Revive dodgy button on electronic device?

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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,363
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This thing does a pass through for AC current, so you can use it to turn electric/electronic devices on and off at designated times. I've had this for a number of years and my problem is that one of the buttons is dodgy as hell now. It has a button that does double duty. In Run mode, it turns the timer on/off.

This is a full featured beasty in that it supports exact times (to the minute), and up to 6 on/off cycles, and you can designate a particular day, every day or weekdays. Nice, but the darn On/Off button doesn't work most of the time unless you press it really hard and even then it usually doesn't work. When it works, it's apt to act as though it's being held down (even though it's spring-loaded and pops right back up).

I've taken to not even trying to press On/Off, but using workarounds when possible (e.g. when it's Off, I unplug my device from it and plug it into a live outlet). The On/Off button doubles as a select button when in programming mode, so programming the device is a bitch. Is there a way I can fix that button?
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
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Is it a rubbery button, like you'd find on a remote control, or does it click with each press?

If it's the rubbery kind, it's possible that the coating on the back is going bad, or else the contacts are getting dirty.
This stuff should do the trick then.

If it's a clicking switch, then it may just be wearing out, or the contacts are accumulating various nonconductive deposits due to arcing with each switching. How old is it?

 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,363
9,242
136
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Is it a rubbery button, like you'd find on a remote control, or does it click with each press?

If it's the rubbery kind, it's possible that the coating on the back is going bad, or else the contacts are getting dirty.
This stuff should do the trick then.

If it's a clicking switch, then it may just be wearing out, or the contacts are accumulating various nonconductive deposits due to arcing with each switching. How old is it?

It's not rubbery at all. The button is plastic, very small (top is about 1/8" x 3/16"), it clicks when depressed. The resistive force when pressing the buttons is substantial.

How old, hmmm.... Maybe 8, 10 years, maybe 12. Nowadays the buttons face sideways, but it may have spent a number of years with the buttons facing up, so dust, dirt etc. settled into them. I used to press that button to turn the juice on/off manually (as intended), but it got harder and harder to get any response, and I gave up around 2 years ago as I said.

I have some things I could try:

GC Electronics (10-1906) DE-OX-ID Contact Cleaner. Says on the aresol can (5 oz., with narrow straw for spot application):
- Won't harm plastics
- Long lasting protection

Contains Trichlorotriflouroethane
(the above in a warning concerning ozone depletion)

Elsewhere it says:

Contains:
Perchloroethylene
Kerosene
Mineral oils

Applications:

Switches
Contacts
PC boards
Potentiometers
Electronic components
Mechanical components
Tools
Machinery
Meters

I don't believe I've tried it on this timer device yet. I've had this can for many years, probably longer than the timer. I made notes on the can about the environmental concerns and also the fact that it's not available anymore, presumably because of those concerns. For both reasons, I've been spare in the use of it. Of course, 5 oz. of this stuff is apt to last a long time, considering how seldom I have need for it.


I have a few other things including various solutions of alcohol including close to 100%, acetone (that would be a last resort!), naphtha, paint thinner, probably some other stuff.

Arcing might be involved, but I'm certain that the button never sees the 120v AC. It acts like a relay in some fashion to change the settings in this digital timer. It could be dirt, seems to me. A solution that would float away that dirt might revive the switch. :confused:
 
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