Why does nobody talk about how loud a hot swap socket can be when it pops loose?

Was at a build meetup in Portland last weekend and this guy next to me had his keyboard go completely dead mid-typing. Turns out one of his kailh hot swap sockets just snapped right off the pcb. Everyone around us had this look like oh yeah that happens sometimes. But nobody warned me when I started building. Has anyone else had a socket just fall off for no reason?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_adams252d ago

I mean yeah that's a thing that happens more than people admit. Hot swap sockets can just give out sometimes especially if the PCB flexes even a little bit when you're pulling a switch. It kind of reminds me of how zippers on jackets always fail at the worst possible time not because you abused them but just because they get worn down from normal use. People act like mechanical keyboards are built to last forever but the truth is every part has a breaking point even the stuff that's supposed to be "hot swap" and easy. Idk maybe it's just me but I'd rather solder than deal with that sudden dead keyboard feeling.

lewis.mila2d ago

Right there with you on the soldering thing, hot swap sockets feel like a gamble half the time. I've blown more money on replacement PCBs than I'd like to admit, which is a lot coming from someone who still uses a $30 membrane board as their daily driver.