Flash my KBD Fans Keyboard

Last updated Aug 26, 2025 by Simon Späti

QMK Tutorial: QMK Toolbox (Flashing Firmware On Your Keyboard)

# Set-up / Flash

# New PCB DZ65RGB V#

2025-04-11

MacOS: The web version could not save the JSON

If I installed the latest MacOS version from Releases · the-via/releases, the save JSON worked. Not from the web version. I could connect

Linux

I got the error of NotAllowedError: Failed to open the device.. I had to run sudo chmod 666 /dev/hidraw1 /dev/hidraw4 /dev/hidraw5 for it to work. Check first which keyboard is on which dev with
1
2
3
4
   for device in /dev/hidraw*; do
    echo "=== $device ==="
    sudo cat /sys/class/hidraw/${device##*/}/device/uevent | grep -E "(HID_NAME|HID_ID)"
   done
after that it was regonized. Although just right after, I couldn’t navigate with the keyboard anylonger, only switching between workspaces worked, but not typing. A reboot solved it tough.
!! It’s important to chmod all three, otherwise I noticed the macros were not stored correctly

Use VIA -> MacOS on GitHub releases
(load existing json from https://dotfiles.ssp.sh if needed, usually latest is pulled from keyboard)
change keys. Everything is directly saved. no Flashing needed! (nice)
save if you have change (export JSON)

# My layout

2025-04-11

2025-08-26 update - I updated äüö with a macro (i recorded caps + a on my leneovo keyboard (which produces the umlaud through Kanata), and then i can use that macro on KBDFans too)

I also switched SUPER key and alt to make super to the left of space:

Can’t export
Unfortunately I can’t export these setting via VIA, that’s means I need to manually add these latest updated to my keyboard if I reflash to my latest github settings.

# Old PCB DZ65RGB V2

Use https://config.qmk.fm/#/dztech/dz65rgb/v2/LAYOUT_65_ansi to program settings
- Download JSON and compile to get hex, download as well
Use QMK Toolbox installed on my mac
- install with brew install --cask qmk-toolbox
Plug in the keyboard to be able to flash.
- Hold the ESC key while plugging in the Power Cable (the keyboard will not work)
- But this way you can choose a hex file in QMK Toolbox and hit flash
The MCU for my keyboard is atmega32u4 (default) - see also https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/blob/master/keyboards/dztech/dz65rgb/v2/rules.mk

Update function-layer 09.06.2022:

I mapped backspace to fn space or o for faster delete
and the arrow keys on hjkl same as in vim to navigate in mac with them as well

Some hints:

Mod(1) is the function key
Layer 1 is when you hit the function key (mapped to caps lock)

# Umlaut Hack with Multi-Key and Karabiner-Elements

I managed to map German Umlauts ä ü ö with a combination key that I then mapped with Karabiner-Elements.

Important

I mapped CAPS+a u o to lAlt + a u o (Lalt = Left option in Mac) and mapped a Karabiner Rule to produce Left Option to Umlaut.

ACHTUNG: Wenn Umlaute nicht mehr gehen

Also, be sure that alt + a u o is not used by skhd. Otherwise Umlaut will not work anymore!

See: Karabiner-Elements complex_modifications rules

Check Karabiner-Elements settings:

# Change RGB Lights on Keyboard

see above keystrokes:

capslock + W will toggle the mode.
capslock + a/s can change effects
capslock + ä/- can change brigth e/r color

# Update existing flash file

Go to QMK Configurator
Upload .json e.g. dztech_dz65rgb_v3_layout_65_ansi_mine.json file and upload it on this app
do your changes or fix a key
hit compile
click download firmware and download .hex file which can be used to flash see

# Keymap.c (configure yourself)

See on my dotfiles

# How to: App for converting QMK Configurator json to keymap.c

Screenshot: https://imgur.com/0gLwJz3
App: https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/qmkjsonconverter/

I made an app that converts the .json file exported from the QMK configurator into the code for the keymap.c file in your QMK settings. This is so you can use the configurator to create your layout but then add additional features to your keymap before compiling it.

Here is the recommended workflow to follow:

Go to https://config.qmk.fm and create a keymap for your keyboard
Download the .json file and upload it on this app
Open the appropriate keymap.c file for the desired keyboard you are working on and copy-paste over the formatted keymap code
Add any other additional features you desire to the keymap.c file

Source

# Troubleshoot

# RGB Led not working

This worked, but I needed to reload the configs from my github with VIA afterwards:

try resetting the eeprom
if that doesnt work out, then there is a reflash guide in the discord server. below is the eeprom reset method

Unplug the board

Hold Esc and replug the board

Unplug the board again

Replug the board without holding esc

Tofu65 RGB LED’s randomly not turning on? : r/KBDfans

Origin: My KBDFans DZ65RGB
References:
Created