[sdiy] switching jacks

[Stewart Pye]

In my experience the switching contact is the most unreliable part of 
any jack socket. I've had to replace the insert sockets on a few A&H 
mixing consoles. (I think they were all Neutrik vertical PCB mount 
sockets) and on Crest mixing consoles. Also Cliff jack sockets in 
patchbays. I have had similar problems with open frame sockets, though 
they aren't used much in mass produced audio gear these days. It was the 
switching contacts that was faulty on all these. It seems that oxidation 
is more of a problem for the switching contact, as it doesn't have the 
same "self cleaning" action that the socket contacts have.

Regards,
Stewart.

David G. Dixon wrote:
> Hey Team,
>
> I'm using switching jacks for the first time on a module (Switchcraft 12A
> 1/4" NC Tip, open-frame), and I'm wondering how reliable they are.  I
> accidentally bent one of them a little bit while installing it, and the NC
> connection opened.  It was very difficult to get it to stay connected again,
> as it's nearly impossible to bend the two parts independently, and I'm not
> sure that it's going to be very reliable in service.  Plus, over time, I'm
> wondering if they will all flex a little bit and eventually come
> disconnected, or only connect intermittently.
>
> Does anyone else have problems with these sorts of jacks, or are they
> basically OK?  I'm regretting not buying the enclosed type, as I suspect
> their connection is a little bit more robust.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Synth-diy mailing list
> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
>
>