Aspire Switch 12 (SW5-271) : keyboard not charging

Make sure that doing a simple power reset solves the problem:

1) Turn off the notebook and unplug it from power!

2) Press the battery hole for five seconds

3) Leave the notebook off for five minutes

4) Turn on the notebook and make sure the keyboard is working

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/9d/hhnlt4bwl9k3.png

Obrigado for tha fast reply.

I will test your suggestion within 3 hours when I get back home.

But this "reset hole" is in the tablet side and concerns (I guess) the main battery. Does it affect also the keyboard battery (note that the reset is done while the device is off)?
Is there any equivalent "reset" on the keyboard side?

The reset must be done with the notebook turned off! It is possible that some static power is interfering with the communication between the monitor and the keyboard, however, it is most likely that the keyboard battery needs to be replaced (usually replacing the entire keyboard)!

I do not think there is a similar button on the keyboard; but you can check (usually there is a battery symbol next to it)!

Thanks buddy for both answers

I will put my feedback in the thread once the test is done.
But it will be strange if the keyboard is KO suddenly without giving weakness signs before.

Unfortunately, the laptop battery reset didn't help.
I did it twice to be sure though

Does the keyboard have a reset button?

no, I didn't find any.
I also tried to dismantle it, but removing the 6 screws was not enough. So I put them back and I'm waiting to find a nother solution (maybe just a cheap chinese BT keyboard).

I would not buy a keyboard from another brand or Chinese, since when connecting the keyboard on this desktop it is necessary to pair it through bluetooth and I do not think the motherboard will accept other bluetooth devices!

What is the language and language of your current keyboard?

Seriously?!
I thought one could pair any BT keyboard with any Windows laptop! or Acer does not do as they should?
Even though this was the only solution, I'm not sure that paying 150$/€ for the same OEM buggy keyboard is a wise idea

my keyboard is a french azerty

@egydiocoelho asked me to take a look at this. I know you've tried bindtest already but try it again with this exact procedure.
1. Turn off KB power.
2. Run WUG1421_BindTest.exe.
3. When bindtest has completed loading, press & hold ESC while turning KB power back on. Don't let go of ESC till bindtest completes and closes.

If bindtest fails again, it's likely that the battery power to keyboard connector needs to be re-seated. Unfortunately, it appears that the whole upper case and LCD back must be removed in order to reach this connector. As far as I can tell, you've only reseated the data, not power, connections needed to wirelessly pair the mainboard with the KB dongle module. If this assessment is correct, the drawbacks of such a separate power and data hybrid design seem to seriously outweigh its benefits.

Jack E/NJ

PS: I agree the KB price seems out of line. If it were mine, I'd also be tempted to try to pair a cheap AA or AAA battery powered wireless KB rather than try to fix or replace this one.

Is this the @JackE connector?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/0b/ym1hwx7voipc.png

Yes. Does this design make any sense to you? Jack E/NJ

It does not make sense because as you said, the user will have to open the whole upper to get access to that connection!

The only remotely possible sense it makes to me is a wireless KB that looks like a normal laptop keyboard. But the KB still needs at least one virtually inaccessible power connection to keep it and the dongle module charged up. Aye! Jack E/NJ

Right! But do you think this dongle will accept a keyboard different from the original one? I'm asking you this, because when you buy a control of a video game different from the original for example, the bluetooth video game does not allow the pairing to be coded!

I'll ***guess*** that an ordinary cheap BT keyboard with its own built-in wireless dongle should pair with this mainboard just fine. I'll also guess that this particular factory KB setup on the SW5-271 wasn't one of ACER's better ideas. But I'll bet the ads for this feature sounded good 4 years ago.

Jack E/NJ

Yes indeed.
This keyboard was one of the reasons why I bought this device rather than another, as my laptops were always plugged to TV (HDMI). This option was the best as it doesn't require any additional cables or chargers.

The strangest thing is that the battery did not show any weakness before. so I'm really wondering if it's really dead or if it's only a disfunction somewhere.
The proof is that it worked once (for few days) since that problem.
Can it be a software issue keeping the laptop from giving power to the KB when plugged? which way to look (because device manager is just a joke when it comes to identifiying inputs)?

Another remark: why does the KB not blink in orange if it was a battery level issue?! I mean from time to another the led should start bliniking (more often) till total emptiness.
AFAIK, if the battery was close to be empty, it should blink for some (quite long) time each time I type or turn on the KB, then some day (when the battery is completely empty) it should stop completely without blinking anymore till recharging.

(I'm sceptical but I will give BindTest a try. The keyboard "seems" to be OFF)

That's why in addition to testing the bindtest, @JackE has told you to check if disconnecting and reconnecting this cable solves the problem, as it provides power to the dongle, which has the function of pairing with the keyboard!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/lh/hqm4ewf0jk3r.png

I think, despite the difficulty in the whole upper, it's worth checking it out since your desktop is no longer under warranty!