gmmk pro is a large manufacturer. It's not "custom" per se.

Pretty sure this board has some kind of ESD protection built in, it uses an ARM processor.

Did you use the very bottom thin insulation sheet? How quality is that cable you are using? The cable could possibly be the cause, if it's not grounded properly.

You could try reflashing the firmware (White caps LED: VIA version, VIAL Version, Red caps LED: VIA Version, VIAL Version) too, if the board is responding at all (which it seems it very well may be), this could recover it.

However, even with the money I spent on this board and others, I always buy at least 1 spare PCB.

Yes many do come with warranty to basic components (at least). I think the GMMK Pro has a 2 year warranty?

What deskmat is that ?

This may be an ignorant question, but do any custom keyboards come with a warranty? I would've thought that would only be applicable with large manufacturers. Local consumer protection law would still apply of course.

Did you use the ESD protective film that they specifically included to prevent this?

My R3 hasn't had any issues so far but that's super unlucky dude

I have the Space 65 CV since GB. No side LED but damn i have messed around with that pcb with soldering and resoldering etc no issues.

Crazy bad luck

Did you put the sheet under your pcb on the middle case layer? That should prevent esd from pcb hitting the case. The pcb also has esd protection so idk how you fried her :( must’ve been a serious shock

The port has a little opening where it exits and probably does have a connection to the case. But otherwise as you said it is isolated from the case.

yeah im not sure thats super weird because isnt it isolation gasket moutn also? is the usb port touching the case or something maybe?

Yeah, I don’t know why it was so sensitive. I wonder if I made a mistake during assembly.

Well.... that's one board to avoid then. No ESD protection at that price is criminal. I can understand how it's possible to zap a PCB when it's out of the case and on the bench, but for this to happen is awful.

i would reccomend you use a humidifier or use a fabric spray and dillute it a bunch with water, and spray that onto your carpet to help prevent so much charge building up for the future, but most keyboards do have certain types os essential ESD protection, but your charge must have been a big one for that to not have prevented it maybe

You can touch a heating radiator or water pipe to discharge yourself before you sit at the desk.

wow a board of that type of cost and it has no ESD protection? that just blows my mind.... that would almost certainly never happen on a non custom keyboard. so how could they think its acceptable to allow it to even be a possibility on that. i would be so pissed off iof this happened to me, esp since i have so many keebs that have cost me 1k plus to build...i wonder why it being plugged into the usb c cable wouldnt prevent this from happening since its grounded is it not

Looks awesome! Love the look of MA profile (WoB to be specific). How does it feel compared to other layouts?

Usually by like rubbing your hand against fabric or something along the lines of that

Yes, I used all of it during assembly.

Did you use any of the case foam?

how is ESD normally triggered? I always just touch my keyboard without thinking about this risk.

Awwwww man. Don't let it discourage you too much. If anything just use it as some great learning :

1. Depending on the outcome with warranty and/or replacement parts you'll learn a lot about that company's ethics, customer care, etc.
2. Metal cases have some risk of ESD

Oh, got it. I know that a humidifier inside can help reduce static charge build up. I don't know if some keyboards are more prone to it than others, or if there is something you could do inside to help protect it. I know some PCBs including the one for the Space65 are supposed to have ESD protection. I was using a V2 Odin prior to this one and never had the shock problem.

You can put a layer of something underneath on the bottom case under the pcb to stop the pcb from touching the metal

Sorry, what I meant to say is that the shocking part happened to me, but didn't kill my PCB. Any precautions I can take to avoid this outcome?

I don’t know if it would be covered. I did email them to see if they have anymore PCBs to purchase. Otherwise I’ll have to check mechmarket. Or just sell it and get out of this crazy hobby.