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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jixr on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:02:16

Title: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:02:16
I have a pokerX in a tex alum case, and recently its been acting speratic.

Basically, when in use it goes crazy and starts randomly inputting characters, the volumes goes down, and becomes unfunctional until you ungplug it and re plug it.

Using the keyboard outside of the case, I have not replicated the problem.

any ideas?
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:04:42
The case either has no anodization or a really bad job of it. The anodization removes any conductivity from the aluminum

Edit: anodization usually has problems reaching into small nooks and crannies and is never perfect
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:08:15
I also have some shelf liner between the pcb and case, I don't see how that could be an issue. but i'll remove that too and give it a go.

My case shows no signs of damage or scratches.

( could be the pcb, it was used when I got it. )
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:09:25
I also have some shelf liner between the pcb and case, I don't see how that could be an issue. but i'll remove that too and give it a go.

My case shows no signs of damage or scratches.

( could be the pcb, it was used when I got it. )

It's a long shot but it could be the screws
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: Dreamre on Wed, 27 August 2014, 20:52:00
This happened with one of my Ducky Shine 2. What I did was had some electrical tape inside the case to prevent any shorting out of the case. At that time, I also had shelf lining, but I added some electrical tape with the lining to fix the shorting issue.
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 27 August 2014, 21:03:22
Yeah, I'm thinking about trying to find a very thin sheet of latex or rubber to separate the pcb and the case, though testing now without the shelf liner, I have not had the issue, I don't understand how that could be the issue though.
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: limitz on Wed, 27 August 2014, 23:08:24
Place this under the PCB:

http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/21-filler-for-controlling-ressonance.html

Should do the trick
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: mashby on Thu, 28 August 2014, 11:49:39
Remove it from the case and see if you experience the same issue.
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 28 August 2014, 11:53:10
Place this under the PCB:

http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/21-filler-for-controlling-ressonance.html

Should do the trick

That's just foam. I find that drawer liner isn't as thin and porous which can still cause shorting issues. I had a similar problem with my Kingsaver. I swapped out the foam for drawer liner. Open your case up and make sure that the USB port has drawer liner underneath it as well.

I've had my Pure and FC700R have these issues and I solved it with drawer liner. The Kingsaver had grounding issues which I've solved as well with drawer liner.
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 28 August 2014, 12:47:02
I recommend using a thin sheet of plastic to avoid shorting. Manufacturers of power supplies, UPSes, and even IBM in their model F use this material to prevent shorting to a metal chassis.

There is usually a large piece of it between the PCB and backplate in the model F.

Then combine it with some foam or whatever to dampen out sound.
Title: Re: Alum case shorting out keyboard?
Post by: Jixr on Tue, 02 September 2014, 12:01:25
Update, ever since I removed the shelf liner I haven't had any problems.

I'm guessing that it was squishing some component or something causing it to trigger, causing the issues.

Weird. Oh well, the shelf liner didn't really help in that case anyways.