Acer TimelineX 3820TG Backlit keyboard mod

I bought an 4820T laptop which is similar to the 3820TG. The keyboard arrived faulty and I accidentally pressed in two holder tabs, does anyone know how to get them out again?

Thanks

 

hi,

if i disable an usb-hub does it still carry voltage?
i ask because there is an unused miniPCI expressport with USB 3.3Volt witch can easyly deactivated via hotkey/devcon ...

/inteks

 

The tabs come back by themselves. You don't have to do anything with them.

When you want to take the keyboard out, you press these holders.
When you want to put the keyboard back, you just press the keyboard. The holders should click.

The BT module is plugged in a 3.3v USB port, and this port cuts voltage when you disable bluetooth via hotkey, but I can't say if it's just disabling a hub.

As a test, I just disabled an USB Root Hub and my external HDD turned off just after a few seconds than Windows actually disabled that hub. I believe the HDD was still receiving voltage and turned off by itself when recognized there was no hub to the USB controller. I don't have a multimeter to test it.

Disabling an USB hub via hotkey is a great idea if I can find an unused 5v USB port on my motherboard. I would certainly change my mod.

 

But the tabs in my keyboard are pushed in and they dont click back out.

 

the holders that click are in the chassi, not in the keyboard.

 

I pushed 2 of them in and they didnt jump back out, any ideas how to get them out?

Many thanks

 

You can search for the service manual and disassemble the case... Or you can just RMA?

 

I bought a cheap, normal 3810 keyboard and noticed that the keyboard is a bit too tall as I can see on the screen there are keyboard dust gaps, meaning that when the lid is closed the keyboard and the screen is making contact. Is there a way to reduce the height of the keyboard?

 

Any idea if they make the backlit keyboard in a Swedish (I'm actually Finnish, but the keyboard's the same) version? I found a 3810T keyboard in *here*, but does this have the backlight?

 

The height of the KB can't be lowered unless you build up theslots and refile them. That's why I buy the more expensiveKB, it fits better.

Bronsky

@ Phoenix- the pic on the link won't load for me. If the KB does not have a power ribbon in addition to the normal ribbon, I would not trust it.

 

Hey guys,

I'll be replacing my bilingual keyboard with a US version soon and was wondering if someone can link me to instructions on how to remove it. Is it somewhere in this thread? If so, please link me to it (46 pages is a lot to skim through). Thanks!

 

Try the very first post of this thread. It's not just instructions but illustrating pictures too.

 

I just looked at the first post; so is soldering required for a regular keyboard swap, or do I just need to disconnect a ribbon cable?

 

Just a ribbon cable. It's got those little dog ear retainers on the mobo connector.

 

The instructions to remove it, as you asked, are in the beginning of the post. You don't need to solder anything if you are not doing backlit mod.

You just need to remove by the 5 upper tabs + 2 lateral tabs, disconnect ribbon cable, connect ribbon cable of the new one and press the keyboard to clip the tabs back.

 

I managed to push in the upper tabs, but the tabs on the side are giving me trouble. I'm using one of those plastic pry tools, but it looks like the tabs on the side are too narrow to get at with the tool. Any suggestions?

 

The tabs on the side are not really supposed to be pushed in. Just sort of maneuver the keyboard out of the clips on the side. The keyboard is able to bend a little bit and doing that will let you take it out.

 

Thanks Zoose, I'll give that a shot.

 

To deal with the side clips, I use the small blade of a swiss army knife. After releasing the top clips, I use the blade to gently move the board to one side so the KB will clear the clip. Lift and do the same to the other side.

Bronsky

 

Anyone know if there's a way to replace single keys on these keyboards? The spacebar on my US one doesn't have much bounce to it, but all the other keys are fine.

 

I believe you can buy individual keys on ebay - check it out:
Acer Keyboard KEY - Aspire 3820 3820T on eBay.ca (item 280639895642 end time 04-May-11 17:41:25 EDT)

I'm sure there's other places selling them online.

cheers.

 

Thanks mdott, I'd like to replace my bad spacebar with the one from my bilingual keyboard, thus eliminating the need to buy a new key. If someone has instructions on how to remove a key, please let me know, I'd really appreciate it.

 

When you buy them off ebay, they come with a "graphic installation guide." You shouldn't have a problem buddy.

Good luck.

edit: just realized you said removing - not sure on that front. I hope it's possible lol.

 

At the moment it seems, that a key exchange is not possible without destroying something.

 

So the keys don't work like the ones on this model?

YouTube - How to replace a key on Acer Notebook Keyboard - Type 1

 

Try it, it could work.

My last information was, that it will not be possible.

I think you have the old bilangual keybord? Try it with a key on the bilangual one.

 

I popped off the spacebar on my bilingual, here's some pics:





The 2 wires on the bottom of the spacebar key cap can be rotated a little past 90 degrees (they're flat in the picture). The rubber spring on the center of the base appears to be glued to the keyboard circuit.The 2 rectangular brackets on each side of the rubber each consist of 2 pieces that rotate upwards slightly. There are also 4 small loops that appear to hold the wires on the spacebar key.

I think the instructions on this web page might be relevant: http://www.laptopkey.com/Guides.php/Acer/Aspire/3810TG/AC21

 

Hi there guys, i decided to put the keyboard on mine acer aswell, its an 5740g.

There it goes some pics:



And the switch:



Cumps.

 

Forgot to ask: anyone knows were i can find a higher voltage?

I am using the USB one, ground and +5v if its the 5v...
if its 3.5v then would be better to get an 5v one, since its not that bright the current voltage.

 

It's 5v. I also think 5v is not bright enough. I'm not happy with my 3.3v from bluetooth. I'm thinking about using both bluetooth and USB. Would you give us more details about your switch?

 

At the moment i got it closed, im waiting for the i7-720qm processor to get of
the Foreign Customs in portugal.

Will open the lappy again and show you how i did.

I used the key thing lock hole, to just stick there the switch, with some HOT
glue it fited perfectly.

Well if 5V is the usb one... i guess i have to look for some higher voltage...
Or its the leds itself, i got a qosmio x300 with an A505 keyboard and the light
are WAY mor stronguer.

 

Your switch looks great. Any information you can provide would be welcome.

I actually think that your KB looks plenty bright. Very nice job. Congratulations.

Bronsky

 

The problem is that the keyboard is bright just under the keys. The effect is cool, but it makes much worse to read the letters on the keys, which the leds are too weak. I think I would be way happier with a keyboard like the M11x. In fact the keyboard of my 3820TG is the only reason I'm not using the Acer as my primary laptop yet. I bought it in February and have used less than 30 hours until now.

dseriewow, what is the brand and part number of the switch?

 

I just tooke it from an old qosmio x300 i had before the current one, for parts.

It was the wireless switch.

Would you think using the 2 sources of voltage from the motherboard would boost the leds power, i mean stack 5v + ?v ?

 

I've never found a datasheet to see how much voltage the keyboard leds support...

 

@dseriewow
It wouldn't help unless you had a source that has higher voltage but in this case an improvement will come from the new source not from “adding” them together- this doesn't work.

 

Guess the leds are not that strong, who knows... if changing the leds.... for my
old A505 ones... hehe HUGE modding would be needed..

CHALENGE TIME!!

 

anyone here can do a backlid keyboard mod on my msi gx640?

 

This image came to my head:

 

len888

Were you from?
If you have the keyboard with backlit, i can help you with it.
Just need to know were you from.

 

Dudes, this is just plain silly...

I don't know the rating of the keyboard, but I imagine it is 5V (LEDs are acutally current driven). Maybe you could get away with some more, but you should try a adjustable power supply and bench test for a while first. Probably there are some points on the mainboard where a higher voltage is present, which you could bring down to the desired level using some components.

I'm still using the bluetooth switching (3.3V) with much pleasure. I only turn it on when it's dark and the brightness is just perfect. During the day it is not really necessary to have it on and the cool effect is only fun for show&tell. The height of the keyboard is still annoying me: when i close the lid a dust pattern of the keys is visible next time I open it.

 

I know it's silly but I'm here to learn, hehe... If I say something dumb there will always be someone to stop me.

I'm really not happy with my keyboard. Probably I'm going to change to 5v when I finally purchase the IC7 compound.

 

I think part of the problem is the keyboard itself. The new KB's do not seem to work as well as the early ones that Hendrickson and I installed. There seems to be a lot more light emmanating from under the keys and less light coming through the keys.

Amazing to see this thread still alive.

Bronsky

 

Tomorrow i will have to open again the whole computer to install my new
i7-720qm, will take pictures of my system if anyone
has an acer like mine and wants to install the backlit kb.

 

I'm sure pictures would be appreciated.

Bronsky

 

noob question here, sorry.

I'm going to be swapping out this ridiculous french keyboard to the yankee layout in the coming week or so, just wanted to know what constitutes a "plastic tool" to use to get the tabs out, or if anybody has any recommendations on what to use?

Thanks.

 

A credit card! HAHAH, yep thats what i use.

 

I tho the papper to pickup the processor was the real deal but in fact
was just some pappers issue with the deliver, so only tomorrow will have
the damn processor :/

 

My keyboard have the same part# as Hendrickson's.
Am I being too exigent? haha

Even if nobody is posting, certainly there are some people still interested in this thread. In the last two weeks I had hundreds of views in my KB mod video because of a reference in this page.

Looking forward to see the pics!

 

anyone know where to get a English backlit keyboard all the sellers on ebay raised their prices because they dont have any in stock currently...