Water damage reported, switches have been changed but further steps needed?
Water damage reported, switches have been changed but further steps needed?
I spilt a bit of water on my keyboard a few months ago. It worked fine at the time, next day several keys were dead - F6, 6, Y, H and B - all in a line.
I dried it out and months later there's no improvement.
I didn't notice any damage at the time, but I thought I'd try swapping in some new switches - for 6, Y H and B - not F6 as that was hidden by some other PCB and plastic.
After the new switches are in and the LEDs still work, and from what I can tell and test with a multi-meter there is still current going through the replaced switches.
I didn't swap the F6 key as I didn't realise it was broken, it was hidden by a plate which I've just removed and it looks like the PCB is damaged there.
Given this is a £180 keyboard which I can't replace right now I'd love to fix it.
Can anyone provide some ideas on what I should do next, or if the PCB holds any clues as to what I should do?
I've taken some pics and a video showing off the damage you can see here -
https://imgur.com/a/5MGZwdL
View: https://imgur.com/a/5MGZwdL
N.B. The video is taken after I did some more cleaning. I've just ordered some more Iso as I ran out so I can clean it more thoroughly.
It seems some of the traces (the wires running from end to end for the switches, etc.) have corrosion or damage. When you receive the IPA, use a toothbrush to clean them off and see if it improves the situation. If not, consider splicing the trace with wire, but only if you're confident doing so.
Also attempt to carefully unplug and reattach the ribbon cable connections. Check for indications of damage or corrosion around the pins and plugs.
Sure, you can definitely test with a multimeter first. It will help you check the measurements before attempting to splice. Just keep in mind that measuring through the covered circuit may be challenging.
I've checked for damage but haven't found any. I'll use a magnifying glass for another inspection. For the ribbon cables, removing or re-plugging them isn't obvious—since they don't appear to be easily accessible and I didn't want to risk damaging them, I'll leave them as is.
Hopefully, a gentle back-and-forth motion together with a controlled upward force should loosen the ribbon cables. But if they were initially stuck or corroded in such a way that plugs stick firmly to pins, the situation changes.
Similar to many other parts (and products overall), the ribbon cables and plugs have weakened over time, using less durable materials.
If they don’t move easily or lift up, it might be better to keep them in place until further notice.
Check Youtube for methods on fixing trace wires on PCBs. There are many various choices available.