= How to fix remote buttons for good =

[Username1]

Ok, so on one of our Insignia DTV remotes I have to clean the buttons almost
daily so I can use it for the day..... Our cordless needs cleaning 2X a year.
I take them apart clean both the rubber button under side, and the pc board
with alcohol, or window cleaner. Both get some crap off, the paper towel has
black dirt on it when I'm done. I found a few links online they say its silicone
oil leeching out of the pc board..... and the pictures look like it does on my
first cleaning, there is oily stuff on it.... But not any more, now it seems they
need a cleaning just to use for a while..... The sites online say to use acetone
but I have seen that stuff kinda eat away at some plastics, and not sure if I
should chance it.....

Our telephone also needs the cleaning, same method, alcohol, but the cleaning
lasts much linger. 2X a year.... Everything looks very similar......

Is it really silicone leeching ? Will acetone hurt it...? Any of you have experience
with this problem....? What do you guys use....?

Both items have been in daily use since about 2009.....

[Eric H]

I've never had a problem with my remotes at home, however I have seen keyless entry remotes for vehicles at work with an oily substance inside.

I always thought it was something leeching in from the outside, like skin oil or hand lotions.

[WISCOJIM]

No, no, no.

Don't ever take your remotes apart and remove the black layer between the rubber buttons and the circuit board.

That "black stuff" is not dirt, it is the graphite required to make electrical contact. Remove it all, and your remote won't ever work.

Try some of this: http://www.amazon.com/CaiKote-Kit-sw...pad+repair+kit

I've never had to redo the contacts a second time after using this product.

.

[Kamakiri]

That's very similar to GC Electronics Nickel Print, which I've used many times. Unfortunately, Nickel Print seems to flake off after a while.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I've never had a problem with my remotes at home, however I have seen keyless entry remotes for vehicles at work with an oily substance inside.

I always thought it was something leeching in from the outside, like skin oil or hand lotions.

I like my keyless entry the best!
All you do is, carry it in your pocket!
The car is eight model years old. The Japanese, really know how to cater to your decadence.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

No, no, no.

Don't ever take your remotes apart and remove the black layer between the rubber buttons and the circuit board.

That "black stuff" is not dirt, it is the graphite required to make electrical contact. Remove it all, and your remote won't ever work.

Try some of this: http://www.amazon.com/CaiKote-Kit-sw...pad+repair+kit

I've never had to redo the contacts a second time after using this product.

.

I honestly was thinking about using Slip-plate, applied with a cotton swab.
That is, on one that is beyond help.
If I do try to clean one, I use rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. I clean the PC board thoroughly, but just touch the coating on the buttons, with the tip of the swab.

[user181]

Here are some pages with good information and explanation:

http://www.michaelshell.org/gadgetsa...liconeoil.html

http://www.sandman.com/button.html

Here's a repair kit for button pads which have conductive ink painted on:

http://www.sandman.com/rubberb.html

[WISCOJIM]

That's all new to me. I have never seen that before.

.

[smokey]

OMG that works very well. I just picked some up and I use it on all my game controls and a lot more. This is the best stuff I've ever used. Thanks for the info. And I sure hope it works just as well for you as it did for me. Big smiles.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

No, no, no.

Don't ever take your remotes apart and remove the black layer between the rubber buttons and the circuit board.

That "black stuff" is not dirt, it is the graphite required to make electrical contact. Remove it all, and your remote won't ever work.

Thats good to know,thank you!

My VCR remote needs cleaning!!!!!!!!