what switch to get that doesn't pop out

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

Hi,

I'm getting a bit annoyed with the microswitches which were in the Arduino package I got. The things keep popping out of the breadboard.

Are there other (micro)switches I can use in a breadboard that don't pop out all the time?

Thanks,

Leo

2

flatten the pins out with a pair of pliers

3

Something else you might do is designate the switches as for "prototyping only" - get a piece of perfboard with solder pads, insert the switches, then solder them in place. The solder jumper wires from the pins that you can insert into the breadboard where you need the connection.

4

I've had problems with the pushbuttons from Sparkfun. The Parallax ones have worked well but the ones they're now selling are a different color. If you shop at Digikey or Mouser for breadboard pushbuttons be sure to get ones with 0.2" pin spacing. Pushbuttons are usually listed by the case size which won't tell you if they'll work well in a breadboard.

5

I got my pushbutton from a pack from NKC electronics for the Getting Started with Arduino book... it didn't stick very well in the breadboard they sent me, but that's ok because the breadboard was tiny anyway and I quickly needed a larger board, it sticks fine using it across the median gap

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M0KGME/ref=oss_product - the larger breadboard

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VH51OU/ref=oss_product - book pack

As for popping out? I just leave it in the board, hasn't come out yet, except for when I was first using it, I was putting it in sideways (which kind of ruins the point of a button in the first place :P)