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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Rainbow_ on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:11:31

Title: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:11:31
Okay, so I was removing a switch from my keyboard, and the pad came with the solder. Is there any way to repair it?
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:31:23
Okay, so I was removing a switch from my keyboard, and the pad came with the solder. Is there any way to repair it?

You have two fairly easy choices depending on a couple things.

If it is a single sided PCB just scratch some of the solder mask off on the trace connecting to the pad and lay a clipped diode leg or something along that lines and solder that in to connect the pin on the switch to the trace.  Or you can solder a wire from that pin to the next solder pad on the trace.  I have done both and can confirm both work.

The third I have not done personally but have heard of it working.  If it is a double sided PCB and there is not actual trace to follow on the top, just heat the pin and start shoving solder in the hole.  If you get enough in the hole it can flow to the other side and make the connection.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: hwood34 on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:36:39
Yeah, this just happened to me to. Do you have a picture to show any of these? Sorry, I'm kind of mod-disabled right now :p
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:41:47
Yeah, this just happened to me to. Do you have a picture to show any of these? Sorry, I'm kind of mod-disabled right now :p

Let me do some digging.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Fri, 12 December 2014, 23:55:36
Okay, so I was removing a switch from my keyboard, and the pad came with the solder. Is there any way to repair it?

You have two fairly easy choices depending on a couple things.

If it is a single sided PCB just scratch some of the solder mask off on the trace connecting to the pad and lay a clipped diode leg or something along that lines and solder that in to connect the pin on the switch to the trace.  Or you can solder a wire from that pin to the next solder pad on the trace.  I have done both and can confirm both work.

The third I have not done personally but have heard of it working.  If it is a double sided PCB and there is not actual trace to follow on the top, just heat the pin and start shoving solder in the hole.  If you get enough in the hole it can flow to the other side and make the connection.

The third seems like the easiest, since I am a total n00b. I'll get back to you on that. Otherwise, I'll need some pics on the first two, since I am a visual learner.

edit: not sure if there is anything on the top; this is a plate mounted, and I just needed to replace one switch, so I'd rather not remove them all...
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 13 December 2014, 00:21:50
#3 can be somewhat difficult, though it's easy when it sometimes "just works". You risk damaging the part and the PCB with heat if you do too much. I recommend #2 as pretty easy even for a beginner and very workable.

#2 being the "just use a bit of wire and solder to a nearby joint. Post a picture of the area and I can follow the trace and tell which one (most likely).

edit:

edit: not sure if there is anything on the top; this is a plate mounted, and I just needed to replace one switch, so I'd rather not remove them all...

is this a QFR or something? if it's a single sided PCB it's not too hard to trace it out. double sided plate mount PCB can be tricky with traces on the top.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 00:26:16
#3 can be somewhat difficult, though it's easy when it sometimes "just works". You risk damaging the part and the PCB with heat if you do too much. I recommend #2 as pretty easy even for a beginner and very workable.

#2 being the "just use a bit of wire and solder to a nearby joint. Post a picture of the area and I can follow the trace and tell which one (most likely).

edit:

edit: not sure if there is anything on the top; this is a plate mounted, and I just needed to replace one switch, so I'd rather not remove them all...

is this a QFR or something? if it's a single sided PCB it's not too hard to trace it out. double sided plate mount PCB can be tricky with traces on the top.

GON a87. I am almost positive it is double sided. Here's what happened, I did method 3, it worked when I tested, then it didn't work when I reassembled -.-
I think it's taunting me
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: berserkfan on Sat, 13 December 2014, 01:44:44
#3 can be somewhat difficult, though it's easy when it sometimes "just works". You risk damaging the part and the PCB with heat if you do too much. I recommend #2 as pretty easy even for a beginner and very workable.

#2 being the "just use a bit of wire and solder to a nearby joint. Post a picture of the area and I can follow the trace and tell which one (most likely).

edit:

edit: not sure if there is anything on the top; this is a plate mounted, and I just needed to replace one switch, so I'd rather not remove them all...

is this a QFR or something? if it's a single sided PCB it's not too hard to trace it out. double sided plate mount PCB can be tricky with traces on the top.

GON a87. I am almost positive it is double sided. Here's what happened, I did method 3, it worked when I tested, then it didn't work when I reassembled -.-
I think it's taunting me
 

YOu will find that #2 is actually easier and more reliable.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: PointyFox on Sat, 13 December 2014, 01:52:24
Quote
The third I have not done personally but have heard of it working.  If it is a double sided PCB and there is not actual trace to follow on the top, just heat the pin and start shoving solder in the hole.  If you get enough in the hole it can flow to the other side and make the connection.

I've gotten this to work with a Poker 2.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 01:55:50
YOu will find that #2 is actually easier and more reliable.

I need some pics of this one

I've gotten this to work with a Poker 2.

Pointy! <3 I got your caps for my boyfriend and he loved them, thanks
Can you give me any pointers (heh) on this one?
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 13 December 2014, 07:58:06
take some damn pictures.. (http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/punch-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862516)
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 14:20:44
By some Jesus-tier miracle, I got the key working. Thank you very much!
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 13 December 2014, 15:03:40
Which method did you use?
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 15:31:00
Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: HPE1000 on Sat, 13 December 2014, 15:33:57
Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
This worked for me too. I messed up my MJ2 when desoldering it and I just filled the hole as much as I could and it worked luckily, no problems and going strong for months.

Nice to see you got it working  :thumb:
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 15:37:37
Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
This worked for me too. I messed up my MJ2 when desoldering it and I just filled the hole as much as I could and it worked luckily, no problems and going strong for months.

Nice to see you got it working  :thumb:

Thanks. My only thing is that I want to swap out the switches for clears now. So let's just home Jesus can descend upon keyboard land when I do that tomorrow :P
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:38:44
If it doesn't work, just do the 2nd method. I'm worried you might screw up your PCB if you try it again.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:40:54
If it doesn't work, just do the 2nd method. I'm worried you might screw up your PCB if you try it again.
I don't know how many times I need to ask for pictures of thid
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:47:03
If it doesn't work, just do the 2nd method. I'm worried you might screw up your PCB if you try it again.
I don't know how many times I need to ask for pictures of thid

While you don't necessarily need to go as far as this guy did, you can get the idea from looking at this picture.

(http://i.imgur.com/hy6O0KD.jpg)

You can usually do it with the next pad over.

More
Image from http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1heqv1/modificationwell_i_am_pretty_sure_i_have_the/
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: berserkfan on Sun, 14 December 2014, 05:43:28
Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
This worked for me too. I messed up my MJ2 when desoldering it and I just filled the hole as much as I could and it worked luckily, no problems and going strong for months.

Nice to see you got it working  :thumb:

The more I read about this the more I understand that I am by no means the most incompetent modder on Geekhack. Massive overapplication of solder is never a good idea because
1) you heat the pad longer than you should
2) too much solder runs the risk of bridging contacts and causing shorts

In any case it's moot now. Good that you restored your kb to working condition!
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: HPE1000 on Sun, 14 December 2014, 11:15:07
Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
This worked for me too. I messed up my MJ2 when desoldering it and I just filled the hole as much as I could and it worked luckily, no problems and going strong for months.

Nice to see you got it working  :thumb:

The more I read about this the more I understand that I am by no means the most incompetent modder on Geekhack. Massive overapplication of solder is never a good idea because
1) you heat the pad longer than you should
2) too much solder runs the risk of bridging contacts and causing shorts

In any case it's moot now. Good that you restored your kb to working condition!
It's not like there was solder just flowing everywhere, I took the solder, pushed it all the way down into the hole and then heated it up. Didn't take any longer than it normally would and it fixed the problem :P
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 14 December 2014, 11:40:39
#3 can be somewhat difficult, though it's easy when it sometimes "just works". You risk damaging the part and the PCB with heat if you do too much. I recommend #2 as pretty easy even for a beginner and very workable.

#2 being the "just use a bit of wire and solder to a nearby joint. Post a picture of the area and I can follow the trace and tell which one (most likely).

edit:

edit: not sure if there is anything on the top; this is a plate mounted, and I just needed to replace one switch, so I'd rather not remove them all...

is this a QFR or something? if it's a single sided PCB it's not too hard to trace it out. double sided plate mount PCB can be tricky with traces on the top.

GON a87. I am almost positive it is double sided. Here's what happened, I did method 3, it worked when I tested, then it didn't work when I reassembled -.-
I think it's taunting me

I have an a.87 right here. It's not yet soldered so I can tell you where to put the new/replacement wire.

Which method did you use?

I used the third, shoving solder down and melting it.
Good to hear! As I said, when it works, it "just works".


The more I read about this the more I understand that I am by no means the most incompetent modder on Geekhack.
I told you. You need to give yourself more credit.
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: Rainbow_ on Sun, 14 December 2014, 11:52:39
I have an a.87 right here. It's not yet soldered so I can tell you where to put the new/replacement wire.

That'd be great. It's the C key, if I haven't already mentioned. Thanks
Title: Re: i dun messd up now son
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 14 December 2014, 14:38:45
I have an a.87 right here. It's not yet soldered so I can tell you where to put the new/replacement wire.

That'd be great. It's the C key, if I haven't already mentioned. Thanks

row (lower) connects to the diode of course. Since it supports in switch diodes as well as on-pcb "in front of switch" diodes there has to be an unused pad there
column (upper pin) connects to C D E 3 F2 F3 F4

Let me know if you need more and I can take a picture.