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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: patrickgeekhack on Mon, 16 March 2009, 22:54:35

Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Mon, 16 March 2009, 22:54:35: If I lift my Customizer 104 with my right hand (thumb just above the - key on the numerical keypad, and my four other fingers under the keyboard somewhere between the logo and the keys), I get a message from OS X telling me that there is a device pulling too much power.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: lam47 on Tue, 17 March 2009, 04:43:00: LOL that does not sound good.
What connection are you using?
What ports do you have?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: Chloe on Tue, 17 March 2009, 07:06:20: Do you get the same message if you just move the cable around near the case?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 07:24:17: @Lam47
I'm using a USB connection. I bought the USB version.

@Chloe
That was my first though too. But, it was not the cable. It was not the USB hub either since I got the same error when I connected it directly to the MacBook. I will try it on my wife Toshiba tonight.

The funny thing was that I would have never found that, if I was trying to put a small tower underneath it. So far its working. I hope it stays at that point. Shipping it back to Unicomp will too much trouble and too much money.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: lam47 on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:06:52: My guess would be there must be something loose that is shorting the controller as you lift it.
Have you taken it apart to have a look?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:09:49: Quote from: lam47;24709
My guess would be there must be something loose that is shorting the controller as you lift it.
Have you taken it apart to have a look?

That's my feeling too. I think the pressure on the board when holding with one hand is causing this.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:25:26: Quote from: webwit;24711
In the name of this guy, I object.

Show Image
(http://io-soup-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/asset/0248/6892_b317.jpeg)

Surely it is caused by a voodoo spell on your board cast by Jim.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is this guy? Is he the Jim Owens we hear on the phone when calling Unicomp?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: FKSSR on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:28:02: haha. It is Captain Obvious. :D
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: FKSSR on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:28:54: Maybe the Canadians aren't as familiar. It does appear he is an American soldier, after all...
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:29:53: Quote from: webwit;24713
You never encountered Captain Obvious? ;)

Nope. First time I heard about him. I have to go to Wikipedia.

@Lam47
How is easy is it to take it apart? Although, even if I can take it apart, I won't know what to look for.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: lam47 on Tue, 17 March 2009, 10:52:26: You need to look for anything that seems loose or out of place.
Take a couple of photos if you are not sure.

@webwit, for the love of god just go away.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 11:02:07: Quote from: lam47;24723
You need to look for anything that seems loose or out of place.
Take a couple of photos if you are not sure.

@webwit, for the love of god just go away.

I have to stop my place sometimes today. I'll take the keyboard to work after, and see if I get the same error here.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 13:39:37: I get the same error on a Windows PC. I called Unicomp, and they said they have never seen something like that. I don't blame them. I would have never noticed this problem if I had never tried to put a towel underneath it. They will repair it, but I will have to shipping back and forth, since I'm in Canada. About USD $50...like buying a new one.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:02:50: Quote from: webwit;24753
That's not so cool. I had better service from ebay traders, who take the hit for my continuing business and their reputation. This means it's a shot in the dark when you buy from outside the states. I would buy again though from Brian from ebay after transport damaged a keyboard. Still, Unicomp needs foreign dealers or hubs, to cut back on transport costs. I hope it works out with your board. It sounds like something that can be easily repaired, but only if you know your electronics and what to look for or measure. Perhaps you know a friend who's good with that kind of thing?

I have to agree.

I don't anything about electronic, but I can try getting someone who does. I still have to get the proper tools to take it apart though.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: wheel83 on Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:04:53: AMERICA IS #1 !

euro dukage
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: lal on Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:07:20: I'd probably just live with it. I mean, you don't lift your board one-handed very often, do you? It sounds like it's working perfect otherwise?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:14:01: Quote from: lal;24760
I'd probably just live with it. I mean, you don't lift your board one-handed very often, do you? It sounds like it's working perfect otherwise?

Yes. The whole point of having a keyboard is to have sit on a desk not lifting it up with one hand LOL. What I'm more worried about is the risk of fire. I just want to make sure there's no wire rubbing against wire. Other than that, the keyboards works fine. I like it. In fact, I like my two keyboards a lot. After a few weeks, the Dell is starting to feel great. And I have a Cherry on it's way.

That being said, I might wait a bit before putting in an order for a SpaceSaver.

Like I said, had I not tried to put a small towel under the board, I would have never seen this problem. I'll stop by my uncle's place tonight. He knows electronic and have the equipment to do some repairs if necessary.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: wheel83 on Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:15:29: this place should be like survivor and you get to vote people off this island. wink wink honk honk
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: Etinin on Tue, 17 March 2009, 16:54:28: There's no way a short circuit inside your keyboard can provoke fire. It's not like you have a lot of energy going through USB sockets.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 19:48:50: Quote from: Etinin;24774
There's no way a short circuit inside your keyboard can provoke fire. It's not like you have a lot of energy going through USB sockets.

Thanks for reassuring me :)

Anyway, I found the solution. Well, my uncle found the solution. The small circuit board on which the LEDs are located was coming into contact with the metal plate behind it when pressure is applied. The solution was simple: electical tape.

I'm so happy :)
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: FKSSR on Tue, 17 March 2009, 19:50:32: Glad to hear it worked out, and I'll keep this in mind when I get my own Spacesaver in the next couple weeks. :)
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: Hak Foo on Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:01:43: On my 1391401, there was a HUGE brick of tape holding the LED card down... it couldn't have shorted unless you drove a car over it. It was quite difficult to remove to change the LEDs.

Did they simplify/cheap out on two cents of tape?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:03:19: Quote from: FKSSR;24785
Glad to hear it worked out, and I'll keep this in mind when I get my own Spacesaver in the next couple weeks. :)

Thanks. I wanted to share my experience so that if others encounter the same problem, they will know what to do.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:05:43: Quote from: Hak Foo;24786
On my 1391401, there was a HUGE brick of tape holding the LED card down... it couldn't have shorted unless you drove a car over it. It was quite difficult to remove to change the LEDs.

Did they simplify/cheap out on two cents of tape?

There was no tape at all. We put a few layers of tape on the metal plate behind the board, so that pressure won't cause it to short circuit. Of course if pressure is applied regularly, over time, the tape will be pierced. But, that should not be a problem since I don't apply pressure on the board on a regular basis. I only found out about the problem when I was putting a towel underneath the keyboard to dampen the noise because my baby girl was sleeping.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 18 March 2009, 05:25:44: Quote from: patrickgeekhack;24784
Thanks for reassuring me :)

Anyway, I found the solution. Well, my uncle found the solution. The small circuit board on which the LEDs are located was coming into contact with the metal plate behind it when pressure is applied. The solution was simple: electical tape.

I'm so happy :)

Thought it might be something like that.
Well done to your uncle for finding it!
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: iMav on Wed, 18 March 2009, 07:55:05: Quote from: webwit;24711
In the name of this guy, I object.

HA!! I'm saving that pic for future reference. ;)
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: patrickgeekhack on Wed, 18 March 2009, 08:12:30: Quote from: lam47;24800
Thought it might be something like that.
Well done to your uncle for finding it!

Experience is priceless. He knew what to look for right away.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:15:51: I think also priceless is having a corporation at the height of its powers (ie, ibm in the 80s) know to put gobs of tape on that part of the board ;)
I can imagine the kinds of thorough stress testing they did with the M that contemporary companies prolly rarely do anymore.
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:19:17: Quote from: wellington1869;24856
I think also priceless is having a corporation at the height of its powers (ie, ibm in the 80s) know to put gobs of tape on that part of the board ;)
I can imagine the kinds of thorough stress testing they did with the M that contemporary companies prolly rarely do anymore.

If they would have just used Velcro, it would have fixed everything. Right, Welly?
Title: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this?
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:26:57: damn straight :)