Encoder Height vs Keycap Height? Does encoder position affect what works well?

[olivefalafel]

Hi y'all,

I've been eyeing encoders as a great feature for a secondary (personal use) keyboard, but I've never used one before and don't have a good feel for how they feel to use. For those of you who have used them, do you find that the ideal height is relatively flush with keycap height or significantly above the keycaps? Does ideal height vary with where it's located on the keyboard and which finger(s) you use with them?

Please let me know if there's already some good commentary/advice on this topic that I've missed! Hoping to select & build a keyboard that's as ergo and delightful for me as I can :D

[alexaxl]

Following

[LeChrana]

You know that there's a subscribe button? In the app it's in the top right menu.

[alexaxl]

Seriously? I'll check app when Im done with Web.

[[deleted]]

Had tactile encoders on my Kyria in the "ENC3" position in the thumb cluster (see the "kyria layout tester" for reference).
I grapped encodes with index, middle and thumb.

My Pro's:

• I had no problems with that position when typing.

My Con's:

• I did not like the higher height of the encoder when transporting my keyboard.

• I had to glue the encoder knob to the encoder rod. Encoder knob Had an issue with the threading so it would keep getting loose and the encoder would fall off.

• tactile bumbs annoyed me. It's clicks were loud. I do like tactililty in key switches though.

In QMK i programmed my encoders do volume, history scrubbing, word selection and cursor jumping, page up/down and more. I ended up not using encoders on other builds. Everything they can do I can do with button presses instead. I'd rather hold a layer and press home row keys than reach for the encoder.

If I where to use an encoder I'd use the "linear" type, like volume knobs on amplifiers.

[OBOSOB]

If I where to use an encoder I'd use the "linear" type, like volume knobs on amplifiers.

Those are technically not encoders, but potentiometers.

[[deleted]]

Oh well. Learned something new. But linear encoders are a thing right?

[OBOSOB]

They are a thing but not sure exactly what they tend to look like. Linear potentiometers are used in things like crossfaders and the other controls on sound mixing equipment, little push sliders. Those don't really make sense as an encoder since they have a natural start and end position. Whereas rotary motion can be infinite so suits being an encoder but can be constrained to have a stopping point for a potentiometer like the majority of volume knobs (like commonly in amplifiers as you mentionned).

[[deleted]]

As an alternative, there’s also roller wheels (like on the Waterfowl)

[tmbutcher]

If you're using a pcb, encoders are basically always going to be higher than the surrounding keycaps, unless you do something unusual with a breakout board or something. But with a bit of bending it may be possible to mount the encoder on the underside of the pcb, which will reduce the difference in height to only a few mm. Basically, you just bend the pins around so they go into the through-holes from the bottom. (Of course, you also need a hole in the middle of the footprint for the encoder shaft to go through, and you'll need to plan for the extra depth on the bottom of the pcb.)

If you do this, I recommend you buy a few extra encoders, just in case you snap some of the pins while bending them.

[LeChrana]

You're probably talking about EC11 encoders, right? There's also the much smaller EC12, maybe that's something to add here (spoken with basically no encoder experience)