Connecting to boards rather than buttons

[etchie]

I'm trying to create a mod out of existing technology (an iPod) and had some questions about it. The only reason I haven't started working on it is because the batteries haven''t arrived yet. Anyway, all of the tutorials I see show wiring buttons, when I'm not going to be doing that. Is there an easy way to find out where to solder the wires to the board? I have some pictures in case any of you have any ideas.



One of the questions I was wondering about is whether or not I can cut part of the board off. As you can see from the picture above, I wouldn't be using anything above the click wheel.

Now, I may not know much about electronics, it's really easy to see where these buttons lie (image below).


I figured I would have to look at the back of the board in order to find out where the wire would need to be soldered, but the back is way more intricate and I don't really know what to make of it or how I would be able to tell which part I need to work on. Here's the back of it below.



I definitely welcome other questions like this to the thread. I wasn't able to find any information like this anywhere else on the forums. I'm sure other people have questions. I'm really interested to hear whether or not Mamu has ever done anything like this.

 

[patrao_n]

I believe those are suface mounted. Well from the pics anyway. Which means there is no other side behind the board. You can use a mulimeter and check for the traces. I am sure the voltage required for the dna buttons would burn up those traces in a second. I havent looked at specs for the dna so maybe someone else can chime in. You can certainly use the wheel. But may need a different board or to make one. Goodluck and sorry I cannot be of more help.

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[patrao_n]

Btw one thing I would be worried about is having those components still hooked up. Lets say you found a way to use the switches. Well whatever power you are putting through them, can also be supplying power to random components on the board. If those components aren't capable of the voltage being supplied, you may release some factory smoke.

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[etchie]

Btw one thing I would be worried about is having those components still hooked up. Lets say you found a way to use the switches. Well whatever power you are putting through them, can also be supplying power to random components on the board. If those components aren't capable of the voltage being supplied, you may release some factory smoke.

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Would it still work if I were to remove the rest of the board? I would love to make the damn thing smaller anyway. I have no idea how I would get the buttons to work on a different board. Is there a site to go through where you can look at different boards? Oh yeah, the wheel is attached to the board by a strip ( looks the same as the one connecting the DNA screen to the chip, but thinner).


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[etchie]

And you're right. They're surface mounted.


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[patrao_n]

That strip holding it to the board would be for the volume control. So that would be unnecessary. You can tap into the buttons im sure. As far as cutting the board ya you can do that. And to prevent components from activating you can cut the traces coming from the buttons. That would stop the flow for sure. And to make one all you would need is some copper clad board. Then you can cut your own trace in the board. If you went that route you would need to cover the board and make sure it wouldn't short. I am still unsure of the amp capability of those switches in the board though.

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[etchie]

That strip holding it to the board would be for the volume control. So that would be unnecessary. You can tap into the buttons im sure. As far as cutting the board ya you can do that. And to prevent components from activating you can cut the traces coming from the buttons. That would stop the flow for sure. And to make one all you would need is some copper clad board. Then you can cut your own trace in the board. If you went that route you would need to cover the board and make sure it wouldn't short. I am still unsure of the amp capability of those switches in the board though.

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I was a really thinking at this point that I would just get the standard buttons and put them underneath the iPod buttons and not have a board at all. The only worry here is that I find a way to give it the perfect support so that the buttons click with the appropriate pressure (I'm sure that could be explained better). Sound difficult?


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[jonniemac]

You can find those surface mount tactile switches or at least very similar one at Mouser or Digi-key. If I was going to attempt this, I would just make a board the same size and thickness as the circuit board and attach new tactile switch in the correct locations and figure out how to secure it in place.

 

[jakl_53]

I think your new idea would probably work best. Maybe glue the new buttons onto the back of the ipod buttons then mount those buttons to where there is no slack.

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[etchie]

I think your new idea would probably work best. Maybe glue the new buttons onto the back of the ipod buttons then mount those buttons to where there is no slack.

I'm now hoping I can find a material that's even thinner than the circuit board that won't bend. The circuit board rested flush so it'll be easy to make the buttons the right distance for them to be pushable. I think I'm going to install everything to see how much room is left. That way I can then find something that will fit just right to hold the buttons where they need to be. This is fun!