2300c Keyboard Voodoo

[kvanderlaag]

I believe one of the traces on my Duo's keyboard is severed or broken somewhere. I'm actually fairly sure I know which one (the one on the lower sheet which goes from the Control key to the connector tab) but I don't know how to go about fixing it. I could replace the keyboard - in fact, with all the corrosion present in my example, this is likely a good solution. Unfortunately, I can't find any Rev. F keyboards readily available except from the Powerbook Guy, at a cost of $80 each. Too rich for my blood, I think.

I could replace the bottom plastic sheet. Mine is kind of chewed up along where the ribbon passes through the hard plastic keyboard backing, and I think it just damaged that one trace, since it's on the outside edge. I'd really like this option, but I don't know about interchangeability between other revisions of keyboard. Could I use just the bottom sheet off an older model? This would be easy to ship, and I can see someone having an unwanted older keyboard they might be willing to send me for a marginal sum, but if I'm restricted to using parts from a Rev. F only, I think I'm probably in the same boat as before.

And then of course, there is the option of repair. I have, of course, consulted http://home.comcast.net/~gionpeters/hhhh/duo.htm and have seen it suggested to use Dotite or Loctite, but I haven't managed to find a part number or product name specifically for the stuff used in defroster line repair. (Though by now you'd figure I would have, since I've had to mess with my share of defrosters.) I suspect I'll be checking with a few auto stores tomorrow.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Horror stories about Duo keyboards? At this point, I'd settle for someone to commiserate with.

 

[beachycove]

You should just be able to use a "circuit pen" from most any electronics shop to do the repair. Typically, these have a conductive glue-like substance in them that you squeeze out/ trace along the lines needing repaired. They aren't expensive: $5-10 maybe?

I would go that route, though the stuff used to repair rear window defroster lines would no doubt work much the same magic, and might even be cheaper.

If neither of these do the trick, I have a spare Duo keyboard (NOT a Rev. F) that I could sell. It is unusable in its present form (spongy in the extreme), so is an ideal parts candidate.

PM if necessary.

 

[kvanderlaag]

It's looking more and more like I'm going to have to replace the mylar sheet.

The break is actually in the cable section off the bottom of the sheet, under that black tape that covers the traces. Unfortunately, peeling that tape back to get at the traces underneath took a lot of the trace underneath.