====== Finding your Keyboard's Pinout ====== [{{ :bittenguide_pinout_20.jpg?300|Pin Headers with an unknown pinout}}] Understanding the pinout of your keyboard's cable is a neccessary step when wiring up a converter. However, randomly attempting to identify pins through trial-and-error poses the risk of potential damage. This concern is especially prevalent when dealing with the VCC (+5V) pin, as inadvertently shorting it to another pin (i.e. GND) can result in **permanent damage**. Adhering to the following methods below allow for a safe determination of the keyboard's pinout.\\ //**Note:** A multimeter will be required for the following methods.// ---- ===== Prerequisite: Multimeter ===== [{{ :bittenguide_pinout_12.jpg?300|Multimeter}}] This segment will guide you through preparing your multimeter, complete with an illustrative example of its operation. === Switch to Resistance mode === For all the following methods, the dial on your multimeter must be set to the "Resistance mode", which typically represented by the Ω symbol. \\ This mode depicts how easy it is for electricity to travel through a medium, such as a wire. {{:bittenguide_pinout_13.jpg?nolink&400|}} === Demonstration === When in Resistance mode, the multimeter can show you when two ends are connected. The photos below demonstrate the following: bittenguide_pinout_14.jpg bittenguide_pinout_15.jpg * In the first photo above, the multimeter demonstrates that both ends of the yellow wire are **connected**, as signified by the 0.7Ω reading.\\ * However, once the yellow wire is broken up, the multimeter reads ".OL", signifying that **no connection** can be found between the two ends. * Using this information, we can trace the path of any pin in a keyboard. //**Note:** For a healthy connection, the multimeter must read a small and stable number. Larger numbers represent more resistance.// ---- ===== Method 1: Using the Original Cable ===== {{:bittenguide_pinout_11.jpg?nolink&600|}} //**Note:** An NTC KB-6153 will be used for demonstration purposes.// \\ ==== 1) Lookup the connector's pinout ==== Cable connectors follow a **standardized** pinout in most cases, and are already [[http://www.kbdbabel.org/conn/index.html|documented online.]] {{:bittenguide_pinout_22.jpg?nolink&400|}} //**Example:** In this demonstration, the NTC KB-6153 uses an XT/AT connector.//\\ //**Caution:** In this demonstration, the diagram had to be flipped horizontally to match the male version.// \\ ==== 2) Search for connections ==== === 2.1) Probe the PCB's Pin === Connect one probe to a pin on the PCB. Any pin can be chosen here, but for this demonstration, the 4th pin is chosen. bittenguide_pinout_16.jpg bittenguide_pinout_17.jpg //**Note:** As shown above, a pin can probed from multiple areas.// === 2.2) Find the connected pin === Using the other probe of your multimeter, find the pin on the connector that's connected to the PCB pin. bittenguide_pinout_18.jpg bittenguide_pinout_21.jpg //**Note:** Cycle through all the pins until you find a pin where the multimeter reads a small and stable number.// === 2.3) Note it down! === When a stable connection is detected, refer back to connector's diagram to confirm the pin's name. {{:bittenguide_pinout_19.jpg?nolink&400|}} //**Example:** In this demonstration, the 4th pin is connected to GND on the diagram.//\\ \\ ---- ===== Method 2: Using the Keyboard's Main Chip ===== [WIP]