Button and switches from a keyboard.

[Amc_wi69]

Is it possible to make buttons or switchs using a keyboard or the circuit board from it? I don't want to use it as a regular keyboard but some wire it so I can place buttons in different areas around me?

[Adam24]

It should be possible, but Im not sure about it. The keyboard buttons come in one piece, and I dont think that its easy to make them work as a stand alone button.

[ricardo_NY1]

It can be done..........some keyboards are more friendly to work with than others. Why not try to do it with a joystick? It would probably be easier to hack in my opinion.

[Amc_wi69]

A joystick is an option but keyboards have way more buttons.

[ricardo_NY1]

A joystick is an option but keyboards have way more buttons.

If the only purpose is to use a keyboard you have laying around so it doesn't go to waste, then it makes sense to use it, but if you want something simple to wire that has way more buttons than a joystick, the best thing out there as far as I know is a Leo Bodnar joystick controller. I'm pointing the below model out because you wouldn't have to deal with diodes/matrix.

http://leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

Lastly, Logitech Attack 3 joysticks are inexpensive and easy to hack for up to 9 buttons functions. If they're all going to be momentary, no diodes needed.

[Amc_wi69]

I did have a keyboard laying around and it works for use of buttons. Now the downfalls...I'm only able to get about 8-10 buttons out of it since different combinations of contacts are used for different letters. I'm no pro at soldering so it can be difficult to solder the contacts and wires. So it is feasible, but to time consuming. I will try to find a cheap multi button joystick and hack that up. I really want the Bu0836X but I don't have the funds for that at this current time. Thanks for the info Ricardo.