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Author Topic: Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning  (Read 2899 times)

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Offline lal

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 07:51:26 »
As a reminder to be careful with your keyboards I have to tell you that my newest purchase, an Escom-branded Focus FK-2002, is now dead after I've taken it apart for cleaning.

Those damn hard-to-remove Alps keycaps! I suspect it happened when the board slammed back against the table when the buttons finally came off, which needs some considerable force. And I didn't use the levering technique this time but instead pulled them off with a keycap remover. I tried to not lift the board up while pulling but it happened sometimes. I've put a sheet of cardboard below in order to protect the PCB and not scratch the table. But obviously this wasn't enough.

The keyboards LEDs light up when I switch on the power supply but while POSTing it gives me a "keyboard error". I checked the traces on the PCB and the solder joints and didn't see any obvious sign of damage. But then I'm no electrical engineer. As a last resort I gave it a series of punches from different directions but it still fails to work. Most depressing is that I've spent several hours carefully undressing and handwashing her, and just before it started she's gone :(

Well, I'm left with 102 real clicky white Alps :)

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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline CX23882

  • Posts: 174
Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 08:39:21 »
Escom... that brings back some memories.
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Offline lowpoly

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 08:50:33 »
Good find. Did you check the cable separately? Any ICs you could re-seat?
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Offline alpslover

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 09:43:36 »
i think i'd be more suspect of the handwashing than the impact.
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Offline lal

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 10:53:47 »
Ooookaaaayyyyy... Lowpoly, I owe you a beer or two. I really don't know how this could have possibly happened, but the clock signal wire had been disconnected *inside the AT plug*! And I didn't slam this one against anything. I'm buffled.

But it's working now, so all is well. Just this ruin of a cut open AT plug dangling on the end of the cable. And a really bad solder job. Note to self: never ever try soldering switches! :)

See how it's NOT done:



Many thanks, lowpoly! I would NEVER have guessed it could be that simple.
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline ozar

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 10:59:52 »
It sounds like it might have been poorly connected to begin with, and would have soon become completely disconnected anyway.
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Offline lal

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 11:04:30 »
I have to add that the keyboard has been working right before the cleaning! I don't invest time if I'm not sure that it's technically alright. And of course I've only washed the case and keycaps :)
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline cmr

  • Posts: 295
Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 11:29:09 »
phew!

this made me worried for a second, because a friend of mine has been busily cleaning the Focus FK-2000+ i gave him last week.
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Offline lowpoly

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Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 11:32:07 »
Good you could repair it. Should you ever visit Hamburg we can have that beer. :)

Quote from: lal;23230
And of course I've only washed the case and keycaps :)

I always put the cable into the dishwasher, if possible. Cleaning spiral cables is not fun otherwise.
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Offline lal

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  • Posts: 360
Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 11:57:45 »
I don't own a dishwasher. Cleaning the spiral part of the cable by hand is relatively easy with a long haired brush. The hardest part is scrubbing all these key caps, I think.

I've been on vacation in HH in 2007. Hotel "Stern" on Reeperbahn (not recommended, we moved to "Junges Hotel" for the second half). Nice city. Should I ever be there again, I'll get back to you :) I'm in Erfurt, so if you come around...
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BS: Customizer, Model Ms; Alps: CSK-2101, FK-2002, AT-101 (SGI & Dell), MCK-860, FKBN87Z/EB; Cherry: Poker X, FKBN87MC/EB, WY60, G80-3000, G84-4100, TDV 5010

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Focus FK-2002 dead after cleaning
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 02 March 2009, 12:34:06 »
Quote
Hotel "Stern" on Reeperbahn (not recommended, we moved to "Junges Hotel" for the second half).
I can imagine. For a very short time I lived in one of Reeperbahn's side streets. Could stumble right out of my favorite bar, over the street and be home. But during the day the area is not so nice. I still live in St. Pauli. :)
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