geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: terrpn on Mon, 28 October 2013, 10:55:32
-
i know this a dumb question to most here, but i need some help and don't want to screw the pooch
just picked up an omnikey 101 cheap, nothing special- white alps, other than being a little dirty it is a really nice board
for whatever reason the caps on this thing were real tight.........probably never been off before
so when taking apart, yanking the caps to clean i yanked the cap and switch off the plate, pcb.
the prongs are fine, push back without breaking, bending anything, but the switch is dead i guess because 1 of the solders broke off and i am probably not making contact with the other?
just so i don't screw up or melt anything do i just re solder the prongs back so the switch will work again?
-
Can you take a picture of it? It's possible you ripped the trace from the PCB and might have to use some wire to fix it.
-
Can you take a picture of it? It's possible you ripped the trace from the PCB and might have to use some wire to fix it.
here you go.........
-
Yes, you see all that white under the green? That's the trace. And you ripped a portion of it out on both sides. I don't know why it runs in that grid pattern though, so I can't really direct you from here... But someone else will be able to, I'm sure. But that's why it's not working anymore.
-
I don't know why it runs in that grid pattern though
Usually it's to save on PCB production time (and cost), as all copper that's not used has to be removed, so the less copper that has to be removed, the less chemicals the use and the less time it takes. You also see it on ground planes for a number of different reasons.
You have two options here: either scrape off some of the green soldermask, exposing the copper and solder a bridge to there (perhaps with some wire) or solder a wire from the switch to another location, "replacing" the trace. I prefer option #2 and have done it a few times.
Just follow where the trace goes and solder the wire from the switch to that.
-
Yes, you see all that white under the green? That's the trace. And you ripped a portion of it out on both sides. I don't know why it runs in that grid pattern though, so I can't really direct you from here... But someone else will be able to, I'm sure. But that's why it's not working anymore.
i should have just left the tight ones and cleaned in place.
i understand and where you are talking
the trace is still in place on the one side, but do not know if it is enough to send the signal with one side being gone?
at least it is just the key to the left of the !/1, but still..........
-
What dorkvader said. I used option 1 on my Genius M1 when I improperly removed a switch, and that fixed it quite nicely.
-
I don't know why it runs in that grid pattern though
Usually it's to save on PCB production time (and cost), as all copper that's not used has to be removed, so the less copper that has to be removed, the less chemicals the use and the less time it takes. You also see it on ground planes for a number of different reasons.
You have two options here: either scrape off some of the green soldermask, exposing the copper and solder a bridge to there (perhaps with some wire) or solder a wire from the switch to another location, "replacing" the trace. I prefer option #2 and have done it a few times.
Just follow where the trace goes and solder the wire from the switch to that.
that makes sense.............i would assume i could pick up some copper or other small wire from radio shack, do a light scrape exposing the copper underneath and like you said solder a connection on that end back to the switch
i was able to save the trace on the one side and actually tried pushing the trace with solder back on to the switch prong on the 1 side, but no dice
so i am assuming that both sides require the connect for the signal to work?