How to clean button contacts of IR remote control?

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.

Reply to
Bill Bowden
Loading thread data ...

After what you did it doesn't sound like it's a contact problem. It sounds like the membrane has lost elasticity or just fatigued at the flex point.

Reply to
Tom Biasi

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.

Reply to
default

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.

Reply to
tuinkabouter

tuinkabouter wrote in news:joem9g$n74$1@dont- email.me:

with

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 
 Click to see the full signature
Reply to
Ian Malcolm

You can also get two-part conductive goop specifically for renewing the button faces.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
 Click to see the full signature
Reply to
Phil Hobbs

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

Reply to
Bill Bowden

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.