OBSF-24-R

1. Overview

The Sanwa Denshi OBSF-24-R is a 24mm snap-in pushbutton in red, part of the flagship OBSF line manufactured by Sanwa Denshi (Japan). "OBSF" denotes the snap-in (spring/flange clip) flat-plunger design, and "24" indicates the 24mm mounting hole diameter — making it the compact sibling of the widely used OBSF-30. It is one of the most recognized arcade components in the world, standard equipment on Japanese arcade cabinets and the OEM button installed in commercial fight sticks from MadCatz, Qanba, and Hori. The button is a complete assembly: convex plunger, housing with dual plastic snap clips, and a built-in non-clicking microswitch.

2. User Sentiment

The OBSF-24 line receives near-universal acclaim in the fighting game community, with Focus Attack reporting a perfect 5-star aggregate across reviewer feedback. Customers describe these as "the gold standard for fight sticks" and "a necessity for arcade standard," with one user noting their suitability for authentic Neo Geo AES stick restoration. Retailers characterize the feel as "smooth, sensitive, and quiet" with a "super short and sensitive" stroke significantly lighter than American-style buttons. One known caveat flagged by Paradise Arcade Shop: the low actuation force and short operating position can make accidental presses slightly more likely than competing brands — a trade-off most competitive players accept for the speed advantage.

3. Real-World Applications

The OBSF-24-R is used almost exclusively as a start, select, credit, or special-function button on arcade control panels and fight sticks — the 24mm form factor is too small for main action buttons, which typically use the 30mm OBSF-30. It is standard on Hori, MadCatz, and Qanba fight sticks for the start/select positions. In original Japanese arcade cabinets, 24mm buttons appear on coin, credit, test, and service panels. The red colorway is a popular choice for "START" labeling on classic arcade layouts.

4. Technical Specifications

• Type: Snap-in pushbutton (OBSF = snap-in flat plunger)
• Mounting Hole Diameter: 24mm
• Compatible Panel Thickness: 2–4mm (0.08–0.16″); Arcade Express notes up to 3.7mm; Arcade Renovations notes 2–3.9mm — all consistent with thin metal or plastic panels
• Plunger Style: Convex (slightly domed), non-clicking
• Terminals: .110″ / 2.8mm faston (quick-disconnect) spade connectors, 2 terminals
• Microswitch: Sanwa SW-68 (built-in, non-clicking)
  • Operating Position (OP): 0.85mm
  • Total Travel Position (TTP): 2.53mm
  • Operating Force (OF): 55g
  • Required force from rest: 27g
  • Total Travel Force (TTF): 81g
  • Lifespan: 1,000,000 cycles (at 5VDC/10mA)
  • Electrical Rating: DC 12V / 100mA
  • Insulation Resistance: DC 250V / 50MΩ
  • Withstanding Voltage: AC 250V / 1 minute
  • Contact Resistance: 50mΩ max
  • Operating Temperature: −20 to +60°C
• Weight: ~8g
• Color: Red (suffix -R)
• Complete Assembly: Yes — plunger, housing, microswitch included

5. Ordering & Compatibility

The OBSF-24-R is priced at approximately $2.45–$2.75 USD retail (Paradise Arcade Shop: $2.75; Arcade Shock: $2.45; Arcade Renovations: $2.45) and €2.58 in Europe (Arcade Express). It is compatible with MadCatz FightSticks, Qanba FightSticks, Hori fight sticks, and any custom panel with a 24mm hole in a 2–4mm metal or plastic sheet. Mix-and-Match cap sets are available at Focus Attack. The OBSF-24-R uses the same SW-68 switch and 2.8mm faston wiring as the larger OBSF-30 family, so existing wiring harnesses are typically reusable. The OBSN-24 is the screw-in variant for thicker or wooden panels.

6. Known Issues

The primary complaint across communities is the very light actuation force: at 55g operating force and 0.85mm operating position, accidental presses can occur during intense play — a noted trade-off vs. slightly stiffer Seimitsu buttons. The red colorway (-R suffix) is among the most common and widely stocked; no availability or quality issues specific to the red color have been reported. The button is not recommended for panels thicker than ~4mm, as the snap clips will not engage correctly — the OBSN-24 (screw-in) is the correct alternative for those installations.