Small PCB attached to the keybed function

[TJensen]

On the Nord Electro 5 HP, there is a small PCB attached to the keybed and connected to the mainboard via a 6-pin ribbon cable. Does anyone know what the purpose of this PCB is? The cable that connects the mainboard to this PCB on my Electro 5 has snapped, but the keyboard still appears to function alright. I've had no luck in finding a replacement for this cable either - it appears in no spare parts catalogues (similar to part 24151 but requires a different connector on one end) and the official Nord support company in the UK did not have it. If anyone can point me in the right direction for finding a replacement for this cable or tell me what the Nord part number is I would also be very grateful!

[Schorsch]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Can you eventually post a photo of that PCB and where the cable connects to on both ends?

[maxpiano]

That is likely the memory for the keybed calibration data, unless you have to recalibrate it (which is something only the official service has the tools to do), it is not an issue.

[TJensen]

Thanks for your responses! It does seem likely that it is a keyboard calibration part. Here are some photos of what I'm talking about:

Where the cable should fit into the mainbboard

The PCB attached to the keybed (the cable should connect to the contacts on the top)

The cable itself - as you can see t's a bit broken on one end!

If it is a calibration part, when would I need to get it recalibrated? What would cause it to become decalibrated?

Cheers!

[maxpiano]

Recalibration is needed only if you completely change the keybed (or if calibration memory gets corrupted) and as I wrote you cannot do it yourself, so if that will happen the service will also fix that cable... if you are not getting any error for now just forget about it (my personal suggestion).

Otherwise, take just the cable to a generic electronics repair shop, they should be able to re-crimp the connector on existing cable (if still long enough) or crimp the same connectors on a new equivalent flat cable

PS: that last picture looks bad, cable should not interfere with keys: you unplugged the connector from the little board just for the picture, right?

In the video below at 0:26 you can see well the connector in normal position and with all cable wires attached properly.

[TJensen]

I am getting a "calibration error" message when I boot up my keyboard but I cancel that and it works fine, it's been like that for a long time. I disconnected the cable from the keybed PCB and mainboard to show a clearer pic of it but have put it back in its sockets now.

[maxpiano]

I am getting a "calibration error" message when I boot up my keyboard but I cancel that and it works fine, it's been like that for a long time. I disconnected the cable from the keybed PCB and mainboard to show a clearer pic of it but have put it back in its sockets now.

OK, you didn't mention the error message before and makes sense it shows, because with the broken cable the mainboard cannot read that memory (and the calibration data in it), you should get the cable fixed as I suggested then, reusing the existing connectors, a simple job for someone with normal electronics repair skills.

Alternatively, you can reuqest the part to Nord distributor of your country, directly or via the support form on Nord website https://www.nordkeyboards.com/support/

[cgrafx]

Its a bit more involved than just a cable, the connector on the small calibration PCB was completely ripped off of the board and will need to be re-soldered if its still in workable condition or replaced with a new connector. The other side of the cable that plugs into the main PCB is a standard ribbon/header connector and easily obtained by any competent electronics tech and the ribbon cable is also readily available and just cut to length.

[maxpiano]

Its a bit more involved than just a cable, the connector on the small calibration PCB was completely ripped off of the board and will need to be re-soldered if its still in workable condition or replaced with a new connector. The other side of the cable that plugs into the main PCB is a standard ribbon/header connector and easily obtained by any competent electronics tech and the ribbon cable is also readily available and just cut to length.

You are right, I didn't notice that, anyway still something a standard electronics repair shop should be able to handle.

@TJensen: did you buy this NE5 second hand like this or did you rip off the cable accidentally by yourself?

[TJensen]

I bought the Nord back in 2017. At some point, not sure when, five of the six wires on the ribbon cable snapped at the connector on the keybed side. I bought a 6 pin Nord ribbon cable from Syntaur thinking it would fit and so removed the broken cable from both sides. However, the new cable has IDC connections on both sides so fits in the mainboard slot but not on the keybed PCB. Getting an exact replacement for the broken cable would be ideal. But If I can find the exact connector that was used on the keybed side I could ask an electronics shop to modify the Syntaur cable (which is long enough to remove one connector and still work in my Nord). I've not had any luck in finding what this connector could be though.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EWmdGNWYnCvTXGpy7 - the underside of the connector

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1NSPea32VBSakkuU6 - the side of the connector

Apologies for the bad photo quality - I can take better ones if it would help with identification!