Restoring Blue alps board

[guster11]

Hey guys, I am looking for some advice on how to get an old Datatech blue alps keyboard I have up and running. I have cleaned and whitened the case and keys with decent success but I am still having issues getting the board to work electrically.

There was a broken capacitor I found and replaced, but the voltage tolerance is 5% lower. I don't see this being an issue since the cap is more than likely just the decoupling cap. Once I soldered in the new cap, the board does resond to power, the lock lights flash for a second right when powered on. After that though, if I press any key it will start sending random letters until my computer usually freezes till I unplug it.

I'm starting to think its going to need a teensy to get working but I was hoping someone here might have an idea that could save me some time!

Here are the photos I have of it:

http://imgur.com/a/YjzOi

[eohmiller]

Hmm...that sounds like some kind of short in the circuitry. I'd see if you can figure out the PCB layout and attempt to check continuity and the components for the entire board. That will take some time, but it sounds like you know what you are doing. What kind of connector does it use? If it is ps/2 and your computer has the right inputs, I'm not sure you would need a micro-controller; however, you might consider using a teensy to make it USB just to see if it works.

EDIT: If you give up, I'll take those switches off your hands(;

[guster11]

Hmm...that sounds like some kind of short in the circuitry. I'd see if you can figure out the PCB layout and attempt to check continuity and the components for the entire board. That will take some time, but it sounds like you know what you are doing. What kind of connector does it use? If it is ps/2 and your computer has the right inputs, I'm not sure you would need a micro-controller; however, you might consider using a teensy to make it USB just to see if it works.

EDIT: If you give up, I'll take those switches off your hands(;

I was hoping that wasnt the case but so be it, I really want to get this keyboard working in its original form! It has a 5din connector so its AT, but I have an adapter and a ps2 port on my motherboard thankfully. I looked over the circuit a little and have an alright idea of whats going on, but its got this intel processor labeled 1984 which will be an issue if its fried, and to make things worse I can't find documentation. Worst case I'll just repurpose the switches in a custom 120 key layout. Given they're blue alps its honestly a win either way!

Haha the switches are going nowhere outside my house, they're basically my most prized possesions.  )