How to Make External Keyboard Buttons

There are times when it would be useful to have external buttons for your keyboard. This can let you make a custom gaming setup with foot pedals. You can make a simple data logger that tracks how often some event happens. Or you can just make a remote play switch to start and stop your music.

So in this project, I am going to show you a simple way to make external buttons for your computer keyboard.

Step 1: Materials

Here are the materials and tools that you will need for this project.

Materials
Keyboard
Large Push Light
Masking Tape
Thin Insulated Wire

Tools
Wire Strippers
Knife
Screw Driver

Step 2: Open the Housing of the Keyboard

Start by removing the screws on the back of the keyboard and opening it up. Inside you will find several sheets clear plastic. The top sheet and the bottom sheet will have etching that resembles a circuit board. These are the button contacts. The middle sheet is plain but has a hole at the location of each contact. This sheet acts as an insulator between the top and bottom sheet.

The etched plastic sheets connect to a small circuit board. Whenever a button is pressed, the contacts on the plastic sheets touch and the circuit board registers key stroke.

Step 3: Locate the Key That You Want to be Able to Activate With an External Switch

Locate the contacts for the key that you want to be able to activate with an external switch. Larger keys like the space bar may have more than one contact. 

Step 4: Attach Wires to the Keyboard Contacts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Take a pair of small insulated wires and strip the insulation off of the ends. Place the exposed copper wire over the keyboard contact. Then tape it down with a piece of masking tape. Try to tape it down tightly so that it makes a good connection. Do this for the contacts on both the top sheet and the bottom sheet.

Now you need to test it. Plug the keyboard into your computer. Then take the free ends of the two wires and touch them together. If everything is working properly, the computer should register the key stroke just as if the button had been pressed on the keyboard.

 

                                            Thanks.

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