Switching & protectionRebuild shelfHand tools, works as-is

Tactile switch

Also called tact switch, membrane button, button dome.

The little click button on a monitor bezel, a meter, a toy. Membrane pads and conductive-rubber remotes are the worse version: they work, but the carbon pills wear out.

If you are new to this category

A switch opens or closes a circuit. Some switches are for your finger. Some open when they get too hot and stay open. Those do not reset. A relay is a switch that a small current turns on so it can control a larger current. Use the rating printed on the part.

Click it and listen. Then use a meter on continuity, which beeps when the contacts touch. Do not guess that a small switch can run a motor.

The three legs of a snap switch

Common is the moving contact. NO means normally open: that leg connects only while you press. NC means normally closed: that leg is connected until you press. Click the button while the meter is on continuity and write down which beep matches which leg.

Specification. The right-hand column is what is typical. The label on the part in your hand wins if they disagree.
What to look for	Usual figure
Through-hole tact	6 mm and 12 mm are common, 4-pin (two pairs), momentary
Voltage	Logic level unless marked otherwise. Do not switch a motor with one.

Volts are electrical pressure, amps are how much current is flowing, and ohms are how hard the part resists that flow. A higher voltage than the part was built for is how salvage parts die on the bench. If a cell in the table says “read the stamp”, that stamp is the whole specification.

What people actually use it for

User interface on a project
Reset buttons

Leave this one when

The dome is torn or the carbon pad is polished shiny. Shiny carbon does not conduct.

Buying a new one is the better idea when

Tact switches are cents. Salvage the ones that are already on a wired bezel you can reuse whole.

How to tell if this one still works

Beep while pressed.

Tools you will want: Meter, Iron.

Where people actually find it

14 notes, most useful first. “Leave it” means the part is in that machine and you should not take it: it is dangerous, worn out, or only useful if you already know that exact repair.

Harvest at a glance
From	Call	How many	How often	Where it sits
Alarm clock	Worth it	several	usually	The top.
Optical mouse	Bonus	1	sometimes	DPI button or battery door.
Set-top box or streamer	Bonus	several	usually	Front buttons.
Barcode scanner	Bonus	1	usually	The trigger.
LCD monitor	Bonus	4–7	always	The button board.
LCD television	Bonus	a row	usually	Power and input buttons.
Microwave oven	Bonus	a pad	usually	Keypad.
Digital kitchen scale	Bonus	2–4	usually	The buttons.
Mobile phone	Bonus	2–4	usually	Volume and power.
Infrared remote	Bonus	many	always	The keypad.
Game controller	Bonus	many	always	Face buttons.
DVD or Blu-ray player	Bonus	several	usually	Front buttons.
Digital camera	Bonus	many	usually	Buttons.
Keyboard	Leave it	many	always	Membrane boards.

Worth pullingAlarm clockseveral · usually
In this particular machine
Snooze and time-set.
Where to look
The top.
How to get it out
Keep the board.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereOptical mouse1 · sometimes
In this particular machine
Small tact.
Where to look
DPI button or battery door.
How to get it out
Desolder.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereSet-top box or streamerseveral · usually
In this particular machine
Small tact switches.
Where to look
Front buttons.
How to get it out
Desolder if you need them.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereBarcode scanner1 · usually
In this particular machine
A larger tact or a microswitch.
Where to look
The trigger.
How to get it out
Only if the scanner is dead.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereLCD monitor4–7 · always
In this particular machine
OSD keys, already on a cable.
Where to look
The button board.
How to get it out
Keep the board.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereLCD televisiona row · usually
In this particular machine
On a small board.
Where to look
Power and input buttons.
How to get it out
Keep the board.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereMicrowave ovena pad · usually
In this particular machine
Membrane. Usually the part that failed.
Where to look
Keypad.
How to get it out
Not a prize.
The condition to expect
Worn.
Bonus, if you are already in thereDigital kitchen scale2–4 · usually
In this particular machine
Small tact.
Where to look
The buttons.
How to get it out
Desolder.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereMobile phone2–4 · usually
In this particular machine
Side buttons on a flex.
Where to look
Volume and power.
How to get it out
Model-specific.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereInfrared remotemany · always
In this particular machine
Conductive rubber, not discrete switches. The carbon wears.
Where to look
The keypad.
How to get it out
Not worth transplanting.
The condition to expect
Worn.
Bonus, if you are already in thereGame controllermany · always
In this particular machine
Conductive rubber or membrane on most pads. Some use discrete switches.
Where to look
Face buttons.
How to get it out
Discrete ones are worth it. Rubber is not.
The condition to expect
Rubber wears.
Bonus, if you are already in thereDVD or Blu-ray playerseveral · usually
In this particular machine
Small.
Where to look
Front buttons.
How to get it out
Keep the board.
The condition to expect
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereDigital cameramany · usually
In this particular machine
Small tact.
Where to look
Buttons.
How to get it out
Desolder.
The condition to expect
Good.
Leave it — present, not yours to reuseKeyboardmany · always
In this particular machine
A rubber dome over a plastic sheet. Not a salvage switch.
Where to look
Membrane boards.
How to get it out
Do not harvest the membrane.
The condition to expect
Worn.