geekhack
geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: taako on Tue, 22 May 2018, 10:55:48
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So only a week after getting interested in ergonomic (and mechanical) keyboards and asking my coworker how he likes his Kinesis advantage, the same coworker found two Kinesis Model 130s being thrown out. He grabbed them both and gave them to me yesterday and i took them home and they seem to both work fine.
One of them is a Kinesis Model 130 Essential and the other is a Kinesis Model 130 Professional QD.
The Essential was attached to a AT to PS/2 converter and then also attached to a PS/2 to USB converter; the Pro QD was attached to a PS/2 to USB converter.
I was able to reset to firmware on both to factory settings (one keyboard was in Dvorak complete with stickers on top of the keys for the new layout) and they are both working fine EXCEPT that on both of them sometimes i will tap a key and it will input three to eight of the character instead of just one. It's worse on some keys than others but the keys are not being stuck down they are just inputting many characters on one tap so i'm not sure if its a problem with the converters or the keyboard.
Is this a switch problem? are the switches on the Kinesis 130 Essential and Pro QD replacable?
What other modifications can you guys suggest i do to these? They are both old, the copyright date on the back says 1995 so they are nearly as old as I am.
do AT to USB converters exist and are they reliable? Or do i need to go through PS/2 converter first? Are PS/2 to usb converters all the same or are some better than others?
Is there a way to separate the two halves if I 3D print a case? and is there a way to replace the switches and keycaps?
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Stapelberg mod
You can replace switches just like on almost any other keyboard with, uh, MX switches.
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If it happens with any key meaning the problem is random,
the the converters are likely fine but the issue is then likely a problem with the adaptor. Make sure you're using an Active PS2 to USB adapter and not a Passive adaptor. Make sure it's a good brand (Tripp-Lite for example).
If it's with specific key switches only then likely some dirty switches or they are bad (20 year old electronics). Remove key keycaps and spray canned air inside. You can also contact the company for replacement Left and Right keywells rather than replacing the individual key switches (last I heard was $35 each side) which is easy to do and only need a screw driver.
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If it happens with any key meaning the problem is random,
the the converters are likely fine but the issue is then likely a problem with the adaptor. Make sure you're using an Active PS2 to USB adapter and not a Passive adaptor. Make sure it's a good brand (Tripp-Lite for example).
If it's with specific key switches only then likely some dirty switches or they are bad (20 year old electronics). Remove key keycaps and spray canned air inside. You can also contact the company for replacement Left and Right keywells rather than replacing the individual key switches (last I heard was $35 each side) which is easy to do and only need a screw driver.
Some keys are definitely worse offenders than others. When I took off the keycaps and cleaned out the switch tops a bit the problem seemed to go down a bit.
When you say each keywell is sold.by the company do you mean the PCB? Or the bowl shaped plastic?
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Here's a modification log (https://imgur.com/a/V8x6H) or switch replacement log (https://reberhardt.com/blog/2016/09/13/repairing-a-dead-switch-on-the-kinesis-advantage.html).
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before you change the switch open up the test and bridge the switch connection (use wire to close the circuit in each switch).
if they register one time = no need to replace switches
if they do = replacing switches may help, but also the controller could cause the problem