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#1
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Conductive Grease?
Ok, so this isn't really a *computer* hardware question, unless I
pretend the remote is for a TV Tuner card. I hope you'll overlook my topic abuse. I have a remote control that, after getting slathered in orange soda, is not working very well. Upon disassembly, I've discovered that it is basically a circuit board, with some open contacts on the reverse side for the buttons. The buttons are made of rubber and come down across the contacts to trigger a particular function. The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? As always, thanks for your time and consideration. == Oh, I'm not very confident about a universal remote working on this unit, as it is quite old and I recall trying that before with no joy. |
#2
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On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 01:13:21 GMT, Grinder
wrote: Ok, so this isn't really a *computer* hardware question, unless I pretend the remote is for a TV Tuner card. I hope you'll overlook my topic abuse. I have a remote control that, after getting slathered in orange soda, is not working very well. Upon disassembly, I've discovered that it is basically a circuit board, with some open contacts on the reverse side for the buttons. The buttons are made of rubber and come down across the contacts to trigger a particular function. The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? As always, thanks for your time and consideration. == Oh, I'm not very confident about a universal remote working on this unit, as it is quite old and I recall trying that before with no joy. Are you certain this "grease" is there for conduction? That seems unlikely, since conductive grease would then certainly be transferred to the contact pads, causing intermittent short. What seems more likley to me is that you have the type of rubber pad that breaks down over time, releasing an oily substance. If you clean off the metal contacts and gently scrub the rubber contacts lightly with a mild detergent, that should be enough, there should be an impregnated coating on the rubber that is solely responsible for completing the circuit. The circuit board is pretty easy, while fancy cleaners can be used, a few wipes with a dry paper towel is usually sufficient. If this is not the case you might elaborate more or provide pics (posted elsewhere and linked, of course). |
#3
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kony wrote:
On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 01:13:21 GMT, Grinder wrote: Ok, so this isn't really a *computer* hardware question, unless I pretend the remote is for a TV Tuner card. I hope you'll overlook my topic abuse. I have a remote control that, after getting slathered in orange soda, is not working very well. Upon disassembly, I've discovered that it is basically a circuit board, with some open contacts on the reverse side for the buttons. The buttons are made of rubber and come down across the contacts to trigger a particular function. The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? As always, thanks for your time and consideration. == Oh, I'm not very confident about a universal remote working on this unit, as it is quite old and I recall trying that before with no joy. Are you certain this "grease" is there for conduction? That seems unlikely, since conductive grease would then certainly be transferred to the contact pads, causing intermittent short. Good point. What seems more likley to me is that you have the type of rubber pad that breaks down over time, releasing an oily substance. If you clean off the metal contacts and gently scrub the rubber contacts lightly with a mild detergent, that should be enough, The circuit board could probably stand a bit more cleaning, but I've gotten most of the crud off with a moist paper towel. there should be an impregnated coating on the rubber that is solely responsible for completing the circuit. This is the part that eludes me. The rubber panel appears to be homogenous and non-conductive. The circuit board is pretty easy, while fancy cleaners can be used, a few wipes with a dry paper towel is usually sufficient. If this is not the case you might elaborate more or provide pics (posted elsewhere and linked, of course). Here's a scan actually, of the circuit board and the rubber buttons panel: http://grinder.home.mchsi.com/temp/remote-control.jpg Thanks for your present and continued suggestions. |
#4
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They do not use conductive grease. Sometimes with age the silicon membrane
starts to sweat. After cleaning with some alcohol, and it still does not work, then this means that the coating on the rubber pads is warn off. Some of the electronic suppliers sell a kit for recoating these membranes. The kit is rather expensive. I would call the manufacture about a new remote if this is the case. Most of these manufactures do not support servicing these remotes, so I doubt you will find parts for it. -- Jerry G. ========================== "Grinder" wrote in message news:R0t%c.1574$D%.956@attbi_s51... Ok, so this isn't really a *computer* hardware question, unless I pretend the remote is for a TV Tuner card. I hope you'll overlook my topic abuse. I have a remote control that, after getting slathered in orange soda, is not working very well. Upon disassembly, I've discovered that it is basically a circuit board, with some open contacts on the reverse side for the buttons. The buttons are made of rubber and come down across the contacts to trigger a particular function. The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? As always, thanks for your time and consideration. == Oh, I'm not very confident about a universal remote working on this unit, as it is quite old and I recall trying that before with no joy. |
#5
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Ok, scratch my repeated remarks about the buttons being non-conductive.
I've clean them more carefully, and have remedied some flex in the control, and it is working now. It is still a little hesitant, but I suspect that might just be a function of its age -- the rubber has visibly deteriorated. Thanks for your input, kony -- it's been good advice, as always. |
#6
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Grinder wrote:
The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? It's not conductive grease. http://www.iglou.com/studiosound/remote.htm |
#7
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"Grinder"
wrote in news:dpv%c.131$LT5.69@attbi_s52: kony wrote: On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 01:13:21 GMT, Grinder wrote: Ok, so this isn't really a *computer* hardware question, unless I pretend the remote is for a TV Tuner card. I hope you'll overlook my topic abuse. I have a remote control that, after getting slathered in orange soda, is not working very well. Upon disassembly, I've discovered that it is basically a circuit board, with some open contacts on the reverse side for the buttons. The buttons are made of rubber and come down across the contacts to trigger a particular function. The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? As always, thanks for your time and consideration. == Oh, I'm not very confident about a universal remote working on this unit, as it is quite old and I recall trying that before with no joy. Are you certain this "grease" is there for conduction? That seems unlikely, since conductive grease would then certainly be transferred to the contact pads, causing intermittent short. Good point. What seems more likley to me is that you have the type of rubber pad that breaks down over time, releasing an oily substance. If you clean off the metal contacts and gently scrub the rubber contacts lightly with a mild detergent, that should be enough, The circuit board could probably stand a bit more cleaning, but I've gotten most of the crud off with a moist paper towel. there should be an impregnated coating on the rubber that is solely responsible for completing the circuit. This is the part that eludes me. The rubber panel appears to be homogenous and non-conductive. The circuit board is pretty easy, while fancy cleaners can be used, a few wipes with a dry paper towel is usually sufficient. If this is not the case you might elaborate more or provide pics (posted elsewhere and linked, of course). Here's a scan actually, of the circuit board and the rubber buttons panel: http://grinder.home.mchsi.com/temp/remote-control.jpg Thanks for your present and continued suggestions. Clean using isopropyl alcohol on the circuit board but I wouldn't use it on rubber. Try using using diluted vinegar on the flexible rubber membrane (and only clean if it looks greasy or linty, and don't rub too hard on the contact pad. Unless the metal contacts are gold (highly unlikely) use a white eraser (NOT the pink ones that will leave behind abrasive grit) to burnish the contacts. Be sure to blow off the eraser "crumbs". The contacts may have some oxidation on them. The rubber membrane has carbon impregnated in it to make the short. It's not a low resistance short, like near zero ohms, but low enough for the circuitry to detect the short. Since it is probably black rubber, you won't see the black carbon on it (i.e., you have carbon impregnated rubber that is slightly conductive rather than insulating as would be expected of rubber). If the button has been used a lot over a long time, wear will obviously erode away some of the carbon impregnated side of the pad; you'll probably find you can push the pad at an angle to get a more reliable contact (because you using a less-used portion of the carboned pad). If it's really old, you might start hunting around for a replacement remote control. -- __________________________________________________ _______________ ******** Post replies to newsgroup - Share with others ******** Email: lh_811newsATyahooDOTcom and append "=NEWS=" to Subject. __________________________________________________ _______________ |
#8
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ric wrote:
Grinder wrote: The circuit board still works -- I've tested by shorting the contacts with a bit of tinfoil. Some sort of conductive grease that had been applied to the rubber buttons, however, is gone and/or contaminated. If I clean those buttons up, what can I reapply to them to make this remote work as it once did? It's not conductive grease. http://www.iglou.com/studiosound/remote.htm Thanks -- that link looks useful. |
#9
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On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 04:17:02 GMT, Grinder
wrote: Ok, scratch my repeated remarks about the buttons being non-conductive. I've clean them more carefully, and have remedied some flex in the control, and it is working now. It is still a little hesitant, but I suspect that might just be a function of its age -- the rubber has visibly deteriorated. I suggested the DRY paper towel for the contact pads because it is slightly abrasive, the amount of rubbing needed to clean them may improve the contact. The black coating should not be completely removed though since it serves to prevent oxidation. |
#10
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Grinder wrote:
*snip* about remote control You can use a "soft pencil". The B-type pencils use softer grafite. Carefully draw on the rubbercontacts of the buttons, not to much. This trick is has kept my Nintendo controllers alive for many years. Chris |
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