Keyboard repair

[DoG]

So I go a cheap UK keyboard in November 2019 from eBay for repair or parts. A normal ST one. Not a fancy Mega keyboard. So I thought I'll take it apart and try to fix it if it is possible. It look rather nice after all. Lets check the damages first...

Before.jpg

Hmm, this probably happen when someone played a game and got frustrated when not beating some level. Obviously punched on the keyboard with the fist and the support pillar underneath created the hole. Just remove the loose parts...

Black hole on the other side of universe.jpg

Ok, get some wire and start soldering then. Many ways you can solve this. It just a matter of connecting the broken traces, its just tedious. Using the photo I took before starting and using a multimeter to beep out that nothing is shorted that shouldn't be and the correct traces is connected. I reflowed the mouse and joystick port as well when I had the PCB open.

Top and bottom fixes.jpg

Well, it looks like crap but it will do the job. No one will see that. Now time to test it. I remembered I got a small PCB some time ago to connect Atari keyboard to USB. The PC detects it as a keyboard with 2 joysticks.

Checking keyboard on PC.jpg

Works fine as I suspected it to do since all the multimeter probing checked out fine. You can also test it with a test cartridge on the Atari.

Checking keyboard on Atari with test cartridge.gif

Connected with Atari.jpg

I can't leave it like that. It will probably break again, so I mixed up a small batch of epoxy glue a poured it in the hole. Oh, I put a bit of tape on the other side first of course. And make sure nothing is flowing or touching the carbon print on the PCB.

Glued.jpg

Finished!

Keyboard.jpg

[exxos]

:bravo: Nothing wrong with a few bodge wires :)

[atari030]

Fantastic save, nicely done.