Amiga 500 keyboard problems

Exl · 15 August 2015, 12:25

I'm trying to fix my old A500 keyboard. It's randomly becoming unresponsive and flashing the caps lock light, indicating a problem with the controller chip, or some other hardware issue discussed here. Before trying to find a replacement keyboard, I thought I might try and open it up to see if something hasn't become damaged, causing one of the previously mentioned issues. This odd metal cable caught my eye:

I haven't seen this on any other pictures of A500 keyboards. My knowledge of electrical things is very limited, so I have no clue what this is for. It doesn't seem to connect to something, AFAIK it always has been 'loose' in the case. Could it be some sort of grounding wire? Does it need to touch the metal shield? Does it need to go anywhere at all?

dirkies · 17 August 2015, 15:33

in my rev6 one this is connected to the ground of the mobo.
My rev5 does not have this.
I do not think it has to do with your issues, I did have the same in the past (maybe 10 times over all those years) but often a cold reboot fixed it. I do know it often occurred when you power cycled too fast the Amiga.

amigaosx · 18 August 2015, 00:45

I have a rev6 A500 with a fully working keyboard and I have this cable disconnected.

Exl · 19 August 2015, 21:48

Thanks, that clears that up at least. Now the caps lock light stays on permanently, I guess I may need to do a CIA chip swap to see if one of them is dead\dying, or find another way to hook up a keyboard.

15 August 2015, 12:25	#1
Exl Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 122	Amiga 500 keyboard problems I'm trying to fix my old A500 keyboard. It's randomly becoming unresponsive and flashing the caps lock light, indicating a problem with the controller chip, or some other hardware issue discussed here. Before trying to find a replacement keyboard, I thought I might try and open it up to see if something hasn't become damaged, causing one of the previously mentioned issues. This odd metal cable caught my eye: I haven't seen this on any other pictures of A500 keyboards. My knowledge of electrical things is very limited, so I have no clue what this is for. It doesn't seem to connect to something, AFAIK it always has been 'loose' in the case. Could it be some sort of grounding wire? Does it need to touch the metal shield? Does it need to go anywhere at all?

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17 August 2015, 15:33	#2
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	in my rev6 one this is connected to the ground of the mobo. My rev5 does not have this. I do not think it has to do with your issues, I did have the same in the past (maybe 10 times over all those years) but often a cold reboot fixed it. I do know it often occurred when you power cycled too fast the Amiga.

18 August 2015, 00:45	#3
amigaosx Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montevideo Posts: 59	I have a rev6 A500 with a fully working keyboard and I have this cable disconnected.

19 August 2015, 21:48	#4
Exl Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 122	Thanks, that clears that up at least. Now the caps lock light stays on permanently, I guess I may need to do a CIA chip swap to see if one of them is dead\dying, or find another way to hook up a keyboard.

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