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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: reidpr on Sun, 31 October 2010, 21:59:33

Title: Flaky ALPS keyswitches: repair or replace?
Post by: reidpr on Sun, 31 October 2010, 21:59:33

I have some ALPS keyboards where one or a few keys have become flaky - duplicate or missing keystokes.

Is it possible to clean/repair these keyswitches? Or must they be replaced?

If the former, how? Will contact cleaner like Deoxit be effective?

Title: Flaky ALPS keyswitches: repair or replace?
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 31 October 2010, 22:03:16

Check the back of the keyboard to see if a key has been hit and it's separated the soldering joints.

This seems to happen on really beefy/heavy keyboards when a key gets hit it can do that, but usually just a quick touch up and you're good.  If you need to replace switches there are many on here including myself who have some.  Just post what you're looking to replace.

Title: Flaky ALPS keyswitches: repair or replace?
Post by: reidpr on Sun, 31 October 2010, 22:16:11

Quote from: didjamatic

Check the back of the keyboard to see if a key has been hit and it's separated the soldering joints.

This seems to happen on really beefy/heavy keyboards when a key gets hit it can do that, but usually just a quick touch up and you're good.  If you need to replace switches there are many on here including myself who have some.  Just post what you're looking to replace.

I'm skeptical of that hypothesis, because they keys just seem to slowly go bad over time. However, I will check as that is not something that I had thought of.

These are DataDesk Smartboards. They use ALPS simplified tactile clicky, I think, type III or IV.

Are these keyswitches still made by anyone? Or is it cannibalism only to get replacements?

Thanks,

Reid

Title: Flaky ALPS keyswitches: repair or replace?
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Mon, 01 November 2010, 14:53:57

What kind of alps switches are you talking about?