Statick shock damage report, any help appreciated!

[djodars]

Hi there,

Found this forum by googling my issue; Yesterday, my girlfriend accidentally discharged a pretty big static shock on my keyboard and now, some of the keys aren't working properly. (Currently half typing on the virtual keyboard )

Here's an image of "Switch Hitter": http://i.imgur.com/AQOpxpj.png

As you can see, the " F12 , - , b , n , é , AltGr , Menu and left , right , down arrows " aren't working.

When I plug my keyboard, the AltGr key is " toggled on " but I managed to untoggle it. Now is there anything I can do to repair it? I know nothing about the inside of a keyboard, is it only the switches or is it the controller, the board, etc.?

Thank you for your help!

[Wingklip]

How on earth did that happen? (Pun intended)

I thought most keyboards had ground cables to discharge static safely. You'll likely have to short out all the pins to ground to discharge it completely. Also try spraying everything with water if your components don't have iron in them as it is a very fast way of static discharge, and much safer than individual discharging pins.

If all else fails, replace the IC's

[djodars]

How on earth did that happen? (Pun intended)

I thought most keyboards had ground cables to discharge static safely. You'll likely have to short out all the pins to ground to discharge it completely. Also try spraying everything with water if your components don't have iron in them as it is a very fast way of static discharge, and much safer than individual discharging pins.

If all else fails, replace the IC's

I think our apartment is pretty dry so when we're sitting on the sofa, we always build static up. We normally touch a metal handle or something like that before going on the computer but she must have forgotten this time.

I opened my keyboard earlier to push on the daughter board ( recommended by keyboardco ) but it didn't work.

So, how would I go about shorting the pins? and when you say spraying water, do you mean on the board itself and then I leave it to dry for a few hours?

[Wingklip]

Humidify the air as much as possible by spraying water, also you can try spraying the PCB lightly. Make sure it is a fine mist as that helps to slowly discharge static. Best to use distilled water if you don't want to rust anything, but it shouldn't case that in small amounts.

TLDR humidify the room

[TalkingTree]

I know nothing about the inside of a keyboard, is it only the switches or is it the controller, the board, etc.?

Knowing what keyboard is it would help greatly. Other than that, I'm inclined to believe the ESD broke some of the diodes.

[tp4tissue]

Hrrrmmm...

Well in general, you want to make sure your HOUSE's electrical box is properly grounded, as in that 3rd pin should have a connection to earth ground, such as an earthing rod, or a metal segment of your water in/out



Because the keyboard (well designed ones at least)  should be grounded through its usb connection with the PC..

Now, the PC must be grounded, and the PC connected to (Your HOUSE) must then also be grounded..


That's why in certain other countries (older houses) which don't have an earth ground, all their metal electronics, like macbooks, pc cases, cellphones feel Fuzzy to the touch,  this is due to electricity riding on the surface of the device..

[djodars]

I know nothing about the inside of a keyboard, is it only the switches or is it the controller, the board, etc.?

Knowing what keyboard is it would help greatly. Other than that, I'm inclined to believe the ESD broke some of the diodes.

It is a Filco Majestouch Yellow editio: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/filco-majestouch-2-nkr-tactile-action-usa-yellow-keys-keyboard.asp

[TalkingTree]

The only way to inspect the diodes is to open the case, voiding the warranty, and desoldering all the switches.

[Wingklip]

If this doesn't work test everything with a multimeter

[keytohopiness]

More likely the controller.

[Wingklip]

More importantly, how on earth did she manage to ground when touching something with a 1.5mm thick layer of PBT or abs keycap, the mechanical stem below it, before even getting to anything remotely metallic? Quite peculiar. I have seen that Greennoch model M's had a grounding wire to the spacebar. Evidently this was not the case for this keyboard