Hardware mods
I²C and Qwiic, the boot button, backlight, and enclosure options.
The KeebDeck is designed to be built into other things. This page covers the hardware options on the board.
3.3 V only
The KeebDeck's logic is 3.3 V and not 5 V tolerant. Never connect the I²C lines or test points to a 5 V microcontroller without a level shifter.
Warranty
Soldering or other hardware changes aren't covered by the warranty. Reflashing firmware is fine.
Construction
The board is two PCBs sandwiched around the keypad. Threaded SMD standoffs are soldered to the back board, and small Phillips screws hold the front cover on.
Do not over-tighten the screws. The standoffs can tear off the back PCB. Snug is enough.
I²C and Qwiic
The back of the board has I²C test points and an unpopulated Qwiic connector footprint. Solder Party designed the interface to be compatible with their earlier BBQ10 and BBQ20 keyboard boards.
To use the keyboard as an I²C device instead of USB, flash Solder Party's alternative I²C firmware. Then read keypresses with their libraries:
- Arduino: arduino_bbq10kbd
- CircuitPython: CircuitPython_BBQ10Keyboard
These libraries read the key FIFO and configure the controller over I²C. This is the route for a microcontroller project with no USB host.
Firmware note
The Made of Waves QMK firmware is USB-only. Switching to I²C mode replaces it. You can restore it at any time by reflashing.
Boot button
The back has a footprint for an optional boot button, so you can enter the bootloader without holding Esc.
- From the factory, the footprint is covered with nail polish so a finger can't short it while plugging in, which would boot the keyboard into the bootloader by accident.
- To fit a button, carefully remove the polish from the pads, then solder on a small SMD tactile switch.
Backlight
The Made of Waves build has its 8 backlight LEDs populated. On Solder Party's stock board, the LEDs and driver parts are left unpopulated. The firmware drives the LEDs from pin A15 with 8 software PWM levels.
Enclosures and mounting
- Solder Party publishes a 3D-printable frame that gives the board a rounder, more hand-friendly shape. Find it through their KeebDeck Basic docs.
- For cyberdecks and project boxes, mount the board by its existing standoffs, and leave clearance for the USB-C plug.
- PCB source files, including the board outline for designing your own enclosure, are in solderparty/keebdeck_basic_hw. Open them in KiCad.