hey all, i have a switch on my kaypro 2x keyboard where the stem has broken off, so i need to desolder and replace it. problem is i am having a hell of a time figuring out which key it actually is from the solder side of the board, i think i've identified which switch has to go but does anyone know how i could confirm?
- VCF SoCal - February 15 - 16 2025, Hotel Fera, Aneheim CA
- VCF East - April 4 - 6 2025, Infoage Museum, Wall NJ
- VCF Southeast - July 2025, Atlanta, GA
- VCF West - Aug 2025, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA
- VCF Midwest - Sept 2025, Schaumburg, IL
-
Please review our updated Terms and Rules here
identifying switches on kaypro keyboard
- Thread starter hush
- Start date
cj7hawk
Veteran Member
Count the keys?
I may be missing something in the description though - If I understand correctly, you can tell which key it is from the top of the keyboard. but not the underside?
I may be missing something in the description though - If I understand correctly, you can tell which key it is from the top of the keyboard. but not the underside?
correct, i'm counting inward from one side of the board and i'm fairly certain i know which switch is which from the underside of the board, but there are a few other solder joints close by and i'm wondering if there's an easy way to identify which belong to my switch.
no problem if not, i can always resolder the one(s) that weren't supposed to come out
cj7hawk
Veteran Member
Apologies if my suggestion was a little short on words - I haven't had to repair such a keyboard yet by removing keys and I can understand the being careful when it's not always clear what pattern is part of the key, especially when it's a repeating pattern. And of course it's hard to tell at times if a pad is an adjacent key.
In those cases, I reference a key near the edge before the pattern begins to better understand the pattern. Sometimes I even mark them off with a whiteboard marker as a bigger problem I have is locating the correct key and then desoldering a different one simply because the location moves in my head even after I count carefully.
It seems you got it OK - As you have done, an abundance of caution usually works Even then though I've desoldered the wrong chip before in the past and wondered why a different chip has fallen out of the PCB when I turn it over.
In those cases, I reference a key near the edge before the pattern begins to better understand the pattern. Sometimes I even mark them off with a whiteboard marker as a bigger problem I have is locating the correct key and then desoldering a different one simply because the location moves in my head even after I count carefully.
It seems you got it OK - As you have done, an abundance of caution usually works
Even then though I've desoldered the wrong chip before in the past and wondered why a different chip has fallen out of the PCB when I turn it over.