A collection of SMD switches

2021-06-11

Who doesn’t love a good button? Click click click, so satisfying.

In the search for SMD switches / buttons, I thought I’d just buy some of “all” and try them out. I realize there are many more, this is just what I found browsing Aliexpress.

This doc is mostly for me, but I’ll probably spent way too much time on it, so I might as well put it up.

Criteria (more or less)

• Small - I don’t need a doorbell, I just want a little clicker on a board
• Reasonably usable - sure, small, but also clickable with a finger
• Ideally suitable for prototype-boards - 2.54mm spacing or good enough that it fits
• Cheap - obviously, since I’m buying so many random things, they might as well be cheap if I don’t research them ahead of time.

Switches

Switches are useful for power. Switch on, switch off. Not really fancy.

SW01

• Top-switch
• SPDT - single pole, double throw (3 pins)
• Dimensions: 8.6mm x 3.8mm
• Switch sticks out 4mm
• Pin spacing: 2.5mm
• Suitable for breadboard, prototype board
• Source: Aliexpress - $0.46/50 - label “SS-12D00G4 1P2T”
• Verdict: OK

SW02

• Side-mounted switch
• SPDT - single pole, double throw (3 pins)
• Case has pins (grounding? better grip?)
• Dimensions (case): 8.8mm x 4.5mm x 4.9mm (high)
• Pin spacing: 2.1mm
• Not suitable for breadboad, prototype board (needs custom board)
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.77/100 - label “SS-12F23 1P2T”, “YT1998Y”, “SK12D07”
• Verdict: Not usable

SW03

• Side-mounted switch
• SPDT
• Case has nobs on bottom to hold with holes
• Dimensions (case): 9.0mm x 3.7mm x 3.2mm (high + 1.8mm nobs)
• Pin spacing: 2.5mm
• Suitable for prototype board (after removing the nobs), not suitable for breadboard (pins too short)
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.70/20 - label “MSKT-12D14”
• Verdict: Annoying

Buttons

You seem to be able to get these everywhere. They’re tactile buttons, they go click. Either 2 connected pins (2x2) or SPST (single pole, single throw) with 2 pins.

B01

• The evergreen pushbutton with colorful knob
• Dimensions: 12.0mm x 12.0mm
• Button knob is 4x4mm
• Pin spacing: ca 13mm & 5mm
• Suitable for breadboard & prototype board
• Mine have annoying knobs on the bottom, easy to cut off
• Labeled “Omron B3F”
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.45/20
• Verdict: big, easy to get caps, easy to use

B02

• Dimensions: 6.0mm x 6.0mm x 4.5mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: ca 7.5mm x 5.0 mm
• Suitable for prototype board, not breadboard (no through-hole pins)
• Source: Aliexpress - $0.62/50
• Verdict: ok

B03

• Red button, claimed to be “waterproof”
• Dimensions: 6.0mm x 6.0mm x 3.1mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: ca 7mm x 4.5mm
• Suitable for prototype board, not breadboard (no pins)
• Source: Aliexpress - $0.80/10
• Verdict: ok

B04

• Funky flat, round, copper’y button; needs fingernail to push
• Dimensions: 5.0mm x 5.0mm x 0.8mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: ca 5.5mm x 3.5mm
• Suitable for prototype board (barely), not breadboard (no pins)
• Source: Aliexpress - $0.83/100
• Verdict: annoyingly flat

B05

• Feels a bit like B02 but with 2 pins
• Dimensions: 6.0mm x 6.0mm x 5.0mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: 5.0mm
• Suitable for breadboard, prototype board
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.00/100
• Verdict: ok

B06

• Flat-mount clicker, metalic case, black or red button
• Dimensions: 6.0mm x 3.6mm x 2.4mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: ca 7.3mm
• Suitable for prototype board
• Source: Aliexpress - $2.47/100
• Verdict: ok

B07

• Flat-mount, metalic case, black button, tiny’ish
• Dimensions: 4.0mm x 3.0mm x 2.0mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: ca 4.5mm
• Suitable for prototype board (but small)
• Source: Aliexpress - $2.20/50
• Verdict: ok’ish

B08

• Side-mount, white plastic case, black button, tiny knobs
• Dimensions: 4.0mm x 3.5mm (with button) x 2.0 mm
• Pin spacing: 3.3mm ?
• Not suitable for prototype board (kinda, but need to remove knobs, hard to solder)
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.49/10
• Verdict: annoying

B09

• Flat-mount clicker, metalic/white case, white button, stands kinda high (Also black)
• Dimensions: 6.0mm x 3.5mm x 5.0mm (high, with button)
• Pin spacing: 7.5mm
• Suitable for prototype board
• Source: Aliexpress - $1.66/100
• Verdict: ok

B10

• Side-mount, 4 pin, tiny, 2 knobs
• Dimensions: 3.4mm x 3.4mm (with button) x 1.0mm (high)
• Pin spacing: ca 4.0mm x 1.5mm
• Not suitable for prototype board
• Source: Aliexpress - $0.79/10 - label: “YD-3414”
• Verdict: annoying

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