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Firmware - Build Guide

Power switches

A power switch cuts off battery power when using a wireless controller.
This step is optional.

You should perform this step if you are building a wireless keyboard and are using the wireless expansion bundle. If not, you can go to the next step using the button below.

If you skip this step, you can still add the parts of this step later by following the instructions on this page.

The power switch allows you to fully disconnect the battery from the microcontroller, reducing idle power consumption.

The bottom side of a power switch

The bottom side of a power switch.

Face the PCB with the power switch footprint toward you: on most keyboards it will be on the bottom, but some keyboards will have it on the top. The footprint is usually near the controller, often even within it near the top edge of the PCB.

Solder some tin on one of the pads of the switch footprint. You won’t need much solder, as the pads are relatively small.

The power switch footprint, with one pad already soldered

The power switch footprint, with one pad already soldered.

Grab the switch using tweezers in one hand, and use your soldering iron with your other hand. Move the switch in place, and heat up the solder until it melts.

Then, move the switch in place, touching both the switch leg and the pad with your soldering iron until you notice a solder joint form — this usually only takes a second or two.

Remove the soldering iron, wait until the solder joint solidifies. Then release the tweezers.

The power switch with its first leg soldered

The power switch with its first leg soldered.

Solder the other joint. This one should go a lot easier as the first one is already holding the switch in place, so you don't need to use tweezers anymore.

Those two pins are close, but... Don't worry about shorting the two pins closest to each other on the back - they are intended to be connected.

Repeat for the other half.

The power switch with all its legs soldered

The power switch with all its legs soldered.

When looking at the switch, it is turned off when it is in the right position, and turned on when in the left position.

If you don’t want to use a power switch, you can bridge the pads pads on the back using solder. You could use a small piece of wire or a diode leg to help you bridge them.


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