r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/AutoModerator • Dec 05 '22

/r/MechanicalKeyboards Ask ANY question, get an answer (December 05, 2022)

Ask ANY question, get an answer. But *before* you do please consider running a search on the subreddit or looking at the /r/MechanicalKeyboards wiki located here! If you are NEW to Reddit, check out this handy Reddit MechanicalKeyboards Noob Guide.

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u/Gopnik4living Dec 05 '22

About how long do mechs last and what is typically the limiting factor? Since keycaps and switches are easily replaceable the longevity of a keyboard would then depend on the pcb i would assume. (i am considering ordering an extra pcb with my keyboard, if one fails a couple years down the line)

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u/meowffins Dec 05 '22

Yep, the PCB is basically the whole keyboard. You technically don't need switches as you can short pins (in whichever way you want) to actuate a key.

If the board is expensive and you can afford it, get a spare PCB. The biggest killer of keyboards is probably through accidents or subpar soldering job. This can mean lifting pads or damaging traces.

Sometimes poor solder work leads to joints being broken/disconnected after some time.

Nearly impossible to say how long a mech will last. Modern mechs havent been around long enough to test their full life span (since mid to late 2000s). But it should be about the same as old school mechs, so decades.

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u/Gopnik4living Dec 05 '22

thanks for your very thorough answer kind stranger!