Keyboard Builders' Digest
Save 10% at TurtleKeebs! Code: KBDNEWS
Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects

Go for launch

Go for launch by SouthPawEngineer.

KBD.news
Published June 12, 2021

Another monoblock split by SouthPawEngineer.

Some build details: custom PCB with a custom solar trickler charger IC setup, a monocrystalline solar cell, operates in both wired & wireless modes and uses hot-swappable Choc v2 switches, and has a laser cut steel & acrylic case.

On top is a solar cell to trickle charge the board in wireless mode. There's a scroll encoder for media functions, and a 5 way switch that is nav keys and arrow keys depending on the layer.

Is the solar cell able to keep the board charged?

With just one panel and being inside most of the time, no - but it does enhance battery life given a set battery size. Some people like to throw in a bigger battery. I've been playing with super thin batteries for low profile boards, so I'd rather find other ways to achieve better battery life and break through the power problems inherent to Bluetooth.

The controller is just an NRF52 series MCU running ZMK.

How the 5 way switch compares to actual arrow keys?

It works great, it's compact and maps spatially to the perception of what an arrow key should do.

Published on Sat 12th Jun 2021. Featured in KBD #30 (source).


Did you like reading this post?

Donate to keep this project alive


Related

Closis

A handwired Pteron44 derivative by ghostfaceschiller with a Pimoroni Trackball.

Atreyu V2

New year, new Atreyu. Rev2 with choc spacing by jcliment.

Trackball Reviung41

Idank's low-pro Reviung41 with trackball is open-source and also available at Holykeebs.

TeeShirt

This angled monoblock keyboard by dj_edit dubbed TeeShirt comes in three different sizes.

VColChoc44

The VColChoc44 is an Atreus-like low-profile monoblock split by jpconstantineau with on-board RP2040.

Wooden custom

This wooden custom by priceT00High keeps growing.

×
top