Have I ruined Palm Portable keyboard?

[Parana Pine]

I threw my Palm, an M105, & the Palm Portable keyboard (which really belongs to my husband) in the bottom of a handbag yesterday. A bottle of a foaming cleanser got on the Palm & the keyboard. I wiped the Palm off & TRIED TO wipe the keyboard. Even after doing a hot synch after adding" the application back into my desktop Palm application, the Palm doesn't recognize the keyboard is there. My other Palm applications seem fine.

I keep wiping the keyboard, but b/c of the way that the keyboard parts slide back & forth I can't seem to get it dry. Other than leaving the keyboard to dry inside & out, does anyone have an opinion on whether there is anything I can do to help the keyboard? I assume that adding water to my wiping will only make matters worse.

Nothing in the Palm Portable keyboard handbook seems to deal w/ this situation. Any suggestions from others in this forum will be appreciated.

Thanks. :confused:

[slong]

You could use distilled water to wash out the keyboard and then just let it dry.
The problem with most fluids is that is has comtaminants that will short out electronics and/or leave a residue that will do the same.
Distilled water has a very low amount of these contaminants so you can use it to clear out all the other junk that is causing the problem.

steve

[DrMud]

The only part of the Palm Keyboard that could result in a failure of the Palm to recognize that the Keyboard was present is the main connector. I would suggest that you take an old tooth brush (clean of course) and some rubbing alcohol and brush clean the connector on the Keyboard and the connector on the base of the Palm. Either of these connectors could be the problem. Of course, it is possible that the foaming cleanser has resulted in some keys becoming stuck but a stuck key or stuck keys would generate false input not result in a failed connection.
Apparently the HotSync went OK. Thus, we should be able to exclude the connector on the Palm.
You have no doubt checked to see if the Keyboard software was reloaded. Drop down the Info menu and look for Keyboard in the list of apps; size 48 to 50k.
Best of luck!
DrMud
PS: Were you really surprised when you didn't find "Foaming Cleanser" listed in the manual?;)

[Parana Pine]

Thanks, Slong, I happen to keep a pretty hefty supply of distilled water to use in a humidifier. I'll try it & let you know whether it works. I figure the moisture is already in the keyboard -- might as well get the other crap out of there. Then see whether a total drying out helps.

Parana Pine

[Parana Pine]

Dear DrMud: I can't imagine I'm the first person to ever get some kind of liquid on a Palm keyboard. Of course, some liquids are more troublesome & weirder, such as foaming cleanser, than others. I was just hoping I'd get some advice on what to do if I got SOMETHING ON IT. My problem w/ handy, very portable devices is that I don't remember to treat them like delicate instruments, not bathtub toys.

I will use your tip about cleaning well the connectors -- after it's a dryer keyboard.

THANKS!

[genoahous]

Originally posted by Parana Pine
Thanks, Slong, I happen to keep a pretty hefty supply of distilled water...Of note: the final cleaning of PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) is often water. Use lots of water, the more you use the more crud that will be removed.

It's VERY important that ALL of the water has dried before trying to power on. You might get good results by putting the keyboard in a warm room propped upon it's edge. I do not suggest using any heating devices like a hair drier, unless it is only producing air (no heat). Also small fan might help with the evaporation so you won't have to wait forever.

There are only a few items like switches that cause problems when washing PCBs. DIP switches, mounted on PCBs, usually have a special cover to keep cleaners, flux etc. out during the sodering and cleaning process.

I suspect that the palm keyboard is a membrane keyboard, then disassembly may be required to dry out (and possibly wash) the keyboard (to remove water/crud between the mylar sheets). I've had to do this on about 5 PC keyboards and I've had 4 out of 5 success rate. Coffee with cream & sugar caused the one failure.

I have not disassembled my Palm Keyboard to figure out how it's made (or looked to figure out how to disassemble it). But manufacturers abandoned individual key switches several years ago, due to the cost of assembly.

Today's PC keyboards no longer have switches, and now use the cheaper to build mylar membrane method (In my experience). Internally it has two sheets of milar with circuit patterns, key activation makes them press together making connection.

Good Luck on your cleaning.

[Parana Pine]

Previously: I will use your tip about cleaning well the connectors -- after it's a dryer keyboard.

I now have a DRIER keyboard. I think my spelling went out the window when I was stressed by my screw-up. I poured lots of distilled water over the keyboard on Monday, set the keyboard aside, open to the air, & checked it a few minutes ago. The s key is not responding every time, but the other keys seem fine. I'm about to leave on a business trip, & I'm glad I've got the keyboard back to functioning. The Palm had no problem recognizing the keyboard.

When I get back from the trip I may drench the left side of the keyboard again w/ distilled water, to try to clean out whatever is messing up the s key. But for now I'm grateful & will leave the keyboard to do its job, connected to my Palm.

You people have made a conversation w/ my husband a lot easier. (He's very protective of his Palm & the accessories he's bought for it.)

Thanks, folks.

Parana Pine

[genoahous]

[i]...When I get back from the trip I may drench the left side of the keyboard again w/ distilled water.../B]Good to hear things aren't too bad.

If the "S" is still bad after your trip, then drenching the keyboard might help. It also might cure itself with a little more drying out time. Be certain to check it for functionality before another dunk.