Cell Phone Contacts Corroding

[ShadowTek]

The 4 copper looking contacts on the back of my Verison LG cell phone
are corroding and causing zero charge after being properly set on the
charger base.
The indication of the lack of proper contact is simple enough.
The light on the base charger flashes red after a couple of seconds to
indicate a problem with the charging and then you can either wiggle it
around on the base endlessly as you try and find a working position
for it to rest in and succesfuly charge or you can take a sharp blade
and scrape the corroded crap off the contacts and then it will work
fine for about a week.
The problem is that I sometimes come home from work very tired and
forget to stand there for a disruptively useless moment to wait if the
charger flashes a defiant F.U..
That means I get to wake up in the morning with an uncharged
communicator that would help me none if I were to encounter a
marauding band of Mexicans or something.
So is there anything I can get to coat the flat contacts of my cell
phone to prevent corrosion?
I would just use petroleum jelly like on my car battery terminals but
that would get smeared off in a few minutes being exposed and all.
Where can I buy such a coating?
At this rate I am going to run out of contact surface to coat.

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On 29 Nov 2003 13:15:06 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

The 4 copper looking contacts on the back of my Verison LG cell phone
are corroding and causing zero charge after being properly set on the
charger base.
(...)

Electroless silver plating solution (silver chloride). This is found
in relay contact repair kits. Clean the copper contacts with an
eraser, smear on some of the solution, rub it around, and wipe off the
excess. Don't worry if it turns dark. It's still conductive.
http://www.protext.com/metals/SilverChloridePlating1.htm
http://www.protext.com/metals/Silver.htm



--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com

 

[Ross Mac]

"ShadowTek" <a102030405060708@cs.com> wrote in message
news:eaec8910.0311291315.1be15d98@posting.google.com...

The 4 copper looking contacts on the back of my Verison LG cell phone
are corroding and causing zero charge after being properly set on the
charger base.
The indication of the lack of proper contact is simple enough.
The light on the base charger flashes red after a couple of seconds to
indicate a problem with the charging and then you can either wiggle it
around on the base endlessly as you try and find a working position
for it to rest in and succesfuly charge or you can take a sharp blade
and scrape the corroded crap off the contacts and then it will work
fine for about a week.
The problem is that I sometimes come home from work very tired and
forget to stand there for a disruptively useless moment to wait if the
charger flashes a defiant F.U..
That means I get to wake up in the morning with an uncharged
communicator that would help me none if I were to encounter a
marauding band of Mexicans or something.
So is there anything I can get to coat the flat contacts of my cell
phone to prevent corrosion?
I would just use petroleum jelly like on my car battery terminals but
that would get smeared off in a few minutes being exposed and all.
Where can I buy such a coating?
At this rate I am going to run out of contact surface to coat.

You might try a product called Tarn-x....sure worked for some copper and
silver items for me.....good luck....Ross

 

[Jerry G.]

You can clean the contacts with a general contact cleaner. You can get
contact cleaner at most any electronic supplier, or probably Radio Shack.

If you clean the contacts and the phone is still not right, there is a good
chance that there are some cold solder connections on the circuit board in
the phone that is associated with these contacts. You would then have to
bring the phone in for service.

I would not recommend opening the phone yourself. These are not easy to
work on, and there are many delicate mechanical parts that can be damaged.
To do any soldering in your phone, you will require the proper tools.



--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"ShadowTek" <a102030405060708@cs.com> wrote in message
news:eaec8910.0311291315.1be15d98@posting.google.com...
The 4 copper looking contacts on the back of my Verison LG cell phone
are corroding and causing zero charge after being properly set on the
charger base.
The indication of the lack of proper contact is simple enough.
The light on the base charger flashes red after a couple of seconds to
indicate a problem with the charging and then you can either wiggle it
around on the base endlessly as you try and find a working position
for it to rest in and succesfuly charge or you can take a sharp blade
and scrape the corroded crap off the contacts and then it will work
fine for about a week.
The problem is that I sometimes come home from work very tired and
forget to stand there for a disruptively useless moment to wait if the
charger flashes a defiant F.U..
That means I get to wake up in the morning with an uncharged
communicator that would help me none if I were to encounter a
marauding band of Mexicans or something.
So is there anything I can get to coat the flat contacts of my cell
phone to prevent corrosion?
I would just use petroleum jelly like on my car battery terminals but
that would get smeared off in a few minutes being exposed and all.
Where can I buy such a coating?
At this rate I am going to run out of contact surface to coat.

 

[ShadowTek]

Holy crotch rot Batman!
That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?
The Tarn-X page at http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?PRODID=386445&CATID=100777&V=G
suggests using a silver glaze polish after applying Tarn-X.
Is this silver glaze polish conductive enough to be used for this
application?

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On 30 Nov 2003 06:56:55 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

Holy crotch rot Batman!
That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?

You didn't specify that it should also be cheap.

The Tarn-X page at http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?PRODID=386445&CATID=100777&V=G
suggests using a silver glaze polish after applying Tarn-X.
Is this silver glaze polish conductive enough to be used for this
application?

Don't do it. Household silver cleaning solution contains no silver
and is not conductive. It's main ingredient is Oxalic Acid which
removes the tarnish. If your contacts were originally made of silver
or perhaps had some silver plating, it might be marginally useful.
You're trying to add silver, not remove it. Search for "electroless
silver" and see if you can find a PC board shop or plating house that
can give you small amount. (Hint: Bring your own small bottle).


--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On 30 Nov 2003 06:56:55 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

Holy crotch rot Batman!
That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?

I couldn't determine from your description what is the condition of
the contacts and what material they are made from. My guess is tin
plated beryllium copper. Instead of plating, perhaps painting on a
tin, nickel, or silver coating would be as useful to fill in the pits.

Silver paint in a pen.
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/8420p.html

Tin paint.
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/840.html

If the contacts are copper, electroless tin will work:
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/421.html
but takes forever to etch.

This stuff is carried by many different vendors.

--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On 30 Nov 2003 06:56:55 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?

One more. Silver brush plating kit. $41. Runs on AA batteries.
You'll probably have to disassemble the cell phone to get to the
contacts.
http://www.alpha-supply.com/155.htm (Item 45.752)
You could probably make your own if you have access to the chemicals.

--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com

 

[Ross Mac]

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote in message
news:97hksv4v6orvm2njes5a8qa5h0s6km1p24@4ax.com...

On 30 Nov 2003 06:56:55 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

Holy crotch rot Batman!
That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?

You didn't specify that it should also be cheap.

The Tarn-X page at
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?PRODID=386445&CATID=100777&V=G
suggests using a silver glaze polish after applying Tarn-X.
Is this silver glaze polish conductive enough to be used for this
application?

Don't do it. Household silver cleaning solution contains no silver
and is not conductive. It's main ingredient is Oxalic Acid which
removes the tarnish. If your contacts were originally made of silver
or perhaps had some silver plating, it might be marginally useful.
You're trying to add silver, not remove it. Search for "electroless
silver" and see if you can find a PC board shop or plating house that
can give you small amount. (Hint: Bring your own small bottle).


--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com
That silver cleaner is also a copper cleaner!!!

 

[Ross Mac]

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote in message
news:97hksv4v6orvm2njes5a8qa5h0s6km1p24@4ax.com...

On 30 Nov 2003 06:56:55 -0800, a102030405060708@cs.com (ShadowTek)
wrote:

Holy crotch rot Batman!
That silver chloride powder is 38$ per 25 gram bottle.
Got anything else in mind that dont cost as much as 2 good dinners at
a nice eatery?

You didn't specify that it should also be cheap.

The Tarn-X page at
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?PRODID=386445&CATID=100777&V=G
suggests using a silver glaze polish after applying Tarn-X.
Is this silver glaze polish conductive enough to be used for this
application?

Don't do it. Household silver cleaning solution contains no silver
and is not conductive. It's main ingredient is Oxalic Acid which
removes the tarnish. If your contacts were originally made of silver
or perhaps had some silver plating, it might be marginally useful.
You're trying to add silver, not remove it. Search for "electroless
silver" and see if you can find a PC board shop or plating house that
can give you small amount. (Hint: Bring your own small bottle).


--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com
A circuit board shop would also have the chemistry to help....either diluted

sulphuric acid or a solution of amonium persulfate. Both can be dangerous so
do your homework!....Ross

 

[larry]

The gentleman who gave you the suggestion of brushing the contacts with a
pencil erraser has a good idea. I used that same technique when cleaning
edge connectors at work.
Larry


"ShadowTek" <a102030405060708@cs.com> wrote in message
news:eaec8910.0311291315.1be15d98@posting.google.com...

The 4 copper looking contacts on the back of my Verison LG cell phone
are corroding and causing zero charge after being properly set on the
charger base.
The indication of the lack of proper contact is simple enough.
The light on the base charger flashes red after a couple of seconds to
indicate a problem with the charging and then you can either wiggle it
around on the base endlessly as you try and find a working position
for it to rest in and succesfuly charge or you can take a sharp blade
and scrape the corroded crap off the contacts and then it will work
fine for about a week.
The problem is that I sometimes come home from work very tired and
forget to stand there for a disruptively useless moment to wait if the
charger flashes a defiant F.U..
That means I get to wake up in the morning with an uncharged
communicator that would help me none if I were to encounter a
marauding band of Mexicans or something.
So is there anything I can get to coat the flat contacts of my cell
phone to prevent corrosion?
I would just use petroleum jelly like on my car battery terminals but
that would get smeared off in a few minutes being exposed and all.
Where can I buy such a coating?
At this rate I am going to run out of contact surface to coat.