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Old 02-16-2004, 05:58 PM   #1
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Where To Buy Buttons, Switches, Lights?

Where is the best selection of specialty butonns, switches, etc.?

Specifically, at the moment I'm looking to find some power buttons for the PC and monitor. I need two identical buttons for the dash. I'd love to have ones that look like the one attached below. That one is from my desktop monitor. I have another monitor that is almost the same. I'd rip them out of there to use in my car, but they aren't identical. I may just end up with these: from here. But I'd prefer the one like my monitor for a more conservative/factory look.

I was looking for a 3 position toggle switch that is DP3T (On-On-On) but I can't find many, and none that would look good. I will probably have to change my cicuit (and make it more complex) to get it to work with a DPDT (On-Off-On) switch.

I also want to have some buttons for radio presets (5 or 6), mute, and maybe pause/play, stop, fwd, and rev. I will probably scavenge these from a factory radio. Nice big buttons with lit numbers in the center for radio presets right under my monitor would be awesome! I'd just bust apart a factory radio to get the buttons themselves. Then wire some LEDs behind each one. Put them on top of momentary switches. Wire the switches to a hacked open 17-key keypad, so that each button simulates a pressed key. Use Girder to map those keystrokes to a radio preset in your FM tuner software. Now I have radio preset buttons without a head unit! Now I can change radio stations with one press of a button, no matter what is on the screen. Could do the same for play/pause or anything else that you want. By using a keypad, it allows you to use numlock to give each button a second purpose, also.

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Old 02-16-2004, 06:01 PM   #2
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DigiKey has a huge selection of buttons etc.

http://www.digikey.com
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Old 02-16-2004, 06:19 PM   #3
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Yeah, I already checked Digikey. They are about the best, I guess. I think I'll have to give up on a good looking, 3 position, 2 pole, On-On-On rocker switch.

I have no idea where to find power buttons like the ones I want though.
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Old 02-17-2004, 12:06 AM   #4
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check mouser electronics they also have a lot of buttons
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Old 02-17-2004, 02:29 PM   #5
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Quote: Originally Posted by eCar™
By using a keypad, it allows you to use numlock to give each button a second purpose, also.
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GAH!! :::smacks himself with a wet fish:::

why the hell didnt i think of that!

I'm doing something simular to your setup, except i'll be using the a couple extra buttons and controlling 90% of the car functions (GPS/mp3/radio) with them. (still plannin on a touchscreen, just like hardwired buttons better) I was trying to figure out a smooth way to make them multifunction.....DUH!
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Old 02-17-2004, 05:31 PM   #6
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Quote: Originally Posted by partyd
check mouser electronics they also have a lot of buttons

Where are you at? I'm gonna kiss you!

I found the perfect switch for my app at mouser.com!

I'm going to use this switch (Mouser Stk # 691-VED2GHNB) with the "F" actuator. It's a SPDT switch that is On-On-On (I think that technically makes it a SP3T). The actuator (button) is black with a clear lens at each end (one lights with a green LED, and one with an amber LED).

Because I could not find a DP3T (On-On-On) switch, I changed my plans a bit. It came out for the better! I am going to use this switch to select my dimming mode for my LCD's backlights. This switch will select one of two dimming knobs (one for daytime brightness and one for night).

The switch will sit horizontally, under the two dimmer knobs. When pushed left, the green LED lights up, and the left (daytime) dimming knob is selected. If pushed right, the amber LED lights up, and the right knob (night) is selected. If in the middle position, the brightness is automatically set to the day or night knob when the headlights go on/off.

Could not find this switch at Digikey! Mouser.com rules!
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Old 02-22-2004, 12:05 PM   #7
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Bump.

Still trying to figure out where to get 2 identical power buttons like this:

Anyone?

Some kind of computer junkyard, maybe?
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Old 02-22-2004, 03:25 PM   #8
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Quote: Originally Posted by eCar™
Bump.

Still trying to figure out where to get 2 identical power buttons like this:

Anyone?

Some kind of computer junkyard, maybe?


garage sale maybe?

or one of those "computer recycling yards"?
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