Cherry G84-4100 Pinout

[npChaos]

Does anyone have a pinout for a ML4100 PS/2? Picked up some oddball terminal ones in an auction. They look like the older PS/2 controllers but the wiring colors correspond to USB.

I don't have a PS/2 version on hand to check the pins. Thanks.

[woody]

What exactly do you need? I could check later.

[npChaos]

Just the pinout for the PS/2 cable itself.

The controller board is similar to the one in the wiki, but the layout of some of the components and color of the wires are different.

[woody]

Mine differs from the wiki pictures as well.

Anyway, there is one 5-pin header on the PCB where the cable is soldered wire by wire. Solder side has pin numbers.

1 - thick black wire - SHIELD
2 - yellow wire - PS/2 CLOCK
3 - thin black wire - GND
4 - green wire - VCC
5 - white wire - PS/2 DATA

Could you post some pictures how those boards look like?

EDIT: I haven't given mini-DIN pin numbers in the table above, but you can easily work that out from the signals.

[npChaos]

Sorry for the late reply and the terrible pictures, I did the best I could with my phone.

These boards aren't even that old, I think according to the date code, 2009. But one was a mod-8 jack and the other was some sort of odd scan gun serial type connector. Both boards internally look the same. Unfortunately both cables were removed when I got the keyboards so all I have is the ends. Also you can see in the pictures there is a layer of copper shielding. I am not sure if that is common on these. I know my USB version does not have it.

At least the key caps were in good shape.

[woody]

Nice pictures. Visually the controller PCB matches mine, at least what I could remember from it before assembling it back. Mine dates from around the same time, so they could be the same revision.

I think the Freescale MCU markings match as well, so you have pretty good chance to restore it with a mini-DIN. Cable wire colors are different, so simply ignore them and follow the 5-pin header numbers and PS/2 mini-DIN signals. You might want to cut and replace the cable tie.

The copper foil and two plastic separators are present on mine.

I have never scored USB version so far. Can you make similar pictures of it, too? I remember there are USB only and dual PS2/USB version.

[npChaos]

Thanks for the info Woody.

Here are some pics of one of the USB ones I have one hand. G84-4100PTAUS S41.

I have a newer 86 key at work too but I won't be able to get pictures of that until Thursday.

[woody]

Nice, a PS2/USB combo one.

Good to see Cherry switched to two-layer PCB and SMD assembly. Also EMI care with RC dampeners on each long line.

Mine are mostly G84-4100LPAUS, the 83-key lasered PS/2 version.

Thanks for the pictures!

[hargon]

I am curious now: I own an PS/2 G84 like shown in the first pics (i think) and I really would prefer USB connectivity. Is there any (easy) possibility to achieve this?

[woody]

Possibilities - yes, various. Easy - no, for my definitions of "easy".

Get an external PS/2 to USB converter.

[hargon]

Thanks, but I kind of have had bad experiences with them. I will think about it.