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 (98.23 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
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 (59.78 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
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 (189.63 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
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 (116.98 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
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 (86.98 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
- Connected with Atari.jpg (157.25 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
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 (156.3 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
Finished!
- Keyboard.jpg (54.69 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
Nothing wrong with a few bodge wires 