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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: inopem on Wed, 21 December 2016, 08:12:29

Title: Spilled a tiny amount of water on Unicomp 122-key, a couple of keys now shorting
Post by: inopem on Wed, 21 December 2016, 08:12:29
Hi all,
I spilled a tiny amount of water on my Unicomp 122-key. I removed all the keys and wiped all the liquid below them. I put it back together and plugged it back in and now a couple of the keys are shorting together; space -> menu key and asterisks, num lock -> num lock, up and `/'. I gather some of the water has gone into the membrane layer. I've let it sit over night upside-down with the keys removed, but still no joy. Is this a replacement part job, or will it just be letting it dry out? Any advice on this? I'm having to type this on a borrowed one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MB110B-B-Keyboard/dp/B005EMLOP4 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MB110B-B-Keyboard/dp/B005EMLOP4)  :-[.

I'm a bit worried about having to have it repaired; I live in the UK and postage to Unicomp in America is pretty expensive, not to mention the actual repair.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Spilled a tiny amount of water on Unicomp 122-key, a couple of keys now shorting
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 21 December 2016, 09:12:04
open it and dry it with paper towels..

assuming there's no exposed copper from wear/tear,  it will eventually dry on its own,  but... if there is exposed copper on the dielectric sheet,  then leaving the moisture there might rust it..
Title: Re: Spilled a tiny amount of water on Unicomp 122-key, a couple of keys now shorting
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 21 December 2016, 10:19:16

I gather some of the water has gone into the membrane layer. I've let it sit over night upside-down with the keys removed, but still no joy.


If capillary action has pulled water between the layers, it will take longer to dry than overnight. If you are lucky, with plain water, it will dry "clean" of residue.

I would stand it up on the front (space bar) edge in hopes that it would drain downwards.