Momentary Footswitches

[YouAre]

Besides smallbear, whats a good place to go for momentary footswitches? I'm looking for high quality and heavy duty footswitches. I need an SPST footswitch, but I figure a dpdt could work fine as well if it's just as cheap. Looking to stay under $5 a switch. Any clues?

~murad

[bkanber]

Check out www.pedalpartsplus.com. They have basically everything you need to build a pedal.. but shipping is a little slow (I've been waiting a week now). They have a DPDT momentary for $4.50. They also have 3PDT (bypass switches) for $4.50, which is how I found the site..

Good luck!

burak

[theehman]

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/PB-142/700325/MOMENTARY_PUSHBUTTON,_SPST_N.O._4_AMP_.html

[gez]

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/PB-142/700325/MOMENTARY_PUSHBUTTON,_SPST_N.O._4_AMP_.html

I use these.  Very nice switches.  Silent, robust and nice action.

[YouAre]

I saw these mentioned here once before, i tried searching for it and couldn't find them. Thanks guys! Are these the same switches that smallbear sells? Also, what do you guys think of this?

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=EG1933-ND


Also, i figured it might be interesting on my pedalboard to have Sustain pedals hanging out. Does anyone know if they use momentary footswitches? I mean something like these

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMFC4

Thanks guys, i appreciate all the help.

[gez]

Also, what do you guys think of this?

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=EG1933-ND

They look identical to some switches that Maplin in the UK sell.  If they are the same, then I wouldn't use them.  They're push-button, as in push with your finger (not foot).  The button is plastic and construction isn't rugged enough for stomping on.

[Incubus]

I'm currently using these to replace the cheap plastic ones in my ADA MC-1 Midi foot controller:

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SP0755&CATID=28&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=652

However I take out the screws from the terminals on the bottom and just solder the wires directly to them (the terminals).

What I like about them is that they are heavy duty (8A @125VAC) and extremely low profile. Once they're in, all that protrudes is a "dome".

Should be equivalents in other countries too.

[YouAre]

I'm currently using these to replace the cheap plastic ones in my ADA MC-1 Midi foot controller:

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SP0755&CATID=28&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=652

However I take out the screws from the terminals on the bottom and just solder the wires directly to them (the terminals).

What I like about them is that they are heavy duty (8A @125VAC) and extremely low profile. Once they're in, all that protrudes is a "dome".

Should be equivalents in other countries too.

looks heavy duty but waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too low profile. Looks like you'd have to turn it on with your toes! 


buuuuuuuuut thanks for that site! i found another tasty footswitch

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SP0656&CATID=28&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=652

[gez]

That one looks plastic too.  As a rule of thumb, 'push button' switches (unless described as 'heavy duty') aren't going to be suitable.  Look specifically for the terms 'foot switch' or 'vandal resistant' (those low-profile ones Incubus linked to are described as such in the UK, though they're a lot more expensive over here).  If the buttons/casing is plastic, forget it.

[DS-1]

Where are you from, YouAre? I'm Italian and I buy everything I need for pedals from Germany. Here's the link for the footswitches: http://www.musikding.de/index.php/cat/c43_Foot-Switch.html .

[YouAre]

That one looks plastic too.  As a rule of thumb, 'push button' switches (unless described as 'heavy duty') aren't going to be suitable.  Look specifically for the terms 'foot switch' or 'vandal resistant' (those low-profile ones Incubus linked to are described as such in the UK, though they're a lot more expensive over here).  If the buttons/casing is plastic, forget it.

Gez, i was looking at the "rated for harsh environments" in the description. That doesn't necessarily mean heavy duty? Also, isn't the one incubus suggested too low profile for stomping? I'm sure you could stick something on top, but that could always fall off y'know.

Where are you from, YouAre? I'm Italian and I buy everything I need for pedals from Germany. Here's the link for the footswitches: http://www.musikding.de/index.php/cat/c43_Foot-Switch.html .

I'm from the US and that link you sent me has parts that are all easily sourced here. Thank you for the help and consideration.

~murad

[gez]

Gez, i was looking at the "rated for harsh environments" in the description. That doesn't necessarily mean heavy duty?

It's plastic and has a foam pad to cussion the button when depressed.  Does that say heavy-duty to you??

"Rated for harsh environments" could mean "hot climate"/"protection against water spray".  Who knows, it just looks flimsy to me: anything with a plastic thread isn't going to survive long, is it?

[YouAre]

Gez, i was looking at the "rated for harsh environments" in the description. That doesn't necessarily mean heavy duty?

It's plastic and has a foam pad to cussion the button when depressed.  Does that say heavy-duty to you??

"Rated for harsh environments" could mean "hot climate"/"protection against water spray".  Who knows, it just looks flimsy to me: anything with a plastic thread isn't going to survive long, is it?

good point. Damn, i wish they made a metal version of that....

What about the switch Incubus suggested. What are your thoughts on that? Do you know of any other switches that are heavy duty and are what i'm looking for?

[gez]

Realistically, I think all your choices have been covered.  There are recommendations in this thread, so at least you know those switches work.  Choose one, be happy.

[Incubus]

When I first looked at the switches I'm using in the link above, I thought there may be a problem when trying to stomp on them.

I initially bought one, just to see if it would work. I've tested it wearing normal runners (sneakers) and even thongs (flip flops). There is no problem at all in the switches making contact.

The reason is, if for example you push down on the center of the switch with your finger, there is a certain amount of vertical travel. The internals of the switch make contact before this vertical movement reaches its "end".

So when you push down with your foot, you are actually limited by the construction of the switch, as to how far the center will be pushed down (as compared to pushing down with your finger).

However, the internals of the switch, even though you're using your foot, still make contact before the button reaches the end of it's vertical movement. The only problem I had was when I tried it bare foot, but I figured I wouldn't actually be doing that anyway, so no big deal.

I still haven't finished changing all the switches yet, but that's only because I need 11 of them, and when I went back to Jaycar, the only had 5 left.