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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: phinix on Sun, 10 March 2019, 09:02:02
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Hi guys.
I need help. I was working on my first ever re-soldering project - I desoldered Varmilo VA69M and soldered Tealios on it.
However, as I don't have an soldering experience, I messed up few places and now 3 switches don't work.
I'm wondering if this can be fixed or did I killed £170 worth of board... :(
Please see those images, first one is up arrow - I think, I THINK... when I was taking off old switch I also took out that small ring that was on the pcb. Then I noticed that this thin long thingy - don't know how you call it - is coming off. It looks like a thin copper "route"?
I soldered it to that spot, but switch still not registering.
Second photo is "\" and "Z" - both not registering. One has lost this small ring on pcb, but other one was fine.
Please ignore those burnt holes over the switches - those were leds - I was not able to get rid of them easily:(
I know...baaaad soldering...
Is ther a way to fix those? Can I somehow "re-wire" them?
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=1]
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The thin strips of copper on PCBs are called traces :)
All you need to do to fix this is run a wire where the trace should go - in the top pic that's clearly from the bottom switch pin to the bottom of D108.
\| and Z are connected on their top pins so chances are this should continue. If you touch the bottom pin (right of the Z label) to the top pin of X does it output a Z? If it does solder a wire between the top pins of those switches. Repeat for \| which may or may not work after fixing Z.
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Repairing broken traces can be done but it is not easy. You will have to expose something that you can make an electrical connection to, probably by scraping off a portion of the green mask, and then making a tiny connection to it.
That is just the principle of it, I have never had much luck actually doing it since I am not much more than semi-competent in the soldering department. If you know anybody with small hands, sharp eyes, and top-shelf equipment you should seek their help.
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In the first picture, take a copper wire, cut an old cable and pull out the copper, And bridge the 2 points.
The SECOND picture, it looks like maybe cold joint..
Next time don't use lead free solder.
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Thanks guys - arrow is now fixed!! :)
I wired that D108 with it and arrow now works:)
Now those Z and |\ - they in deed are connected with top pins. I have connected them with wire but still not working.
Maybe the problem is with Z bottom pin - I lost that small ring when desoldering - I just don't know what should I re-wire it with...
I hope that makes sense. WHat do you guys think?
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Now those Z and |\ - they in deed are connected with top pins. I have connected them with wire but still not working.
Maybe the problem is with Z bottom pin - I lost that small ring when desoldering - I just don't know what should I re-wire it with...
If it was the bottom ring of Z that got damaged that should be joined to the bottom of D11, then try the test above again (touch bottom pin to top pin of X) - it wouldn't work if both were broken :))
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Now those Z and |\ - they in deed are connected with top pins. I have connected them with wire but still not working.
Maybe the problem is with Z bottom pin - I lost that small ring when desoldering - I just don't know what should I re-wire it with...
If it was the bottom ring of Z that got damaged that should be joined to the bottom of D11, then try the test above again (touch bottom pin to top pin of X) - it wouldn't work if both were broken :))
Cool.
So, when touching bottom Z with top X, it registers X. What does it mean?
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It means soldering the top pin of Z to the top pin of X will make Z work. And probably |\ too :)
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It means soldering the top pin of Z to the top pin of X will make Z work. And probably |\ too :)
Cool. I did that - now Z registers X and |\ registers "F1":(
What the hell is wrong with those two?
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Oops - misread this X as a Z :-[
So, when touching bottom Z with top X, it registers X. What does it mean?
Needless to say you need to unsolder X-Z. Try touching the top of A or S to the bottom of Z - you're looking to register a Z press...
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Oops - misread this X as a Z :-[
So, when touching bottom Z with top X, it registers X. What does it mean?
Needless to say you need to unsolder X-Z. Try touching the top of A or S to the bottom of Z - you're looking to register a Z press...
Cool, I'll try that now - thanks for helping me with this - it is totally weird for me:)
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Oops - misread this X as a Z :-[
So, when touching bottom Z with top X, it registers X. What does it mean?
Needless to say you need to unsolder X-Z. Try touching the top of A or S to the bottom of Z - you're looking to register a Z press...
Cool, I think I found it :
- top A + bottom Z = Z
- top A + bottom |\ = \
What should I do now?
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Solder from the top of A to the top of |\ or Z (whichever has the least components to go round) and put it back in the case as it will be working properly.
Then go get some dinner :thumb:
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Solder from the top of A to the top of |\ or Z (whichever has the least components to go round) and put it back in the case as it will be working properly.
Then go get some dinner :thumb:
Awesome! Thank you very much for help - it works fine now:)
My first resoldered keyboard is now completed - without your help it would be a disaster:)
Now I can have a dinner:)