Hard-Wiring How-To

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How To Hard-Wire a Keyboard

This How-To is a guide to hard-wiring a keyboard without using a PCB. It is designed to enable someone handy with a soldering iron to make a new keyboard layout using only a plate, switches, wire and some electronic components.

Hard-Wired Keyboard Rail.JPG

Tools Used

  • Weller soldering iron with pencil tip
  • Soldering helper
  • Small wire cutter
  • Small needle-nose pliers
  • Self-adjusting wire stripper


Parts list

coming later


Main Steps

Populate Plate

  1. Install switches
  2. Install stabilizers
  3. Install LEDs

Wire LEDs

  1. Remove switches with LEDs
  2. Prep leads
  3. Solder leads to LEDs
  4. Heat-shrink connections
  5. Re-install switches

Wire Positive (diode) Rails on all Rows

  1. Make certain the stabilizers and switches work properly
  2. Prep one row of diodes
  3. Install one row of diodes
  4. Trim excess negative leads
  5. Check and/or improve solder joints
  6. Prep (cut and straighten) rail for soldering
  7. Solder center diode to rail
  8. Solder one diode near each end to hold rail in place
  9. Solder balance of diodes on rail
  10. Trim excess positive leads
  11. Repeat for additional rows

Wire Columns

Route/connect LED Cables

Connect Row Cables

Connect Column Cables

Connect Teensy

Program Teensy

Mount Teensy and Other Components


Build Log with Photos

This build log is for the GH75 custom keyboard by samwisekoi. It will require adaptation for TKL and 104-key (full-size) keyboards.

Populate Plate

  1. Install switches
    Align all switches with leads at top.
  2. Install stabilizers
  3. Install LEDs

Optional:

  1. Bend flanges for caseless format
  2. Install rubber U-channel as "feet"

 01-populated plate.JPG 02-populated plate side view.JPG

 03-populated plate close-up.JPG 04-populated plate underneath.JPG 05-populated plate underneath close-up.JPG

Wire LEDs

You have to do this first so there is no danger of LED leads touching other wires. And there will be no way to do this after the rails and columns are wired.

  1. Remove switches with LEDs
  2. Prep leads
  3. Solder leads to LEDs
  4. Heat-shrink connections
  5. Re-install switches
  6. Tie the LED leads temporarily

 06-LED polarity.JPG 07-switches, LEDs and wire.JPG 08-wire stripper.JPG

 09-LED solder the leads.JPG 10-LED add shrink-tubing.JPG 11-LED ready to install.JPG

 12-LEDs installed.JPG 13-LED leads tied.JPG
 20-Diodes row neg trimmed.JPG

Wire Positive (diode) Rails on all Rows

  1. Make certain the stabilizers and switches work properly
  2. Prep one row of diodes
  3. Install one row of diodes
  4. Trim excess negative leads
  5. Check and/or improve solder joints
  6. Prep (cut and straighten) rail for soldering
  7. Solder center diode to rail
  8. Solder one diode near each end to hold rail in place
  9. Solder balance of diodes on rail
  10. Trim excess positive leads
  11. Repeat for additional rows

 14-Diodes positive flags.JPG 15-Diodes one ready.JPG 16-Diodes row ready.JPG

 17-Diodes one placed.JPG
19-Diodes row soldered.JPG


 20-Diodes row neg trimmed.JPG

 21-Length of 18g wire.JPG

 22-Pos row placed.JPG

 23-Diode pos pin bent.JPG
24-Diode pos pin soldered.JPG