How to install a solenoid in KBDFans 8x

Learning and discussion Custom keyboards
1

Album:
https://imgur.com/a/Uh2iPuK

The instructions are almost the same as this guide:

http://www.martyncurrey.com/controlling-a-solenoid-valve-from-an-arduino/

You can get the solenoid here:

You can get the source code to my kbd8x firmware with solenoid enabled here, from my QMK fork:

Here is a video of the solenoid in action (keyboard not yet assembled):

I’ll do a build stream later where I assemble the keyboard with switches and stabs and everything and see how the solenoid sounds with it all put together. I’ll post a video of that too.

9 Likes
2

I love this! Thanks so much for putting this together :slight_smile:

2 Likes
3

@Walkerstop you legend - def going to build this into my Hyper 7 somehow!!

4

Yeah, I bought a pack os stuff to do this, I just need to get around to adding it to a board!

Also, we need to add this as a core feature to QMK. Not just in your keymap. :slight_smile:

1 Like
5

Thank you so much! Got my percent canoe pcb to be solenoided with this guide.

But I have to make a few notes here, trying to adapt the source code for the KBD8X for the canoe didn’t seem to work for me, specifically the digitalWrite() function,
I ended up including “gpio.h” and using writePinHigh(), writePinLow(), and setPinOutput() from QMK’s documentation guide on IO controls.

Sorry for necro-ing an ancient post, but so far this guide was the only one I could find about adding solenoids to QMK keyboards, so I’d thought I’d leave the notes for how I had to change my approach to get it to work here just in case it helps others!