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A community member
Apr 8, 2017
These switches will fit the recent e-element hot swappable keyboard right? (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/36827)
Also this drop; (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/team-wolf-tkl-swappable-switch-mechanical-keyboard) says they need SMD LED compatible keys. Is it the type described in this drop?
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
You'll have trouble with the LEDs because these aren't the SMD variants. If you want extra switches then I would recommend adding the optional Gateron switches in that drop because they're the SMD variant.
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
ViraThere were no Gateron addons for the drop @silverbluep was referring to. These switches should, in theory, fit on that keyboard, but you'll be unable to use the RGB capabilities. I would recommend searching for some Gateron SMD switches elsewhere. You can get them for just under $40 shipped. I would check the /r/mechanicalkeyboards wiki for more information on where to find those. I really wish Massdrop had made SMD an option here, even though I do already have plenty of Outemu switches, it would be nice to have a pack of Browns too as I only have Blues.
A community member
Apr 8, 2017
ColtonDRGCould you explain some stuff to me since I think you know about these keyboards. The E-Element drop (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/36827) has LED's, and in this outemu switches drop, it says that these switches are LED compatible. What is the thing that would keep me from using LED capabilities on that board with these switches?
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
The keyboard in question uses SMD LEDs. The positioning of those LEDs makes them incompatible with these switches. Take a look at the photos I provided. The first shows what the backside of an Outemu switch with SMD compatibility looks like, and the second shows the keyboard underneath one of the keyswitches. The little white thing above the hole on the board is the LED. If you compare this to the pictures on the drop page of the back of the switch, you should be able to see why it won't work.
EDIT: Apologies, I was unable to get those images to upload, so here I've linked to them on a different site instead. https://static.coltondrg.com/blog/2017/04/IMG_20170408_133228.jpg https://static.coltondrg.com/blog/2017/04/IMG_20170408_133220.jpg
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Sorry for the poor image quality as well.
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
ColtonDRGI'm referring to the Team Wolf keyboard stated, not the E-Element.
These switches will work on both keyboards but the light will get blocked out from the black bottom housing. The SMD variants have a cutout at the bottom to allow the SMD LEDs to shine through.
A community member
Apr 8, 2017
ColtonDRGThank you! Looking closer at the switches, yes they have a plastic piece covering the hole.
This is getting annoying with the other drop, trying to find the right switches for that board with cherry stems seems a bit too much work. And the big deal was supposed to be hotswappability with the other keyboard. Doesn't help that /r/mechanicalkeyboard wiki is the worst organized wiki in the history of wikis.
These ones being through LED compatible means I can put a led through them, right?
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
ViraAh, right, I didn't see that both were mentioned in the OP. But yeah, they both have the same problem with these switches, and the photos I posted of them apply to both. Again, you can pick up a pack of 120 Gateron SMD switches for somewhere around $40 shipped from the sources described on the /r/mechanicalkeyboards wiki.
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
They're hot swappable, but using non SMD variant switches will cut out the LED, unless you're totally fine with that. As long as the switches are the SMD kind, the SMD LEDs will shine through. The one Colton is showing.
Edit: This place stocks the Gateron SMD switches https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/gateron-smd-led-compatible-mechanical-gaming-keyboard-red-green-clear-brown-blue-black-switches
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
Well, reddit's wiki engine is less than stellar. The page I was referring to is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/switch_suppliers
I recommend the Gateron switches. They're relatively easy to find sources for on the internet and are pretty good switches overall. Finding a set of Gateron SMDs in your preferred colour shouldn't be too difficult. I also agree that the choice of ALPS stems for the other drop was an interesting choice.
About these switches being LED compatible. The housing is transparent and the bottom has some holes punched in it for LEDs to go through. Unfortunately I don't actually know how exactly this works, but I'm guessing it's a method if you're going to be building a keyboard from scratch as every "hot-swappable" keyboard I've seen like the E-Element has SMD LEDs.
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
ViraIf you're willing to wait on shipping from China, this eBay store also stocks them for a bit less (shipped). Just make sure you're getting the SMD compatible ones.
http://stores.ebay.com/doyustudio/?_nkw=gateron+smd EDIT: Changed link to be more useful
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
ColtonDRGIf saving is priority then grab them from their own site. They do them in lower quantities if you only need a few. Otherwise, pcrace provides quicker shipping, if you're US based. https://shopkey.doyustudio.com/006swcc-10
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
ViraYeah. The prices (shipped) of 120 from their own site are very slightly lower as well, fwiw.
A community member
Apr 8, 2017
ColtonDRGWow! Stellar amount of help here!
It seems the keyboard that I got in the last drop (hot swappable E-Element) is only compatible with outemu switches, so I don't think gateron will help me. (Until the moment I feel so into this craze that I decide to build my own keyboard from scratch) For now, I'm gonna try to find a sampler pack, see which switches I like the best after the keyboard comes in and commit to those switches.
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
The site linked do them in packs of 10 for cheap. If not, a sample pack of all the Gat switches is fine. Alternative is a switch tester containing them.
A community member
Apr 8, 2017
ViraYes, I ordered 10 packs of each. When the drop comes, I'll see what I like and go from there (and maybe wait for another switch drop)
Thanks everyone!
TheRealDaniel
55
Apr 8, 2017
Where did you read the the keyboard is only compatible with outemu? I'd be surprised if that was the case.
Vira
4117
Apr 8, 2017
TheRealDanielIt shouldn't, since outemu switch bottoms are pretty similar to any other MX bottom clone, so Gats should be usable.
ColtonDRG
56
Apr 8, 2017
That's not true. I don't know what the person who wrote that comment was smoking.
beyondesign
162
Jun 24, 2017
TheRealDanielIf the switch sockets on OP's board are anything like the E-Element Z-88 then the commenter is mostly right about it being Outemu-only. Cherry and Gateron have different sized pins (one is wider than the other) making it unfeasible to use them without modification.
Source: I currently own a Z-88 and was unsuccessful at getting either Cherry or Gateron to work. Thankfully, I was able to find SMD compatible Outemu Purples to replace the stock Blues and I'm a super happy camper :D
A community member
Jun 24, 2017
beyondesignyes, the problem is exactly that. i want to sell that board now.
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