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Re: Upgrading an Unenhanced IIe
Great Hierophant wrote:
I have washed the plastic portions of my Windows keyboard with success.
I was surprised how easy the keys of the Apple IIe come off. I used
hot tap water at full blast (I wouldn't risk detergents) and ran it on
each keyboard key switch for a few seconds and on the sides of the
keyboard to get at the dust inbetween the key switches. I also got
water on the circuit board, which worried me somewhat. (It would have
worried me much more if the keyboard decoder is in the keyboard
assembly as it may be in the Apple II and II+). I shook it to get rid
of some water and let it dry for an hour or two. I fear it may not
have been enough because when I connected the keyboard back to the IIe
the thing refused to boot to BASIC (in ROM), got to BASIC and repeated
the same key without end or wigged out as if the keyboard wasn't
connected. Perhaps I should have let it dry longer as I believe water
has settled into the contacts and constantly bridging them. I will let
it dry a while longer.
That will fix the problem. I would let it dry for a couple of days
in a warm, dry place.
Also, if you were just washing off dust, then there are probably
"drier" solutions that don't involve any risk of washing dirt _into_
the keyswitches, which should be a concern.
If I were "totally cleaning" a keyboard, I would thoroughly brush/vacuum
(not _blow_, as that may put dust _into_ the keyswitches) the external
plastic parts, then do the liquid cleaning.
I prefer to clean (internally, using contact cleaner) only those
keyswitches that are acting up, on the theory that "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it".
-michael
New Applesoft BASIC interface for NadaNet networking!
Home page: http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/