I messed up. Please help.

backinspace

26 Jun 2024, 13:03

I'll start by saying my backspace key doesn't work so please forgive any mistakes...

this is very embarrassing but I need help to fix it. I bought a second-hand Keychron Q5 Max. I changed the switches, ordered some new keycaps, and figured I was done... except I wasn't satisfied.

the stabilisers sucked, a lot. so I bought some durock V2 screw-mount stabs and krytox, took up my tiny screwdriver, and sat down to crack the thing open. easy enough, right?

Not when you are as mechanically disinclined as I am.

I stripped two of the screws on the old stabs. on removing them I scratched the PCB. Now, with everything reassembled, I am enjoying a wonderful typing experience - except that, as mentioned, my backspace key doesn't work.

The LED works but the switch doesn,t do anything. I've checked the pins. I am basically beside myself. I am proud I didnt bin this thing already but I feel way out of my depth. All I can think is that the scratch damaged a trace. I've attached a really bad picture. Ignore the destroyed screw... could that scratch be tghe culprit? is there anything else I should check? and how do I go about fixing this?

Any help would be massively appreciated. I can provide more pictures tomo=rrow if you need.
Attachments
damage.jpg
damage.jpg (1.9 MiB) Viewed 10134 times

Findecanor

26 Jun 2024, 14:47

You'd have to find out which trace it is that has been cut, and solder a small wire to to bypass it.

If the firmware is QMK, then the source code should be available and tell you the matrix. Then from that matrix, you should find out which solder pads should be connected. Verify those by checking with a multimeter: that which doesn't work should be the broken trace.

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Dingster

02 Jul 2024, 00:33

Hi, don't worry that just looks like a cut trace. You should scrape off the solder mask (black coating) on each side of the cut trace and bridge the two parts with a wire. If you're not comfortable soldering you should ask someone to do it for you.

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