Looking for this switch (Midas Venice solo switch)

Sep 07, 2008 31 Replies

I'm repairing a Midas Venice mixing console. Try and avoid doing so. It's a nightmare



Despite the agent's tech insisting that the 'solo' switches are 'self cleaning', no amount of exercising them will prevent 2 of them behaving intermittently.



They are pcb vertical mount types, i.e. the control surface is a series of large flat double sided boards. From appearance I guessed the switches to be ALPS but the German parts list gives the following reference as best as I can decode it.



SCHALTER-TAST 4XUM 1 switch 4pdt



It's a latching type btw.



Any help sourcing same would be appreciated. I only need 2 but knowing this beast one or two more might pack up !



Thanks, Graham



I have a bunch of finds, none of which may be relevant, but I pass them on to you. The most interesting is

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which depicts a bat-handle Schalter 4XUM.

Have a look at the below link. From what I gather, the actual brand is "Schalter", which is owned by Assmann. "Tast" is German for "test", which I suppose is actually a colloquial expression of a function, I don't know what.

Page down. Besides the DIP switches, there is a type called a "taster."

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Also, google for "SCHALTER 4XUM"

Bob Morein (310) 237-6511

On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:57:12 +0100, Eeyore put finger to keyboard and composed:

I suspect 4xUM means 4PDT, and SCHALTER-TAST means switch-tactile.

- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one \'i\' from my address when replying by email.

On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:18:55 +1000, Franc Zabkar put finger to keyboard and composed:

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Tastschalter

n. push button, press button, electric switch that operates via a pressing

- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one \'i\' from my address when replying by email.

That sounds very likely indeed.

I'd imagined SCHALTER might be the brand but that puts a new light on it. However browsing the ALPS website which I took to be the best bet, I couldn't find any 4 pole switches of that style. Maybe I'll look again.

Many thanks anyway.

Graham

Nope, none of those. That's when consoles had 'real' switches instead of using consumer parts ! You'll find those on my first home-made desk.

Those are the small low profile tact(ile) switches. This one is much taller.

No luck with that other than blind alleys.

From Franc's comments I'm thinking again it may be more likely to be an ALPS part that I didn't see in the online catalogue. Midas do make a point of using ALPS parts.

Graham

Soundhaspriority schrieb:

Schalter means switch. "Tast" is most probably an abbreviation for "Taster", which is a switch that closes (or opens) the connection only as long as you push it, rather than making the connection until you push it again. What would be the English term for that kind of switch?

The German word for "test" is "test" as well.

Best from Germany ;-) Boris

http://www.borislau.de - computer science, music, photos

Momentary as opposed to latching.

But this is actually a latching switch. Maybe I selected the wrong part number.

Graham

Let me know if you need more German assistance ;-)

Boris

"Eeysore"

** Obviously YOU lack the necessary Midas touch !!!!!

Maybe just a little WD40 down the shaft will do the trick - not a whole flood of it mind you.

Don't want that precious console to wind up looking like Venice.....

..... Phil ;-)

Momentary ?

That is a switch you must hold and will release (off) when you left go.

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On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:50:03 +0100, Eeyore put finger to keyboard and composed:

After some searching, it appears that the term "4xUM" is often associated with relays.

I now believe that "UM" is an abbreviation for "umschaltung" which translates to "changeover".

See

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So 4xUM = 4PCO = 4PDT, ie you have a pushbutton switch with 4 pole changeover contacts. But of course you already knew that from the outset ... :-)

BTW, my favourite switch lubricant/cleaner is Philips 390CCS.

- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one \'i\' from my address when replying by email.

WD-40 (fish oil as main ingredient or used to be) dries out.

Spraying the contacts for suspected electrical issues, only temporarily fixes, and normally makes it worse afterwards.

Since most chemicals tend to deteriorate the contact surfaces and allows for pitted areas that no longer receives regular wiping from the switch action, erosion sets in.

For proper restoration, switch contacts and surface ways need to be polished and optionally copper antioxidant applied as used in wire drawing operations.

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"Jamie" = Maynard A. Philbrook, KA1LPA

A radio ham & demented coder scribbler by trade.

** WD40 residue is ordinary light oil - whether it evaporates depends on ambient temperature and local air flow.

At room temp and with no virtually no air flow, that takes years.

** The idea is to clean the surfaces and flush away contaminants.

Nothing to do with mysterious "electrical issues ".

** Light mineral oil is not a corrosive "chemical" - you fool.
** A coating of light oil protects the metal surfaces by excluding moisture and air - you colossally stupid ASS .

Go away.

...... Phil

so sorry you posted this as PHIL will enter into his diatribe!!! but you are correct in that wd 40 is not a lubricant! water displacement formula 40.

Which is why I won't be doing that.

Or fit a new switch !

Graham

That makes perfect sense.

I think these 2 are way beyond that.

Graham

It WILL degrade certain plastics.

Graham

Yes, I realize my mistake of contradicting Phil. I'm sure this will get him out of his rat hole to spit out more garbage.

Every one can place the blame on me for this one..!

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