Serious foot switches
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Footswitches that are -very- durable can be found
in the machine tool industry. I have one fitted to my drill press, for example. I have a friend who has one on a grinder. GE two-way radio catalogs may still list them. They are/were "serious", and are found in Forest Service, FBI and law enforcement dispatch centers. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP [hidden email] or [hidden email] _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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> Footswitches that are -very- durable can be found in the
> machine tool industry. I have one fitted to my drill press, > for example. I have a friend who has one on a grinder. > > GE two-way radio catalogs may still list them. They are/were > "serious", and are found in Forest Service, FBI and law > enforcement dispatch centers. These Linemaster footswitches are continually listed on eBay, both with the foot guards and without. Many are ones taken out of service, but some are new-in-the-box. They can be had for under $10 plus shipping. While they will probably last indefinitely in a Ham environment, I find them more tiring than the footswitch distributed by Heil. I've used the Heil footswitches for over three decades now, at home and on contest expeditions, with no failures. 73, Ed - W0YK _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Serious foot switches
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Ed Muns wrote:
> environment, I find them more tiring than the footswitch distributed > by Heil. I've used the Heil footswitches for over three decades now, > at home and on contest expeditions, with no failures. Two "secrets" (?) I've learned through trial and error when using the Heil footswitch: (1) Attach the foot switch to the floor and route the cable safely away so it isn't being kicked and flexed all the time. The cable will break internally, eventually, if continually thus abused. (2) Place your foot on the switch such that the center of your heel is directly over the pivot point. This maximizes mechanical efficiency and, for me at least, allows me to hold my foot in either the activated or unactivated position without tiring. Having said all this, I've had to repair my Heil foot switch numerous times. The little "e" ring that holds the pivot axle in has a habit of coming off spontaneously (I completely lost it a while back), and I've had to cut off, restrip, and reinstall the cable a couple times as well due to internal wire breakage. It's far from bulletproof, but for the price, it's been an acceptable product, I guess. Could be better. :-) Bill W5WVO _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Your description does not match the pivot hardware in my two Heil foot switches. So it seems that Heil has gone through a few designs of the pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism in my foot switches consists entirely of a single pivot screw that is threaded on the end with an unthreaded shoulder up toward the screw head. So the pivot screw becomes fixed with the inner half of the (threaded) clamshell and rotates freely around the outer half of the (unthreaded) clamshell. The threads eventually fail and the pivot screws keeps loosening and falling out. The kludge fix is to discard the pivot screws, drill out the holes, and use a single long machine screw as the pivot axis and secure it on the far end with a nylock nut. Evidently other Heil designs may be more reliable. Mine were purchased 5-7 years ago and started to fail about two years later. Lots of use during ssb contests. 73, Barry N1EU |
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My foot switch that I bought around 1990 at a ham fest
and had stood up to thousands of contacts in many phone contests has only the identifying sticker "Made in Taiwan" Cookie, K5EWJ --- Barry N1EU <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > > Bill W5WVO wrote: > > > > I've had to repair my Heil foot switch numerous > times. > > The little "e" ring that holds the pivot axle in > has a habit of coming off > > spontaneously (I completely lost it a while back) > > > Your description does not match the pivot hardware > in my two Heil foot > switches. So it seems that Heil has gone through a > few designs of the pivot > mechanism. > > The pivot mechanism in my foot switches consists > entirely of a single pivot > screw that is threaded on the end with an unthreaded > shoulder up toward the > screw head. So the pivot screw becomes fixed with > the inner half of the > (threaded) clamshell and rotates freely around the > outer half of the > (unthreaded) clamshell. The threads eventually fail > and the pivot screws > keeps loosening and falling out. The kludge fix is > to discard the pivot > screws, drill out the holes, and use a single long > machine screw as the > pivot axis and secure it on the far end with a > nylock nut. > > Evidently other Heil designs may be more reliable. > Mine were purchased 5-7 > years ago and started to fail about two years later. > Lots of use during ssb > contests. > > 73, > Barry N1EU > > -- > View this message in context: > > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at > Nabble.com. > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Ken Kopp-3
Get a Yamaha sustain pedal designed for use with an electronic keyboard. STURDY, switches from NO to NC contacts as needed. I screwed mine to a piece of plywood so my heel holds it in place.
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D392%252526CTID%25253D204600,00.html 73, Redd - AI2N ---- WILLIS COOKE <[hidden email]> wrote: > My foot switch that I bought around 1990 at a ham fest > and had stood up to thousands of contacts in many > phone contests has only the identifying sticker "Made > in Taiwan" > > Cookie, K5EWJ > > --- Barry N1EU <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Bill W5WVO wrote: > > > > > > I've had to repair my Heil foot switch numerous > > times. > > > The little "e" ring that holds the pivot axle in > > has a habit of coming off > > > spontaneously (I completely lost it a while back) > > > > > Your description does not match the pivot hardware > > in my two Heil foot > > switches. So it seems that Heil has gone through a > > few designs of the pivot > > mechanism. > > > > The pivot mechanism in my foot switches consists > > entirely of a single pivot > > screw that is threaded on the end with an unthreaded > > shoulder up toward the > > screw head. So the pivot screw becomes fixed with > > the inner half of the > > (threaded) clamshell and rotates freely around the > > outer half of the > > (unthreaded) clamshell. The threads eventually fail > > and the pivot screws > > keeps loosening and falling out. The kludge fix is > > to discard the pivot > > screws, drill out the holes, and use a single long > > machine screw as the > > pivot axis and secure it on the far end with a > > nylock nut. > > > > Evidently other Heil designs may be more reliable. > > Mine were purchased 5-7 > > years ago and started to fail about two years later. > > Lots of use during ssb > > contests. > > > > 73, > > Barry N1EU > > > > -- > > View this message in context: > > > http://www.nabble.com/Serious-foot-switches-tp16200556p16205616.html > > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at > > Nabble.com. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Post to: [hidden email] > > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke > K5EWJ > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Barry N1EU
How about a home-brew foot switch. Costs less, lasts forever, easy to repair I built mine from 2 plunger type micro-switches (contacts in parallel), a couple triangular shaped 1" pine-wood blocks about 10" long and 3" at the wide end, 2 each 10" X 18" pieces of 1/4" plywood or Masonite, a couple of hinges, and some screws. The plunger springs are nearly strong enough to hold up the foot-treadle, and the 18" length means it is a large target - I don't have to search for the darn thing with my foot! I did have to add a couple of small "helper" springs to keep the treadle "up" - it would try to close the switches of it's own weight. When searching for switches, you may be able to find some that are "stiffer", thus removing the need for the helper springs. So far, it has lasted more than 30 years, no failures. Since the switches were the only things I actually had to buy, the whole thing came to about $10.00,but even if you have to buy everything brand new, I can't imagine it costing more than $30.00. The switch connects to my station controls via a length of lamp cord and a 1/4" phone plug. The only problem turned out to be that it was too quiet! I ended up using a relay (activated by the foot-switch) that cave a little "clunk" when the switch closed, which reminds me that the station has switched to transmit mode. (I used to wonder why the receiver would go occasionally quiet until I figured out what was happening. HI!) - Jim, KL7CC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by ai2n
...or get a foot switch from surplus dictation equipment - easily wired,
heavy duty and a good size - 73 Bruce VE5RC -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email] Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 1:46 PM Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serious foot switches Get a Yamaha sustain pedal designed for use with an electronic keyboard. STURDY, switches from NO to NC contacts as needed. I screwed mine to a piece of plywood so my heel holds it in place. http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID %25253D392%252526CTID%25253D204600,00.html 73, Redd - AI2N ---- WILLIS COOKE <[hidden email]> wrote: > My foot switch that I bought around 1990 at a ham fest > and had stood up to thousands of contacts in many > phone contests has only the identifying sticker "Made > in Taiwan" > > Cookie, K5EWJ > > --- Barry N1EU <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Bill W5WVO wrote: > > > > > > I've had to repair my Heil foot switch numerous > > times. > > > The little "e" ring that holds the pivot axle in > > has a habit of coming off > > > spontaneously (I completely lost it a while back) > > > > > Your description does not match the pivot hardware > > in my two Heil foot > > switches. So it seems that Heil has gone through a > > few designs of the pivot > > mechanism. > > > > The pivot mechanism in my foot switches consists > > entirely of a single pivot > > screw that is threaded on the end with an unthreaded > > shoulder up toward the > > screw head. So the pivot screw becomes fixed with > > the inner half of the > > (threaded) clamshell and rotates freely around the > > outer half of the > > (unthreaded) clamshell. The threads eventually fail > > and the pivot screws > > keeps loosening and falling out. The kludge fix is > > to discard the pivot > > screws, drill out the holes, and use a single long > > machine screw as the > > pivot axis and secure it on the far end with a > > nylock nut. > > > > Evidently other Heil designs may be more reliable. > > Mine were purchased 5-7 > > years ago and started to fail about two years later. > > Lots of use during ssb > > contests. > > > > 73, > > Barry N1EU > > > > -- > > View this message in context: > > > http://www.nabble.com/Serious-foot-switches-tp16200556p16205616.html > > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at > > Nabble.com. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Post to: [hidden email] > > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke > K5EWJ > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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