I managed to get my Apple Pro keyboard that came with my G4 wet.

I now use my computer for just about everything. I have instructions on how
to use and calibrate a pH meter on the computer. I foolishly brought this
meter, while soaking its electrode in buffer solution (a solution of salts)
close to my computer so that I could follow instructions displayed upon the
screen. I was able to knock over the container, and some of the solution get
under the protective plastic cover. I found it impossible to wipe this up
before a few key switches got wet. At this point, I m trying to dry it in
the sun, but I am still concerned about what damage may occur later. Getting
a new keyboard is always possible.

Questions:

How can you remove the plastic protective covers to get to the keyboard
itself? I found four Allen head screws on the bottom and a wrench the fit. I
saw many others. After removing these screws, I was still unable to unsnap
the assembly. What next?

What is the best way to clean up the keyboard? Is it best to just dry it up
and ignore the salt still remaining on electrical contactgs?

What else would you do

Bill

There are news posts and web pages with specifics but basically you can
just run tap water through the keyboard. Do a lot of rinsing to get
salt out. If you're in a lab, make the final couple of rinses with
deionized water to remove trace salt in the water (optional). Then
shake out the keyboard and drain as best you can. Let it air dry and
make absolutely sure that it's 100% dry before plugging into USB port.
I have used this to clean dirty keyboards and it works fine. You don't
need to disassemble.

The BIG issue is whether you shorted out a key when the solution hit
your keyboard. A kid spilled a drink on a keyboard while plugged in and
the keyboard wasn't disconnected immediately. I did the above and the
keyboard was fine but at least one key was out probably due to short; I
had to replace that keyboard.




Repeating Decimal wrote:
> I managed to get my Apple Pro keyboard that came with my G4 wet.
>
> I now use my computer for just about everything. I have instructions on how
> to use and calibrate a pH meter on the computer. I foolishly brought this
> meter, while soaking its electrode in buffer solution (a solution of salts)
> close to my computer so that I could follow instructions displayed upon the
> screen. I was able to knock over the container, and some of the solution get
> under the protective plastic cover. I found it impossible to wipe this up
> before a few key switches got wet. At this point, I m trying to dry it in
> the sun, but I am still concerned about what damage may occur later. Getting
> a new keyboard is always possible.
>
> Questions:
>
> How can you remove the plastic protective covers to get to the keyboard
> itself? I found four Allen head screws on the bottom and a wrench the fit. I
> saw many others. After removing these screws, I was still unable to unsnap
> the assembly. What next?
>
> What is the best way to clean up the keyboard? Is it best to just dry it up
> and ignore the salt still remaining on electrical contactgs?
>
> What else would you do
>
> Bill
>

Before you buy a new one, are the salts soluble in water?

I worked with a guy a few years ago who said that he knew a TV
repairman who would clean TVs by leaving them out in the rain. I left
a boombox of mine out in the rain and after it dried it worked fine.

The problem would be if there was a reaction between the salt solution
and the metal parts. I would just stick the whole thing in a bucket of
water for a long time and then dry it completely. If the salts aren't
water soluble then maybe isopropyl alcohol and water. You're fucked
anyway, if it doesn't work then you've just got to buy a new on for $30
on ebay. Don't leave the salt on the metal.

In article <BB3EEB57.3D3E%salmonfry[at]sbcglobal.net>, Repeating Decimal
<salmonfry[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I managed to get my Apple Pro keyboard that came with my G4 wet.
>
> I now use my computer for just about everything. I have instructions on how
> to use and calibrate a pH meter on the computer. I foolishly brought this
> meter, while soaking its electrode in buffer solution (a solution of salts)
> close to my computer so that I could follow instructions displayed upon the
> screen. I was able to knock over the container, and some of the solution get
> under the protective plastic cover. I found it impossible to wipe this up
> before a few key switches got wet. At this point, I m trying to dry it in
> the sun, but I am still concerned about what damage may occur later. Getting
> a new keyboard is always possible.
>
> Questions:
>
> How can you remove the plastic protective covers to get to the keyboard
> itself? I found four Allen head screws on the bottom and a wrench the fit. I
> saw many others. After removing these screws, I was still unable to unsnap
> the assembly. What next?
>
> What is the best way to clean up the keyboard? Is it best to just dry it up
> and ignore the salt still remaining on electrical contactgs?
>
> What else would you do
>
> Bill
>

in article 0UqdnagvDYMjkYeiU-KYgg[at]comcast.com, George at
george5071[at]my-deja.com wrote on 7/19/03 8:30 PM:

> There are news posts and web pages with specifics but basically you can
> just run tap water through the keyboard. Do a lot of rinsing to get
> salt out. If you're in a lab, make the final couple of rinses with
> deionized water to remove trace salt in the water (optional). Then
> shake out the keyboard and drain as best you can. Let it air dry and
> make absolutely sure that it's 100% dry before plugging into USB port.
> I have used this to clean dirty keyboards and it works fine. You don't
> need to disassemble.
>
> The BIG issue is whether you shorted out a key when the solution hit
> your keyboard. A kid spilled a drink on a keyboard while plugged in and
> the keyboard wasn't disconnected immediately. I did the above and the
> keyboard was fine but at least one key was out probably due to short; I
> had to replace that keyboard.
>
>
>
n article 190720032357178532%timothy.domst[at]verizon.net, Timothy Domst at
timothy.domst[at]verizon.net wrote on 7/19/03 8:57 PM:

> Before you buy a new one, are the salts soluble in water?
>
> I worked with a guy a few years ago who said that he knew a TV
> repairman who would clean TVs by leaving them out in the rain. I left
> a boombox of mine out in the rain and after it dried it worked fine.
>
> The problem would be if there was a reaction between the salt solution
> and the metal parts. I would just stick the whole thing in a bucket of
> water for a long time and then dry it completely. If the salts aren't
> water soluble then maybe isopropyl alcohol and water. You're fucked
> anyway, if it doesn't work then you've just got to buy a new on for $30
> on ebay. Don't leave the salt on the metal.

Thanks for the suggestions. I also thought of washing the keyboard in
water. The most important thing I learned from these posts is that getting
good results by washing IS FEASIBLE. If I continued to have difficulty, I
may have tried it.

I let the keyboard bake in the sun a while. My first attempt to use it was
not successful. Now however, after a few more hours of baking, I am using it
with my Outlook Express.

My inclination is to wake sleeping dogs. I will take the chance that
everything will be OK. The salts involved would be something like potassium
dihydrogen phosphate, boric acid, etc. The worst that can happen is that
there will be corrosion of solder joints or switch contacts. That would not
be the end of the world.

Bill

The MOST important thing is to not plug it in when it's damp since
connections can short out. After rinsing the keyboard, I made sure it
was completely (overnight is probably not long enough) dry. If you try
to "test it" before it's dry, you may short it out! If it shorted out
when the initial spill happened, then nothing will bring it back.

Repeating Decimal wrote:
> in article 0UqdnagvDYMjkYeiU-KYgg[at]comcast.com, George at
> george5071[at]my-deja.com wrote on 7/19/03 8:30 PM:
>
>
>>There are news posts and web pages with specifics but basically you can
>>just run tap water through the keyboard. Do a lot of rinsing to get
>>salt out. If you're in a lab, make the final couple of rinses with
>>deionized water to remove trace salt in the water (optional). Then
>>shake out the keyboard and drain as best you can. Let it air dry and
>>make absolutely sure that it's 100% dry before plugging into USB port.
>>I have used this to clean dirty keyboards and it works fine. You don't
>>need to disassemble.
>>
>>The BIG issue is whether you shorted out a key when the solution hit
>>your keyboard. A kid spilled a drink on a keyboard while plugged in and
>>the keyboard wasn't disconnected immediately. I did the above and the
>>keyboard was fine but at least one key was out probably due to short; I
>>had to replace that keyboard.
>>
>>
>>
>
> n article 190720032357178532%timothy.domst[at]verizon.net, Timothy Domst at
> timothy.domst[at]verizon.net wrote on 7/19/03 8:57 PM:
>
>
>>Before you buy a new one, are the salts soluble in water?
>>
>>I worked with a guy a few years ago who said that he knew a TV
>>repairman who would clean TVs by leaving them out in the rain. I left
>>a boombox of mine out in the rain and after it dried it worked fine.
>>
>>The problem would be if there was a reaction between the salt solution
>>and the metal parts. I would just stick the whole thing in a bucket of
>>water for a long time and then dry it completely. If the salts aren't
>>water soluble then maybe isopropyl alcohol and water. You're fucked
>>anyway, if it doesn't work then you've just got to buy a new on for $30
>>on ebay. Don't leave the salt on the metal.
>
>
> Thanks for the suggestions. I also thought of washing the keyboard in
> water. The most important thing I learned from these posts is that getting
> good results by washing IS FEASIBLE. If I continued to have difficulty, I
> may have tried it.
>
> I let the keyboard bake in the sun a while. My first attempt to use it was
> not successful. Now however, after a few more hours of baking, I am using it
> with my Outlook Express.
>
> My inclination is to wake sleeping dogs. I will take the chance that
> everything will be OK. The salts involved would be something like potassium
> dihydrogen phosphate, boric acid, etc. The worst that can happen is that
> there will be corrosion of solder joints or switch contacts. That would not
> be the end of the world.
>
> Bill
>

Timothy Domst <timothy.domst[at]verizon.net> writes:
>
> The problem would be if there was a reaction between the salt
> solution and the metal parts. I would just stick the whole thing in
> a bucket of water for a long time and then dry it completely. If
> the salts aren't water soluble then maybe isopropyl alcohol and
> water. You're fucked anyway, if it doesn't work then you've just
> got to buy a new on for $30 on ebay. Don't leave the salt on the
> metal.

Alcohol will probably be bad on a Pro keyboard. It tends to react
with many kinds of plastics, including those that the keyswitches are
etched into. If you're lucky, it will simply fog the clear plastic.
If you are unlucky, it might damage something operational.

I would use it with an old keyboard that has mechanical keyswitches,
but I wouldn't use it (except as a last resort, perhaps) on a
keyboard that uses membrane switches (which is just about everything
made today.)

-- David

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 16:47:59 -0700, David C. wrote
(in message <m2smozmogg.fsf[at]qqqq.invalid>):

> I would use it with an old keyboard that has mechanical keyswitches,
> but I wouldn't use it (except as a last resort, perhaps) on a
> keyboard that uses membrane switches (which is just about everything
> made today.)

I don't think any regular keyboard (exception is those thin "foldable" types)
uses membrane switches. Most are hall effect type.
--
Dave C
dave-usenet3016[at]mailblocks.com

have a look at the following site,
http://www.technology.niagarac.on.ca/people/bgracey/prokeyboardrepair.pdf
it will provide you with step by step instructions for taking apart
your keyboard and repairing it.

In article <ec1b1d22.0308011212.93e1568[at]posting.google.com>,
shawn[at]lcsi.ca (sdjes) wrote:

> have a look at the following site,
> http://www.technology.niagarac.on.ca/people/bgracey/prokeyboardrepair.pdf
> it will provide you with step by step instructions for taking apart
> your keyboard and repairing it.

Thanks for posting the update. I downloaded the document and noticed it
has a July 22,2003 revision date at the bottom. I am not sure what
changed but it is a good reference document.

aRKay