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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 10:42:37

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 10:42:37

I bought a das which had some switches damaged, f2, f10 and f11. The switches are basically there and visible, but the stem has been removed.

When i start my pc with the keyboard plugged in, the above keys are sent to the bios, opening boot menus and all sorts!

After windows is up i cant notice any problems except that i only have 3kro now!!

Can the keys be disabled without opening the board, and can i fix this by soldering new MX Brown switches on?

(http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q577/hamza_tm/20120503_164103.jpg)





Update: Okay i managed to depress the key by pressing this little connector inside the broken f11 switch. When i press it back the switch is depressed, and when i let go it returns to being pressed. Kool.

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 10:56:51

basically those switches are always in a state of being activated. Imagine using a PC where your f2, f10 and f11 keys are always held down from the instant you turn that PC on until you shut it down.

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: 1839cc on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:06:36

Yeah. I suppose you could desolder those three switches, if you can live without them. It would be better to repair them. Stems are cheap.

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:10:55

Would a new stem fix the problem?

Im not sure what the previous owner did and im not sure why the keys are always acting as if pressed.

What worries me is that f10 still has its stem, but thats also always acting like its pressed. The only physical indication of a problem there is that the switch sticks when pressed down. Maybe the spring is missing?

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: 1839cc on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:30:56

If the stem is missing, the key will always be pressed. The stem is what separates the contacts.

Can you push/pull F10? does it feel like there is a spring in there?

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:39:34

About F10:

Yeah it definitely pushes back up so a spring is probably there

It only sticks when right at the bottom, ie pushed all the way down. Theres an "activation point"-like bump that is very low and once i push it onto this activation point it sticks. Its much lower than the mx brown bump on other keys.

and as mentioned this key is always activated no matter how i press it

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: 1839cc on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:50:47

See if you can get it out and open it up. You might have to replace the bottom housing on that one.

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:53:10

bottom housing of the switch itself?

Cuz i ordered some new MX Brown full switches as well so I was thinking desolder these and solder on the new ones.

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: 1839cc on Thu, 03 May 2012, 11:56:22

Yeah the switch itself. Full replacement should work even better!

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 14:05:56

Great!

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: hamza_tm on Thu, 03 May 2012, 15:17:43

LOL I bought it like that for cheapish! Damaged Das for £55 delivered. New over here is just over £100 so yeah :)

No idea in hell how the guy managed to do that though

That's quite an odyssey with those zinc keys of yours lol

Title: Das, dodgy switches, and losing my 6KRO!!
Post by: anselben on Thu, 03 May 2012, 21:59:25

You can probably call Das and request a replacement if you're still in warranty. My esc key switch broke and they had no problem replacing it for me.