I accidentally spilled water on my magnetic hall-effect keyboard and acted quickly by unplugging it. I removed all the keycaps and dried them with cold air, but I forgot to let the internal components dry before plugging it back in for testing. Now, the keyboard connects for a short time and then disconnects, and most of the time it doesn't connect at all. Am I out of luck? What steps can I take to fix this?
2 Answers
Unless you can repair the PCB (printed circuit board), you're probably in trouble. You might want to disassemble it and check for any signs of corrosion or water damage. If something's shorted, though, you might be out of luck. If there's just corrosion, cleaning it up with isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush might help. Just make sure everything's dry before you put it back together.
Good idea on combining the suggestions! If you end up needing a new PCB, just double-check that it's compatible with your keyboard's switches. Prices can vary, so look around for the best deal.
You should have turned it upside down right away and let it dry for a day instead of taking off the keycaps. You can still do that now, but corrosion might already be happening. Set it in a warm, dry place upside down for a full day and just hope for the best. Even if it works again, it might be temporary. Honestly, it might be time to think about getting a new keyboard and keeping liquids away from it in the future.
That sounds like a solid plan! Let it dry upside down first. If that doesn't do the trick, you might need to replace the PCB. When buying a new one, just make sure to get the right model for magnetic switches.