[help] Build issue. 4 keys not working after soldering switches on.

[jonovann]

Hey i just finished soldering my switches onto my new board for the first time and for some reason the I,U, and *= keys are not working but everything else works just fine. Im not sure what to do so any help would be appreciated!

[SpAmRaY]

Most likely you have bad solder joints on those switches and they need to be reflowed.

Good photos would help.

[jonovann]

Hopefully this helps. Best i could get with my phone

[hkf]

clean your flux residue (clear puddle near solder joints)

there are so many overflowing onto traces that I'm surprised your board even works at all.

[jonovann]

What do i use to clean the flux off?

[tp4tissue]

flux has nothing to do with ur issue.

does jumping the two contacts with a wire do nothing ?

[jonovann]

flux has nothing to do with ur issue.

does jumping the two contacts with a wire do nothing ?

How would i go about that exactly? Sorry this is my first build with no knowledge of soldering or much to go along with the process?


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[jonovann]

Most likely you have bad solder joints on those switches and they need to be reflowed.

Good photos would help.

Did the photo help at all?


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[tp4tissue]

plug in keyboard,   take anything metal.. touch the bottom of the switch which isn't sending a signal together,   the two main big shiny points. check on microsoft word if that send the key signal..

Check all the keys that don't work,  and check the ones next to it.

[jonovann]

plug in keyboard,   take anything metal.. touch the bottom of the switch which isn't sending a signal together,   the two main big shiny points. check on microsoft word if that send the key signal..

Check all the keys that don't work,  and check the ones next to it.

The switches not working still didnt work when trying that but all the ones around them did.


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[SpAmRaY]

Are the switches all the way down? The picture makes them look like they aren't.

[jonovann]

Are the switches all the way down? The picture makes them look like they aren't.

Yeah as far as i can tell they are completely flush


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[SpAmRaY]

Have you tried heating the solder on the switches that aren't working must enough for it to melt then let it resolidify and try them again?

[jonovann]

Have you tried heating the solder on the switches that aren't working must enough for it to melt then let it resolidify and try them again?

Yeah i just tried that and they still arent responding


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[kmba]

plug in keyboard,   take anything metal.. touch the bottom of the switch which isn't sending a signal together,   the two main big shiny points. check on microsoft word if that send the key signal..

Check all the keys that don't work,  and check the ones next to it.

The switches not working still didnt work when trying that but all the ones around them did.


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then it's not your switch solder I suspect.  Could be damaged diodes.  Those little surface mount diodes are notorious for coming loose.  Can you show a picture of a specific switch that isn't working from the bottom.

[jonovann]

plug in keyboard,   take anything metal.. touch the bottom of the switch which isn't sending a signal together,   the two main big shiny points. check on microsoft word if that send the key signal..

Check all the keys that don't work,  and check the ones next to it.

The switches not working still didnt work when trying that but all the ones around them did.


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then it's not your switch solder I suspect.  Could be damaged diodes.  Those little surface mount diodes are notorious for coming loose.  Can you show a picture of a specific switch that isn't working from the bottom.

Is this any better? Sorry i dont have the best camera



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[jonovann]

U I += and ] are the keys not working and they are both next to each other if that makes any difference


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[jonovann]

This is my first build and i just finished soldering the switches on a little while ago and everything including the led works fine except for 4 switches. Im really new to all this and tried reflowing the points and jumping them but to no luck. It is the U, I, +=, and ] keys that arent working. Im not sure what to do now hopefully someone can help! Thanks


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[TalkingTree]

If you have a multimeter, you can test the diodes.

[jonovann]

If you have a multimeter, you can test the diodes.

Just tested the diodes they all seem fine and replaced the switches hoping that they might be faulty but still no luck


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[jonovann]

plug in keyboard,   take anything metal.. touch the bottom of the switch which isn't sending a signal together,   the two main big shiny points. check on microsoft word if that send the key signal..

Check all the keys that don't work,  and check the ones next to it.

So i found out that i was jumping the switches wrong and they actually do send a signal but after swapping out switches and testing the diodes i still have no luck. Any ideas? Pretty stumped here


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[TalkingTree]

Try bridging the switch pins to see if the keypress registers. Try shorting Y with I.

[jonovann]

Try bridging the switch pins to see if the keypress registers. Try shorting Y with I.

Im not sure exactly how to do that? Also if it makes any difference somehow tonight i got all the keys working completely fine a couple of times but im not sure how i did it and it didnt last.


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[TalkingTree]

Try bridging the switch pins to see if the keypress registers. Try shorting Y with I.

Im not sure exactly how to do that?

With a jumper wire.

Also if it makes any difference somehow tonight i got all the keys working completely fine a couple of times but im not sure how i did it and it didnt last.

Might be insufficient soldering somewhere around the PCB. Take the PCB out of the case and see if it works. If it does, there's likely something causing a short. Also check the solder around the MCU's pins.

[jonovann]

Try bridging the switch pins to see if the keypress registers. Try shorting Y with I.

Im not sure exactly how to do that?

With a jumper wire.

Also if it makes any difference somehow tonight i got all the keys working completely fine a couple of times but im not sure how i did it and it didnt last.

Might be insufficient soldering somewhere around the PCB. Take the PCB out of the case and see if it works. If it does, there's likely something causing a short. Also check the solder around the MCU's pins.

It doesnt work outside of the case either but if i press down hard enough on some of the switches enough times it will eventually register. Im not quite sure what to look for in a good solder but it looks good as far as i can tell.


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