Author Topic: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this? (Read 5189 times)

patrickgeekhack · « **on:** Mon, 16 March 2009, 22:54:35 »

If I lift my Customizer 104 with my right hand (thumb just above the - key on the numerical keypad, and my four other fingers under the keyboard somewhere between the logo and the keys), I get a message from OS X telling me that there is a device pulling too much power.

lam47 · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 04:43:00 »

LOL that does not sound good.
What connection are you using?
What ports do you have?

Chloe · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 07:06:20 »

Do you get the same message if you just move the cable around near the case?

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 07:24:17 »

@Lam47
I'm using a USB connection. I bought the USB version.

@Chloe
That was my first though too. But, it was not the cable. It was not the USB hub either since I got the same error when I connected it directly to the MacBook. I will try it on my wife Toshiba tonight.

The funny thing was that I would have never found that, if I was trying to put a small tower underneath it. So far its working. I hope it stays at that point. Shipping it back to Unicomp will too much trouble and too much money.

lam47 · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:06:52 »

My guess would be there must be something loose that is shorting the controller as you lift it.
Have you taken it apart to have a look?

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:09:49 »

Quote from: lam47;24709

My guess would be there must be something loose that is shorting the controller as you lift it.
Have you taken it apart to have a look?

That's my feeling too. I think the pressure on the board when holding with one hand is causing this.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:25:26 »

Quote from: webwit;24711

In the name of this guy, I object.

Show Image

Surely it is caused by a voodoo spell on your board cast by Jim.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is this guy? Is he the Jim Owens we hear on the phone when calling Unicomp?

FKSSR · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:28:02 »

haha. It is Captain Obvious.

FKSSR · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:28:54 »

Maybe the Canadians aren't as familiar. It does appear he is an American soldier, after all...

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 09:29:53 »

Quote from: webwit;24713

You never encountered Captain Obvious?

Nope. First time I heard about him. I have to go to Wikipedia.

@Lam47
How is easy is it to take it apart? Although, even if I can take it apart, I won't know what to look for.

lam47 · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 10:52:26 »

You need to look for anything that seems loose or out of place.
Take a couple of photos if you are not sure.

@webwit, for the love of god just go away.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 11:02:07 »

Quote from: lam47;24723

You need to look for anything that seems loose or out of place.
Take a couple of photos if you are not sure.

@webwit, for the love of god just go away.

I have to stop my place sometimes today. I'll take the keyboard to work after, and see if I get the same error here.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 13:39:37 »

I get the same error on a Windows PC. I called Unicomp, and they said they have never seen something like that. I don't blame them. I would have never noticed this problem if I had never tried to put a towel underneath it. They will repair it, but I will have to shipping back and forth, since I'm in Canada. About USD $50...like buying a new one.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:02:50 »

Quote from: webwit;24753

That's not so cool. I had better service from ebay traders, who take the hit for my continuing business and their reputation. This means it's a shot in the dark when you buy from outside the states. I would buy again though from Brian from ebay after transport damaged a keyboard. Still, Unicomp needs foreign dealers or hubs, to cut back on transport costs. I hope it works out with your board. It sounds like something that can be easily repaired, but only if you know your electronics and what to look for or measure. Perhaps you know a friend who's good with that kind of thing?

I have to agree.

I don't anything about electronic, but I can try getting someone who does. I still have to get the proper tools to take it apart though.

wheel83 · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:04:53 »

AMERICA IS #1 !

euro dukage

lal · « **Reply #15 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:07:20 »

I'd probably just live with it. I mean, you don't lift your board one-handed very often, do you? It sounds like it's working perfect otherwise?

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:14:01 »

Quote from: lal;24760

I'd probably just live with it. I mean, you don't lift your board one-handed very often, do you? It sounds like it's working perfect otherwise?

Yes. The whole point of having a keyboard is to have sit on a desk not lifting it up with one hand LOL. What I'm more worried about is the risk of fire. I just want to make sure there's no wire rubbing against wire. Other than that, the keyboards works fine. I like it. In fact, I like my two keyboards a lot. After a few weeks, the Dell is starting to feel great. And I have a Cherry on it's way.

That being said, I might wait a bit before putting in an order for a SpaceSaver.

Like I said, had I not tried to put a small towel under the board, I would have never seen this problem. I'll stop by my uncle's place tonight. He knows electronic and have the equipment to do some repairs if necessary.

wheel83 · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 14:15:29 »

this place should be like survivor and you get to vote people off this island. wink wink honk honk

Etinin · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 16:54:28 »

There's no way a short circuit inside your keyboard can provoke fire. It's not like you have a lot of energy going through USB sockets.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 19:48:50 »

Quote from: Etinin;24774

There's no way a short circuit inside your keyboard can provoke fire. It's not like you have a lot of energy going through USB sockets.

Thanks for reassuring me

Anyway, I found the solution. Well, my uncle found the solution. The small circuit board on which the LEDs are located was coming into contact with the metal plate behind it when pressure is applied. The solution was simple: electical tape.

I'm so happy

FKSSR · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 19:50:32 »

Glad to hear it worked out, and I'll keep this in mind when I get my own Spacesaver in the next couple weeks.

Hak Foo · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:01:43 »

On my 1391401, there was a HUGE brick of tape holding the LED card down... it couldn't have shorted unless you drove a car over it. It was quite difficult to remove to change the LEDs.

Did they simplify/cheap out on two cents of tape?

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:03:19 »

Quote from: FKSSR;24785

Glad to hear it worked out, and I'll keep this in mind when I get my own Spacesaver in the next couple weeks.

Thanks. I wanted to share my experience so that if others encounter the same problem, they will know what to do.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 17 March 2009, 20:05:43 »

Quote from: Hak Foo;24786

On my 1391401, there was a HUGE brick of tape holding the LED card down... it couldn't have shorted unless you drove a car over it. It was quite difficult to remove to change the LEDs.

Did they simplify/cheap out on two cents of tape?

There was no tape at all. We put a few layers of tape on the metal plate behind the board, so that pressure won't cause it to short circuit. Of course if pressure is applied regularly, over time, the tape will be pierced. But, that should not be a problem since I don't apply pressure on the board on a regular basis. I only found out about the problem when I was putting a towel underneath the keyboard to dampen the noise because my baby girl was sleeping.

lam47 · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 05:25:44 »

Quote from: patrickgeekhack;24784

Thanks for reassuring me

Anyway, I found the solution. Well, my uncle found the solution. The small circuit board on which the LEDs are located was coming into contact with the metal plate behind it when pressure is applied. The solution was simple: electical tape.

I'm so happy

Thought it might be something like that.
Well done to your uncle for finding it!

iMav · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 07:55:05 »

Quote from: webwit;24711

In the name of this guy, I object.

HA!! I'm saving that pic for future reference.

patrickgeekhack · « **Reply #26 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 08:12:30 »

Quote from: lam47;24800

Thought it might be something like that.
Well done to your uncle for finding it!

Experience is priceless. He knew what to look for right away.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:15:51 »

I think also priceless is having a corporation at the height of its powers (ie, ibm in the 80s) know to put gobs of tape on that part of the board

I can imagine the kinds of thorough stress testing they did with the M that contemporary companies prolly rarely do anymore.

itlnstln · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:19:17 »

Quote from: wellington1869;24856

I think also priceless is having a corporation at the height of its powers (ie, ibm in the 80s) know to put gobs of tape on that part of the board
I can imagine the kinds of thorough stress testing they did with the M that contemporary companies prolly rarely do anymore.

If they would have just used Velcro, it would have fixed everything. Right, Welly?

wellington1869 · « **Reply #29 on:** Wed, 18 March 2009, 14:26:57 »

damn straight

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Author Topic: Unicomp Customizer 104: Anyone seen this? (Read 5189 times)