Posted in: Keyboards

Can Mechanical Keyboards be Repaired?

Last Updated on December 5, 2023

Can Mechanical Keyboards be Repaired? Mechanical keyboards are also a technological innovation that cannot be separated from the risk of damage and also certain problems that require repair with proper handling. If your mechanical keyboard is currently experiencing problems with damage to certain functions or components, then you have come to the right article. Through this article, we will explain in detail which parts of the mechanical keyboard can be repaired and cannot be repaired.

Can Mechanical Keyboards be Repaired?

Of course, mechanical keyboards are computer equipment that can be repaired if they experience problems or damage. Generally, some components on mechanical keyboards can be repaired or replaced with spare parts available in the market which are currently available in quite a lot.

Some examples of mechanical keyboard damage that can be overcome include unresponsive keys, worng input, repeated input, clock keys, some keys are not working, and keyboard on but not working. And there is also damage to the mechanical keyboard that cannot be repaired such as damage to the PCB, Mechanical Keyboards damaged by water, and keyboards that are burned, the rest of all damage to the mechanical keyboards can be repaired.

Common Mechanical Keyboard Errors and their Solutions

Common Mechanical Keyboard Errors and their Solutions

The following are common mechanical keyboards problems and how to fix them:

1. Mechanical Keyboard becomes Unresponsive

When you experience your mechanical keyboard becomes unresponsive all of a sudden even though a few moments ago the mechanical keyboard still works very well and is responsive. This is a symptom of overload on your computer that reads input from many devices. To overcome this lag, you simply unplug your mechanical usb keyboard and plug it back in. If it still happens, try restarting your computer.

2. Slow Key Response

In this case, your mechanical keyboard still works fine, but when you press the button to send input, the input appears very long with a few seconds of delay.

There are several reasons why this can happen, such as your computer is doing too much processing so that its performance decreases so that only receiving input from the keyboard is delayed. Try closing applications that are consuming too much RAM.

Next, try checking the settings on your operating system whether it’s Windows or MacOS, usually there are operating system default settings to adjust the input speed from the keyboard.

3. Wrong Character Output

This is an annoying problem if it happens often, for example if you input D but instead the letter F appears. Why does this happen? even though you feel you have pressed the right button.

The first possibility is, you put the keycaps in the wrong position when changing them. Usually this often happens when you replace old keycaps or after cleaning the keycaps on your mechanical keyboard.

This problem is also one of the faults in the mechanical keyboard that sometimes occurs, it can be said that this is a small short circuit on the switch and PCB that makes the input and output not match. Try cleaning the PCB on your mechanical keyboard as this can be caused by water and dust.

4. Repeated Key Register

If you have experienced repeated inputting, for example you press the N key once but NNNNNN appears, this is a problem that often occurs in mechanical keyboards.

There are several things that can cause this problem, such as the Switches on your keyboard getting stuck or stuck because the switch is too old or the switch needs lubricant to come back faster.

This problem also often occurs because of a short circuit on the PCB so that the input becomes repetitive. To solve this problem, try to clean the switches that have repeated input or replace them with new ones then check the pin switches connection with the PCB whether they are still installed properly or not, the last is to clean your mechanical keyboard PCB from dust or micro-dirt.

5. Jam Keys

This is a problem that often occurs in mechanical keyboards that are used a lot. Along with the age of mechanical keyboards that continue to grow and are used intensely, jam keys on mechanical keyboard keys have become a problem that will definitely come.

Jam keys on a mechanical keyboard can be caused by several things, such as Switches that have passed the normal limit of use so you need to replace them. Next is the switches on your mechanical keyboard need to be replaced with new switches.

In some cases of mechanical keyboards, jam keys can also occur because the keycaps melt and make them a little sticky when pressed. Try removing the keycaps on the button that is jam and there you can hit the stem switch. If the input is successful, then the problem is not with your mechanical keyboard switch but the problem is with the keycaps attached to the switch.

The best way to fix jam keys on a mechanical keyboard is to lubricate the switches, replace the switches, clean dust and dirt on the keycaps, switches, and PCBs, and replace the mechanical keycaps on your keyboard that have started to melt.

6. Some Keys are not Working

This is also a common problem that often occurs in mechanical keyboards. This can happen because of several things such as your mechanical keyboard is too dirty so that it blocks the flow of electricity to the PCB and pin switches so that the keys can not work properly. Try cleaning your keyboard’s mechanical PCB from dust and dirt attached.

This problem can also be caused because the switches on your mechanical keyboard are out of service, this you can see if the switches don’t feel responsive and often experience input failure when you press them. Try replacing the switches that are having the problem.

Check the connection of the pin switches with the PCB whether they are still connected with the solder that is still attached, on a mechanical keyboard with a standard PCB, the solder between the pin switches and the PCB is also often porous and requires re-soldering for a better connection.

Before you do the handling above, try checking the mechanical keyboard connection with your laptop or computer, whether it reads well and the mechanical keyboard driver has also been installed. It could be due to a mechanical keyboard installation problem with the computer that causes some keys to not function normally.

7. Keyboard is on but not Working

If you are experiencing this error, there are several things causing this problem. The first is that the USB port of your laptop or computer has not detected the mechanical keyboard so that the mechanical keyboard cannot be used.

The second is that the mechanical keyboard driver has not been installed properly so that the mechanical keyboard cannot be used to send input to the computer.

To solve this problem, try moving your mechanical keyboard’s USB plug to another computer’s USB port. After that check whether the mechanical keyboard driver has been read in the Device Manager.

Common Technical Problems That Often Occur on Mechanical Keyboards

In addition to the problems of mechanical keyboard errors that often occur which we have described above, mechanical keyboards also often experience technical problems. The following are technical problems that often occur in mechanical keyboards:

1. Loose connection of switches with PCB

Loose connection of switches with PCB

The connection of pin switches with PCB problems on the mechanical keyboard can make certain keys on the mechanical keyboard unable to function. This could be due to a loose connection or the solder on the pin switches has come off.

On a mechanical keyboard with a standard PCB, you must re-solder the switch pins to the PCB so that the switches are firmly and properly installed so that they can work normally.

While on a mechanical keyboard that uses a hot swappable PCB, one way is to replace the switches that do not function normally with spare switches.

2. USB Cable Connection with PCB cut off

USB Cable Connection with PCB cut off

If you have ever experienced a mechanical problem that the keyboard does not turn on even though you have inserted the USB plug into your computer, this is because the solder between the USB cable and the PCB is disconnected. This problem often occurs because the mechanical keyboard has been pulled too hard, causing the cable connected to the PCB to detach.

The way to fix this problem is to re-solder your mechanical keyboard’s USB cable with the PCB. You may need a special guide to this problem so that you can position the cables correctly so that the mechanical keyboard can reconnect with the computer and work normally.

3. RGB on Mechanical Keyboard Not Lighting

RGB on Mechanical Keyboard Not Lighting

The RGB on the mechanical keyboard doesn’t light up because the RGB connection with the PCB has been disconnected, this can happen if the mechanical keyboard has been dropped or slammed which makes the RGB light solder on the mechanical keyboard detached.

To solve this problem, you have to find out where the RGB light connection on your mechanical keyboard PCB is that is detached or damaged. Usually the RGB backlit solder comes off or gets cut off.

4. Certain keys feel sticky

Certain keys feel sticky

On the mechanical keyboard there is a component called a stabilizer that is attached only to certain keys such as the Spacebar, Enter, Backspace, Shift, Capslock, and Tab keys.

If you ever feel sticky when you press the keys on your mechanical keyboard, then the first thing you should check is the stabilizer on the keys. The stabilizer also often feels sticky, this is due to a lack of lubricant or the stabilizer has been damaged. Try lubricating the stabilizer, if it still feels sticky, replace the stabilizer with a new stabilizer.

The problem of the button feeling sticky can also be caused because the spring on the switch has weakened so it can’t return to its initial position after being pressed. You can check for a sticky switch by trying to lubricate it. If it still feels sticky, replace the switch with a new switch.

Damage to Mechanical Keyboards That Cannot Be Repaired

Not all damage to the mechanical keyboard can be repaired, the mechanical keyboard also has components that if damaged must be replaced with new components. The following are some of the damage to the mechanical keyboard that cannot be repaired:

1. Damage to PCB

PCB can be said to be the life or the most important component in a mechanical keyboard. The PCB is the input receiving brain that converts the input from the switch and sends it to the computer. On the PCB all switches are installed individually and all mechanical keyboard connections are arranged on the PCB.

On a mechanical keyboard that is damaged on the PCB, the computer cannot read or detect the mechanical keyboard so it cannot be used to send input.

The only way to solve PCB problems is to replace the damaged PCB with a new PCB. Some mechanical keyboard manufacturers provide spare PCBs that you can buy, but some manufacturers do not provide sales for spare PCBs. So before you buy a mechanical keyboard, make sure the spare parts are available and easy to get.

2. Fatal Damage Caused by Water

Mechanical keyboards are not IP67 or IP68 waterproof certified devices. If the mechanical keyboard is damaged by water, it will be very difficult to determine which component and which part is damaged.

3. Burned Mechanical Keyboard

Almost similar to a mechanical keyboard that suffered fatal damage due to water. Mechanical keyboard damage due to fire will also be very difficult to repair and very difficult to find out which part is damaged.

Is Keyboard Mechanical Repairable?

Some of the malfunctions and errors that often occur on mechanical keyboards can be repaired with various available solutions, either mild solutions or by replacing certain damaged components. But there are some damages to the mechanical keyboard that cannot be repaired such as damage to the PCB, the mechanical keyboard is badly damaged by water, and the mechanical keyboard is burned.

How to Protect and Anticipate Mechanical Keyboards from Damage

To anticipate your mechanical keyboard from being damaged, there are several things you should do:

  • Keep Mechanical Keyboard away from Water
  • Keep Mechanical Keyboard from Fire
  • Don’t Slam the Mechanical Keyboard
  • Clean the Mechanical Keyboard from Dust, Water, and Dirt regularly
  • Lubricate components that need to be lubricated such as Switches and Stabilizers
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