bulk?

Thanks for you quick response and amazing help :slight_smile:

6

Simply search on Digikey for the part numbers provided in the PDF Rugged gave above... For example B32-1010
And buy the switches there too as they are cheaper.. (think they have a $25 min) or order from Newark or Mouser.

7

Sparkfun also has tall mini pushbuttons.

Here's the equivalent of your button:

Here is a similar button but higher pushing force.

8

The pushbuttons that you are currently using were never designed to be used in an enclosure and activated from the outside.

Generally you would use a “panel mounted switch” such as the ones that are found at this link:

To use this type of switch a hole is drilled into the enclosure and pair of wires is soldered to the switch, then run down to the PCB and soldered in place. NOTE that a breadboard is also not intended to be mounted in an enclosure since the wires and components are only pushed in place and not securely soldered.

9

Actually those buttons ARE designed to be mounted behind an enclosure with the cap sticking out... That's why they have a "panel cutout" diagram on the datasheet. :stuck_out_tongue:

Of course your circuit board must have standoffs at the correct height to ensure the cap is sticking out and can be fully actuated. Don't forget about actuated height.. It is annoying to have to press a button in with a pencil or whatever because you forgot about that.

10

(think they have a $25 min)

Nope. Digikey doesn't have a minimum order. They're my favorite for ordering components for this exact reason (and the $2-3 shipping).

11

They used to have a $25 min or they make you pay a service charge. Guess they don't anymore...

12

They used to have a $25 min or they make you pay a service charge. Guess they don't anymore...

They may have indeed. But I can confirm that they don't anymore. I order things <$25 about once a week.

13

It's worth noting that these "standard issue" buttons are available in a huge range of configurations, too. I wanted to solve a similar problem to what you're describing on a recent project (have the buttons stand above other components) so I used this version:

The button part is much taller than the button you linked above, so it's usable without the extra cap piece.