Repairing remote controls

Hamster

Hamster

Hamster

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I've got a couple of Logitech 785 universal remotes. For a while now, the more heavily used buttons need a very hard press for them to work.

I've taken my remotes apart before, cleaned with switch cleaner and used a pencil on the surface of the rubber contacts. It worked for a while on some buttons but not all.

I've read that there are liquids which you can buy to put on the contacts. Has anyone tried these and if so, did it work and which liquid did you buy?
 
If its a membrane type switch then the rubber pads need to be electrically conductive and that's why graphite works a little. I would assume that through repeated pressing the metallic coating on the rubber membrane has worn off on the copper contacts and just needs replacing.

Bit of a hack but you might be able to stick some aluminium foil to the rubber pad with super glue or something. You might also like to give the actual contacts a buff with something to remove dirt from the copper traces that form the switch. I'd probably just use a flat screwdriver to scrape at them a bit.
 
Thanks Tealc :)
It is the rubber membrane type of pad. I read about the foil trick but don't really want to use something as permanent as superglue. Also I did give the PCB and contacts a good clean using cotton buds and switch cleaner which alone didn't make much of a difference. It's after that that I used a pencil.

A large electronics retailer sells electrically conductive silver paint at £10 for a vial. Sounds expensive but the remotes were over £100 when I bought them so I may pick some up and give it a go.
 
Will just achieve the same basic thing as the foil idea but will be neater. However you have to be sure it's the pad that is the problem and not the switch surface. Not sure what switch cleaner is really.
 
I have some silver conductive paint here. If you want I can let you borrow it (as long as I get it back). Tiny vial, you need so very little. You will need your own paintbrush however. I used it for a similar thing, was actually a dymo hand held label maker worked a treat!
 
The conductive paint will work, I used it to repair my parents Sky remote last week. Also sticking foil on with glue will work too, I have also used this method in the past.

I used to be a TV engineer.
 
Thanks for the replies and really appreciate the offer PhillyDee :)

I've looked into this a bit more. Looks like there are a lot of differing methods which seem to work well. I don't know how true it is but some people are saying that the paint isn't flexible and will crack or come off within a couple of months of heavy use so I'm going to order some self adhesive copper foil from ebay (£1.15 delivered) and give that a try. I'll use a hole punch to make little round discs and hopefully the adhesive alone will be strong enough to stick to the pads. If that doesn't work I'll get some silver paint.
 
Last edited:
PhillyDee said:
You know where I am! :)
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Thanks :)

I was about to smash the remotes against a wall today not having the copper tape yet so I opened them up, cleaned with switch cleaner and gave the pads a good going over with a 4B pencil. They're working like new now but who knows for how long?!!
 
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