Testing Your PCB
Last updated
Last updated
Note: This guide mainly applies to PCBs with on-board components already installed, and not PCBs that come bare and need a Pro Micro-compatible controller added to it. However, once you solder the controller to the PCB and install all the diodes for those type of PCBs, you can use this guide.
Before soldering switches to your PCB, it's a good idea to it to make sure that there aren't any issues with it. In case there is an issue with the PCB, you'd be able to request a replacement PCB more easily.
To test your PCB, you'll need something electrically conductive to connect the two switch pin pads of a key. Here's a few things you can use:
Tweezers
Bent Paperclip
Wire
Next, you'll need something that can show you what keys have been pressed on the keyboard. Here's a few recommendations:
QMK Configurator - Test Keyboard (Online - works for any OS)
VIA (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Use the KEY TESTER tab
If your keyboard PCB has VIA support, then you can also test the keyboard matrix to check for keys that don't register, like Fn, in a normal key tester
Karabiner-Elements (macOS)
Open up Event Viewer within Karabiner-Elements
Now that you've got everything to need to test your PCB, it's time to begin. Here's the steps:
Plug the PCB into the computer via USB cable
For each key position, take whatever you're using to connect the switch pin pads and touch both of them at the same time
A key press should be detected by the tester software, unless it's a special key (see note below)
Test all of the key positions in this manner
Some keys, like Fn/layer keys, lighting controls, etc. are unable to be detected using a key tester. That's because a key tester can only detect keycodes that a keyboard sends to the computer, whereas for these special codes, they are handled internally by the keyboard firmware and aren't sent to the computer.
To test an Fn/layer key, you'll need to use one hand to hold that key down with your tool, while connecting the switch pin pads together for another key that uses the Fn/layer key. Then see if the key tester will detect a key press. For example, on some PCBs, holding down Fn while pressing 1 will output F1 to a computer.
If your keyboard has VIA support, then you can also test these keys by opening up VIA, going to the KEY TESTER tab and then selecting Test Matrix. You will then see the special keys light up in the app when pressed.
For split keyboards, we recommend that you test your PCBs in the following configurations:
USB plugged into left half without being attached to the right half
USB plugged into right half without being attached to the left half
Once the first two tests are complete, unplug the USB, connect both halves together (using TRRS cable to USB-C-to-C cable, depending on board), then plug in USB into left half
Move USB to the right half
