MEI T-5L

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MEI T-5L

Manufacturer	MEI
Family	MEI T-5 series
Switch type	Linear
Sense method	Metal contact
Rated lifetime	20M
Bounce time	4 ms
Actuation force	3.0±0.5 oz (85 cN) (SPST) 5.0±0.5 oz (142 cN) (DPST, HS, latching)
Pretravel	0.080±0.030″ (~2.0 mm)
Total travel	0.170±0.010″ (~4.3 mm)
Keycap mount	Proprietary
Switch mount	PCB mount

MEI T-5L is an illuminated switch in the MEI T-5 series.

Description

The slider has no keystem. Instead, a separate platform with a centre hole is permanently attached to it (possibly with glue, as it cannot be detached from the slider). The slider has a lip on each of its four sides, and the keycaps use a snap-on mount with corresponding slots at the base. The incandescent lamp is held using a friction fit into a centre socket, which runs through to a second pair of terminals. As such, a failed lamp can be removed and a fresh lamp inserted without needing to disassemble or remove the switch, which is an advertised design feature.

The entire keycap and its legend is lighted; as such, the use of an incandescent bulb instead of an LED may be due to the lack of white LEDs at the time that these switches were used.

Variants

Only one variant has been found to date, with a single gold-plated terminal and a grey slider. The switch is branded only "WEAB" on the base; the "MEI" branding does not appear anywhere.

RS annotations to the catalogue excerpt show that they sold two variants of this switch:

RS part number	MEI part number	Type
RS 336-191	T-5L-M-NO	Momentary action, SPST NO
RS 336-185	T-5L-A-NO	Alternate action, SPST NO

Keyboards

None to date.

Gallery

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  Top view
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  Single gold plated terminal
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  Opened
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  Spring removed