I'm not OP but this was a really helpful comment as I was beating myself up about not having gotten a spare pcb for myself during the GB. thanks!!

If they had it in the processor wouldn’t this not have happened? I thought the film specifically protected non-protected processors

They have ESD protection in both the board processor and an antistatic film in between the case and the pcb.

Does this apply to other graystudio keyboards?

Yeah, apparently this ESD issue has been recurring with the space boards. I found out months ago only by visiting their discord server and seeing people's similar experiences when I used to want one.

They include film? I thought PCB makers just built it in?

I suppose you could line a case with something.

You're basically safe at 40%+

Sorry to hear that man!

From what I read this is an issue from R2, and continues to be here in R3, really RIDICULOUS for a board of this price to be this bad

You could probably sell the case and take the loss this time, then buy something else

Well, buy another keyboard

This is a new thing to me too cause I have been buying custom keyboards for 8+ years and never been zapped or had a PCB fried

R2 has the exact same issue. My side leds have fried multiple times so now I dont even bother replacing them. Its a design flaw, no other board behaves like this and I have like 10 others.

I live in the UK so I guess I do have high humidity? We are always carpeted and barefoot, I guess the humidity just keeps the static away. I am 82% humidity today I guess that is pretty high

It depends on tons of factors. Rubbing fabric against fabric or plastic is a common one at home, but if you live in a humid climate it's basically a non-issue (data centers maintain a specific humidity for this exact reason). If only part of your floor is carpeted and you walk barefoot you'll also naturally discharge any static electricity, or if you regularly touch large conductors (large metal parts of furniture, faucets).

Doesn't it have to be a direct contact with the PCB for that to happen? I always rub my hand on my sweater or a piece of cleaning cloth laying on my table and touch the keyboard after but nothing abnormal ever happened.

I always here these stories but I have never had a static shock in years. I wonder what causes people to have static, I wonder if it’s the material clothe you wear.

It’s literally been a decade since I has static shock.

It's actually a real photo, thanks!

Have you tried reflashing the pcb in case your firmware was corrupted?

There are replacement pcbs on taobao if you’re not able to buy one from them. You’ll need a forwarder to get it.

https://m.tb.cn/h.UhvUbvp?tk=hvmCdc1Yt3Z

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Again, isolating the PCB from case is different subject and in regards to ESD PCB's ground line actually needs to be connected firmly to case.

This is pretty irrelevant to this topic. You are talking about preventing unintentional shorting of the PCB in badly designed board - nothing to do with ESD risk.

Instead of just asking to buy PCB you should explain the situation and see what they propose.

Swap out the MCU. If you don't have the tools ask around for a local hacker space.

What part of the world are you in?

>wow a board of that type of cost and it has no ESD protection? that just blows my mind....

You should check your facts before making wrong statements and absurd accusations suggesting the makers intentionally made this possible.

Answering your next question: the so called "ESD protection" does not guarantee total immunity and number of factors may contribute to such incident. No - I am not able to investigate this remotely and this is why I would restrain from making silly conclusions.

Same thing just happened to me twice on my frog tkl. Fried 2 PCBs in 3 weeks, I don't really know what to do at this point

Didn’t R2 have the same issue? I’m surprised they haven’t addressed it for R3.