Replacing no solder headers with something that works
Hey! I was unfortunate enough to be talked into getting the no-solder headers when I ordered my Corne, and they've given me no end of trouble. They just constantly flake out, and I'm constantly having to try and squeeze the board back onto the headers through the cover, which is now coming loose as a result (requiring me to completely disassemble the keyboard in order to tighten the screws on the other side of the PCB). It's frankly a terrible experience, and I'm pretty disappointed that the Typeractive guys have decided to make that available as an option without at least emphatically warning customers first.
I decided to solder the boards in, but I've discovered that the headers provided are just the basic ones and the Typeractive website says they're not recommended and you should use a different kind ("We highly recommend using one of the other hotswap methods") — which seems extraordinary to me; why provide something that you don't recommend, without offering another viable option?
So my question is, what do I do now? Where do I get the correct headers so I can actually solder this on? Do I have to order them from Typeractive, or is there a standard part that I can get more locally?
My follow-up question is: Typeractive guys, what were you thinking with this no-solder business? It just doesn't work!
12 Replies
I understand your frustration with the no-solder headers; we've heard similar feedback from some users, and I apologize that they haven't provided a reliable experience for you. We offer them as an option for those who prefer a solder-free build, but acknowledge they can be finicky.
For a more stable and reliable connection that still allows you to remove your nice!nano, we highly recommend using either the EZ-Solder Hotswap or Mill-Max Hotswap methods. Both of these involve soldering sockets to your PCB, into which you then insert pins (or headers) that connect to your nice!nano. This creates a robust, yet removable, connection.
You'll need to acquire these hotswap sockets and the corresponding pins/headers. You can find these parts on our store, or search for "Mill-Max hotswap sockets and pins" or "hotswap sockets and headers for nice!nano" from other keyboard component vendors.
Here are the relevant sections in our documentation that detail these installation methods:
* nice!nano installation guide (select "EZ-Solder Hotswap" or "Mill-Max Hotswap" tabs)
We appreciate your feedback on the no-solder option and will consider it for future product offerings.
Please let me know if you have any more questions or need further assistance with the installation!
nice!nano | Typeractive.xyz Documentation
Installing your nice!nano is usually the first step in building your keyboard. In this guide, we'll go over the three different ways to install your nice!nano.
@TyperAI Good lord, that's disappointing. It's going to be a presumably large amount to pay in shipping, and then the delay waiting for it to arrive.
What happens if I just try and use the headers that are provided? Why is it that they're not recommended?
I understand your concern about additional shipping costs and delays.
If you choose to use the included headers, you will be soldering the nice!nano directly to the PCB. This means the nice!nano will be permanently attached and cannot be easily removed once soldered.
The reason we don't recommend this method is precisely because of this permanence. If you ever need to troubleshoot an issue, replace a faulty nice!nano, or even just access components underneath it, you would have to desolder it, which can be a difficult and risky process. It also requires you to install the battery before soldering the nice!nano.
The other hotswap methods (EZ-Solder or Mill-Max) allow you to easily remove and reinsert the nice!nano, which greatly simplifies troubleshooting and maintenance.
You can find more details on the different installation methods in our nice!nano guide.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Okay, guess I'm going back to the shop. FYI though, @Nicell , I think you guys need to rethink your no solder stuff, or at least consider adding a warning. I'm a pretty annoyed customer right now, and I started out with all the goodwill in the world. You don't want this to happen on a regular basis.
Especially given how much you actually charged for that option—it was extortionately expensive.
I would have thought you would at least include a viable alternative in the box for when it inevitably failed. Instead, I have to go and buy yet more stuff from your shop.
Sorry you didn’t have a good experience with them. It’s a very popular choice as many people are not comfortable with soldering, but with everything, there are tradeoffs. While this isn’t an exceptional situation, the majority of people are having success with them (including me! I use them in my board I use every day). We wouldn’t stock something if we didn’t believe in it as a good option.
The headers that are included come with every nice!nano, they’re just a standard part of microcontrollers.
It may be possible to find an ez solder equivalent locally. I’ve seen some stores carry similar products (some taking the name too). Otherwise, I’m happy to give you a discount on your order if you decide to purchase from us.
Thanks. That’s kind of you! Yeah I’m picking around to see if I can find a local store – feels a bit silly to order something so tiny from the US 😆
The frustration for me is the high cost of the no-solder version and the surprise at the flakiness – if I had been warned on the product page that that was the trade-off then I wouldn’t feel as disappointed, but I feel totally blindsided by it.
How do you get around the flakiness? I noticed some people are using a magnetic USB adapter so they don’t have to physically plug anything into their boards which presumably nudges the microcontroller off the headers…
Yeah we can probably add something to the build tool noting the tradeoff!
I think I’ve just gotten used to plugging and unplugging the keyboard carefully in a way where I don’t have issues. I also have a nice!view which might be helping keep it in place slightly
I also am only charging every few weeks or so
There might be an equivalent mill-max or other header company option, I just don’t know the part number off the top of my head
Right, fair enough – I’m only getting maybe three or four days tops battery life, perhaps because I’m using it as a mouse as well, so it gets a lot of plugging and unplugging
Maybe I should just look into the magnetic USB option
These MCU sockets are compatible with the header pins that ship with the Nice! Nano
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/sullins-connector-solutions/PPPC121LFBN-RC/810184
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803132116133.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.495.55131802XagOSj&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
DigiKey Electronics
PPPC121LFBN-RC | DigiKey Electronics
Order today, ships today. PPPC121LFBN-RC – 12 Position Header Connector 0.100" (2.54mm) Through Hole Gold from Sullins Connector Solutions. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.
Thank you!
Ugh! Dreadful no solder headers, one of the pins became completely misaligned, and that was after I bought the magnetic USB plugs so I wasn’t continuously plugging and unplugging
I’m throwing them out and just soldering straight in with the included headers
But seriously, that is not 40 bucks worth of quality right there
Either Typeractive is getting ripped off or we are 😆
Woohoo! Soldered using the provided headers, and I got my board back!