Ergodox ..one side working..one side not

[Aufidius]

so i'm wrapping up my ergodox build and my left side of the keyboard works just fine. However the entire right side does not.  The I installed 2 of the 3 LED's (I lost one)  and both light up and get power ...but none of my keys work.   What is the first thing I should look at?  Any ideas on how to troubleshoot? I am new to making my own electronics.

[suicidal_orange]

Do you have PCBs or are you handwiring?  Which side is the USB connected to, and which side are the LEDs? (these might be standard but I've never made an Ergodox, so please humour me ))

If it's the side with the IO expander chip that's completely not working that would probably be a good place to start looking...

[profet]

Could you take some high def photos of your teensy soldering?

That's where you should start looking.

[profet]

Another thought.... Could you have installed the diode's on the right hand side in the wrong direction?

They should be a mirror image of the other side (line facing towards square).

[Aufidius]

Do you have PCBs or are you handwiring?  Which side is the USB connected to, and which side are the LEDs? (these might be standard but I've never made an Ergodox, so please humour me ))

If it's the side with the IO expander chip that's completely not working that would probably be a good place to start looking...

i have PCB's massdrop project. The side the USB is connected to is the side that is not working (right) and other side (left) all keys work just fine. LED's are also on the side that is not working.. as i mentioned i'm missing 1 but I didn't think that would be an issue.

the left side has the IO expander and that side is working

[Aufidius]

Could you take some high def photos of your teensy soldering?

That's where you should start looking.

[Aufidius]

Another thought.... Could you have installed the diode's on the right hand side in the wrong direction?

They should be a mirror image of the other side (line facing towards square).

That was my thought.. I tested every connection on both sides with a multimeter while installing however I did have trouble with 3 diodes on the right side after I got the switches on. Basically 3 diodes came off and it was a pain in the ass to solder them back on because the little copper pad seemed to have disappeared. I simply couldn't get the diodes to stick (even used Accetone to clean the board) so I just connected it to the side.. per the suggestion of a guy at my local "maker" space.  this is what i mean...



Ugly i know but he said it should work.. also..even if those guys are bad I dont think it would prevent the entire side to not work... or am i wrong?

[profet]

Yeah dude... It looks like you may have soldered all the diodes on that side in the wrong direction.

The side of the diodes with the line should be positioned toward the square contact on the PCB.

You can clearly see that SW1:1 is facing the wrong way. Can't really tell from the pictures which way the others are facing. Are they all facing the same way as SW1:1

[Aufidius]

Yeah dude... It looks like you may have soldered all the diodes on that side in the wrong direction.

The side of the diodes with the line should be positioned toward the square contact on the PCB.

You can clearly see that SW1:1 is facing the wrong way. Can't really tell from the pictures which way the others are facing. Are they all facing the same way as SW1:1

   frustrating..but at least i know what I did wrong now. Thanks for all the help.. tomorrow is going to suck

[profet]

You can actually modify the firmware and switch the direction of the diodes. Far easier then resoldering... Provided they are all facing the same direction.

[profet]

Here you go:  https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware/blob/master/readme.md#change-the-direction-of-the-diodes

[suicidal_orange]

Here you go:  https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware/blob/master/readme.md#change-the-direction-of-the-diodes

Makes me wonder why they make you solder one side "backwards" to the pad conventions if it's that easy to swap it!

[profet]

Here you go:  https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware/blob/master/readme.md#change-the-direction-of-the-diodes

Makes me wonder why they make you solder one side "backwards" to the pad conventions if it's that easy to swap it!

They don't though. You always solder the diodes cathode to square. The issue is that the left and right hand side are mirror images of each other. So on one side the cathode is on the left , the other side its on the right. This is done to reduce pcb manufacturing costs as the two PCBs ares actually the same.

[suicidal_orange]

Here you go:  https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware/blob/master/readme.md#change-the-direction-of-the-diodes

Makes me wonder why they make you solder one side "backwards" to the pad conventions if it's that easy to swap it!

They don't though. You always solder the diodes cathode to square. The issue is that the left and right hand side are mirror images of each other. So on one side the cathode is on the left , the other side its on the right. This is done to reduce pcb manufacturing costs as the two PCBs ares actually the same.

Ah ok, I guess the OP didn't read the instructions fully and went with "left" rather than "square hole" for both sides but at least it's an easy fix.  I knew they were the same PCB but have never built one (or looked in to doing so) so thanks for explaining the diodes - pretty easy to spot when you know what you're looking for