I killed my keyboard with booze, possible to fix it?

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lNomNoml

1331 posts

Uber Geek

# 255993 9-Sep-2019 21:48

I spilled some (a little) of Jack daniels whiskey and cola on my Steelseries 7g mechanical keyboard I tried to clean it up but some must have spilled onto the logic board, it cost me quite a bit back in the old country, and a new one will set me back around $170, is it possible to fix it? anyone good with a welding iron /electronics in Auckland who can maybe take a look at it and fix it?

Should I put it in rice and hope for the best?

Gordy7

859 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 2313857 9-Sep-2019 22:12

3 people support this post

I hope you were able to drain your keyboard back into your glass :-)

Gordy

Delphinus

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2313860 9-Sep-2019 22:17

Aren't you supposed to blast it with a cleaner (isopropyl alcohol?) then dry? Rice will just bake on your whiskey. Need to remove the whiskey.

vexxxboy

2889 posts

Uber Geek

# 2313862 9-Sep-2019 22:20

try a hairdryer on full hot, worked on mine when i spilt coke on it.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

lNomNoml

1331 posts

Uber Geek

# 2313873 9-Sep-2019 23:54

Gordy7:

I hope you were able to drain your keyboard back into your glass :-)

Sadly no :'-(

Delphinus:

Aren't you supposed to blast it with a cleaner (isopropyl alcohol?) then dry? Rice will just bake on your whiskey. Need to remove the whiskey.

Possibly a good idea if I wasn't freaking out and trying to lick up the drink, I've put it in a bag of rice and in the hot water cupboard, best I can do for now, will check back in 2 days.

vexxxboy:

try a hairdryer on full hot, worked on mine when i spilt coke on it.

Good idea if I had a hair dryer haha, will give the steamy whiskey rice method a try first.

jarledb

Webhead
2271 posts

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# 2313881 10-Sep-2019 02:42

One person supports this post

I have some bad news for you.

The keyboard is probably dead, or will die after a while.. (Read the link).

Jarle on Twitter - Senson NZ - WordPress experts

Brunzy

879 posts

Ultimate Geek

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# 2313885 10-Sep-2019 05:29

One person supports this post

If you can access the logic board try a soft toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol

empacher48

138 posts

Master Geek

# 2313888 10-Sep-2019 06:19

One person supports this post

A shame to loose the booze in such a way, :( Condolences for the loss.

On another note, what a way for the keyboard to go, if only it will happen that way to most us, bathed in a good quality drop.

kiwiharry

454 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2313892 10-Sep-2019 07:09

Brunzy: If you can access the logic board try a soft toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol

I assume this is before brushing your teeth? 🤪

tdgeek

17654 posts

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# 2313896 10-Sep-2019 07:28

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I would have bathed it in warm water to get rid of sticky residue which might provide a pathway for a short . Then do the rice and HW cylinder trick

eracode

Overarching undertones
3785 posts

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# 2313946 10-Sep-2019 08:20

One person supports this post

Send it to one of those rehab centres where alcoholics go to dry out. 😄

gbwelly

839 posts

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# 2313967 10-Sep-2019 08:55

One person supports this post

Flood it with methylated spirits to drive out the sugar from the cola. As it is also hygroscopic it will also help with removing the water. I'd be surprised if it doesn't come back to life.

lNomNoml

1331 posts

Uber Geek

# 2315064 11-Sep-2019 14:52

All very good suggestions thank you!, now for future reference and what I recommend others do if not too drunk, as soon as your spill drink or water is to immediately unplug the keyboard, clean it and dry it out.

Now tonight is the night I take it out of it's ricey grave and open her up and try clean with isopropyl alcohol, once done I'm hoping with the power of alcohol it will return to life.

Wish me fools luck.

Otherwise plan B is to buy a "renewed" Corsair K68 from Amazon for $110 :)

lNomNoml

1331 posts

Uber Geek

# 2315066 11-Sep-2019 14:54

Brunzy: If you can access the logic board try a soft toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol

I will try this tonight thank you.

lNomNoml

1331 posts

Uber Geek

# 2315329 12-Sep-2019 00:14

So looks like it's working again, after leaving it in a black plastic bag with a good amount of rice to feed a family for serial months in the hot water cupboard and then taking it out and submerging the pcb in isopropal alcohol with a toothbrush handy srubbing (I wasn't able to seperate the keys with the pcb as they are all soldered on), and then drying it off with the neighbours hair dryer it seems to work now. There are 2 things though that I need to sort out, 1. I broke the plastic post that holds one of the ALT keys, I will use super glue or plastic glue to fix, and 2. the spacebar isn't as responsive anymore, 1 out of about 10 presses don't register, I did see someone online saying something about lubrication for keyboards, so not sure if that is what is needed or if it will resolve by itself, time will tell.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments they were extremely helpful and supportive in this difficult time.

On the plus side the keyboard smells like alcohol now.

Photos for anyone interested: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zfv6QVkKz6MMXcJeA