How to clean button contacts of IR remote control?

B

Bill Bowden

Guest
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

-Bill




..


they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys. I tried to to learns codes sent from
other remotes. It's big heavy thing with a LCD display and clock and
four AA batteries. I have The keysI think it does macros, but I never
used it that way. The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.
 
On 5/8/2012 7:16 PM, Bill Bowden wrote:
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

-Bill




.


they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys. I tried to to learns codes sent from
other remotes. It's big heavy thing with a LCD display and clock and
four AA batteries. I have The keysI think it does macros, but I never
used it that way. The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.
After what you did it doesn't sound like it's a contact problem.
Click to expand...
It sounds like the membrane has lost elasticity or just fatigued at the
flex point.
 
On Tue, 8 May 2012 16:16:52 -0700 (PDT), Bill Bowden
<bperryb@bowdenshobbycircuits.info> wrote:

I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

-Bill




.


they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys. I tried to to learns codes sent from
other remotes. It's big heavy thing with a LCD display and clock and
four AA batteries. I have The keysI think it does macros, but I never
used it that way. The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.
Click to expand...


I've had moderate success with the dish detergent/tooth brush cure.

I've read where someone claims a light sanding with fine grit
sandpaper on the black buttons that contact the board will work. I
may try that if the detergent trick fails.
 
On 5/9/2012 1:16 AM, Bill Bowden wrote:
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

-Bill




.


they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys. I tried to to learns codes sent from
other remotes. It's big heavy thing with a LCD display and clock and
four AA batteries. I have The keysI think it does macros, but I never
used it that way. The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.
Click to expand...
You can glue aluminum foil on the buttons or make the buttons black with
a soft pencil.
I tested a number of different pencils for resistance and used the one
with the lowest resistance.
 
Ian Malcolm wrote:
tuinkabouter <dachthetniet@net.invalid> wrote in news:joem9g$n74$1@dont-
email.me:

On 5/9/2012 1:16 AM, Bill Bowden wrote:
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys.

The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.

You can glue aluminum foil on the buttons or make the buttons black
with
a soft pencil.
I tested a number of different pencils for resistance and used the one
with the lowest resistance.



Before you try *ANY* of the other suggestions, try removing the button
mat and wiping each offending button contact across a sheet of copier
paper so it leaves a mark. This exposes a fresh surface while removing
the absolute minimum amount of contact material and usually is effective.
It is far less destructive than other suggestions, and can be repeated i
the improvement is not sufficient or if the trouble recurrs.
Click to expand...
You can also get two-part conductive goop specifically for renewing the
button faces.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

160 North State Road #203
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510
845-480-2058

hobbs at electrooptical dot net
http://electrooptical.net
 
tuinkabouter <dachthetniet@net.invalid> wrote in news:joem9g$n74$1@dont-
email.me:

On 5/9/2012 1:16 AM, Bill Bowden wrote:
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys.

The problem with it, the Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.

You can glue aluminum foil on the buttons or make the buttons black
with
a soft pencil.
I tested a number of different pencils for resistance and used the one
with the lowest resistance.
Click to expand...
Before you try *ANY* of the other suggestions, try removing the button
mat and wiping each offending button contact across a sheet of copier
paper so it leaves a mark. This exposes a fresh surface while removing
the absolute minimum amount of contact material and usually is effective.
It is far less destructive than other suggestions, and can be repeated i
the improvement is not sufficient or if the trouble recurrs.

--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & >32K emails --> NUL
 
On May 12, 3:24 pm, Ian Malcolm <See.My.Sig.for.em...@totally.invalid>
wrote:
tuinkabouter <dachthetn...@net.invalid> wrote innews:joem9g$n74$1@dont-
email.me:





On 5/9/2012 1:16 AM, Bill Bowden wrote:
I have an IR remote that needs cleaning since the buttons require
excessive force to operate. I tried alcohol and a toothbrush on the
circuit board where the buttons make contact, but it didn't last long,
and I had to do it again. The second time, I soaked the rubber keypad
in soapy water for a couple days and cleaned it with a toothbrush and
also recleaned the board with alcohol. Seems OK at present but a
couple keys are still hard to press, and I'm sure I cleaned them. I'm
wondering if using some contact cleaner would help?

they need a lot of pressure to work. I tried opened it up and cleaned
the circuit board where the contacts are made with alcohol took thhave
to press very hard on the keys.
The problem with it, the  Anyyway, the keys were
dirty enter the sequences.

You can glue aluminum foil on the buttons or make the buttons black
with
a soft pencil.
I tested a number of different pencils for resistance and used the one
with the lowest resistance.


Before you try *ANY* of the other suggestions, try removing the
button
mat and wiping each offending button contact across a sheet of
copier
paper so it leaves a mark.  This exposes a fresh surface while
removing
the absolute minimum amount of contact material and usually is
effective.
It is far less destructive than other suggestions, and can be
repeated i
the improvement is not sufficient or if the trouble recurrs.

--
Ian Malcolm.   London, ENGLAND.  (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & >32K emails --> NUL
Click to expand...
Yes, that worked well. I wiped the bad contacts with copier paper
which left mild black streaks on the paper. The power button was the
worst and is working well now. Thanks for the tip.

-Bill
 
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