[Test-Equipment] Racal counter 1991 pushbutton replacement

[Stewart Bryant]

According to a local second hand instrument retailer here in Reading 
(UK) this is a well known failure mode for all Racal test equipment of 
that era.

My experience was that 199x counter worked just fine, and then one day 
the switches failed one after another in sequence.

I ended up using some small surface mount switches that I have to
push with a small probe through the button hole. Looks ugly, a mild pain 
but got the instrument fully working again. If I can find some 
replacement switches I would like to change them, but I am aware that 
the others will likely also fail. So it's change them all for new 
switches of the correct type, or carry on with the hack.

- Stewart



sdaitch at mor.ibb.gov wrote:
> Jon,
> 
> I have a 1992 counter, and had to replace all the pushbuttons
> on the unit.  I had a spare, and sure enough, it is a Toko,
> but no number.  Racal part number 601211 is what I got from
> them, some years ago, but I don't know if they are still 
> available from Racal.
> 
> 73
> Sheldon
> WA4MZZ
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jon Iza <jon.iza at gmail.com>
> Date: Sunday, April 13, 2008 7:13 pm
> Subject: [Test-Equipment] Racal counter 1991 pushbutton replacement
> 
>> Folks,
>> I have one of such counters which is suffering of pushbutton failure.
>> As far as I see, they are 6x6 mm Toko pushbuttons, which are,
>> as far as I know, Unobtanium.
>> Some tactile switches are the right size, but not the spread of the
>> through leads...
>> Can anyone help me with a suitable replacement?
>> Thanks a lot.
>> jon iza
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