The springs in the 3PDT switches

[LucifersTrip]

I ordered some 3PDT's recently and I was given the option of a 3.0gf or 2.0gf spring.

Firstly, what is that measurement...grams per what?  force?

The 2.0's are what I've been using, and produce a softer click and are easier to push than the 3.0's.

According to the guy, other than the springs, the switches are identical.

Are there any benefits to either or is it just up to personal preference? I would guess that the ones that are
easier to push would last longer?

[italianguy63]

Probably grams per foot?  Force is measured by weight vs. distance.  i.e. (foot pounds, or newton meters).

I have questioned the "blue" vs. the "black" switches too.  The blacks are quieter.

MC

[deadastronaut]

never heard of that...

i guess its how much the ''bend'' is in those see saw bits too maybe.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhDKFhqYnw

courtesy of mark hammer..

[LucifersTrip]

Probably grams per foot?  Force is measured by weight vs. distance.  i.e. (foot pounds, or newton meters).

I have questioned the "blue" vs. the "black" switches too.  The blacks are quieter.

MC

yes, that could be it..."foot".  But since grams are metric and foot is not...

The color usually is insignificant since they make the EXACT same ones in both colors.

[LucifersTrip]

never heard of that...

i guess its how much the ''bend'' is in those see saw bits too maybe.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhDKFhqYnw

courtesy of mark hammer..

yes, that came up in my other 3pdt thread...I've taken apart loads of those bastards.

I added to Mark's info since he only described how to fix a switch that is always open, but not always closed.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=106445.msg963157#msg963157

thanx

[bluebunny]

Grammes force.  Like "kgf", aka "weight" (a force); cf. "kg" (mass).  Assume they mean the amount of force required to actuate.  This would tie in with your observation that "2gf" is easier to switch and "3gf" is stiffer.

[Mark Hammer]

I don't think (though I freely confess to not basing it on anything other than a think-through) that the spring tension changes anything about the internal mechanism other than the extent of tactile feedback for the user, and immunity to accidental switching.  More than likely, it is simply a difference in the composition of the spring-steel making up the little conical-shaped coil.

Now that I think of it, softer-touch switching is nice for those things you might want to switch back and forth for on a regular basis, while stiffer switch action is more appropriate for things you set and forget.

[PRR]

Gram is a *mass*, not a weight, not a force.

However everybody has a scale calibrated for gram weight in earth gravity. Maybe even "gram weights". So we press against the scale until it switches and read the number. Or load weights on the switch, count the weights. Technically we should use Newtons for force. But grams is so darn convenient. And as long as we all live on the same planet, we all know what it is.

[duck_arse]

the SI unit of mass is represented by "g". the imperial foot is either " ' " or "ft" (f means nothing to no-one, french or english). the two measures must never be allowed to come up against each other. you might as well divide by zero.

speaking of division, a sheet of A4 copypaper is about 0.05 sq m. at 80 gsm, 1 sheet weighs 4g. I don't think the 3gf makes sense, but I'm not good with the physics of forces.