Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: omega2018 on 20 November 2014, 18:36:47

Title: electric conducting lube?
Post by: omega2018 on 20 November 2014, 18:36:47

my tv remote keeps playing up, i strip it and clean the contacts with meths and it works fine again for a few days then some buttons start failing again.  is there some lube i can put on the contacts that will make them conduct better? i might try some light olive oil but am worried it may make it worse.  the contacts are rubbery carbon like material.  graphite grease perhaps?  musnt be sticky enough to hold the buttons down.

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: zirk on 20 November 2014, 19:29:55

Dont put oil in there, oil is an insulator.

Whip the remote apart and give the rubber key contacts a good scrub with fairly liquid and warm water and dry well, you can do the same to the PCB contacts as well as long as your confident to dry it properly afterwards (Hair Dryer)  ;)

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: Broomies Mate on 20 November 2014, 19:34:08

Isopropyl Alcohol would be your best best for cleaning the contacts.  Get it from the Chemist.

Failing that, nick some of her Nail Varnish Remover.

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: dbug on 21 November 2014, 01:09:58

Good quality electrical contact cleaner ;)

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: chrisgixer on 21 November 2014, 01:15:56

...and put the remote down when not in use. Keeps the condensation out of the unit, you channel hopper you. ;)

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: tidla on 21 November 2014, 21:56:11

Had to click on this one, just to check.

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: The Sheriff on 22 November 2014, 09:59:33

Quote from: tidla on 21 November 2014, 21:56:11

Had to click on this one, just to check.

Yes. :-\
Anyway, I'm the expert on lube, people know this. ;D

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: omega2018 on 19 December 2014, 18:04:42

thanks for the sensible replies.   it was the carbon contacts that were worn, contact cleaner/alcohol/meths didnt help much.  the answer turned out to be  graphite lube, used very sparingly on the contacts, dabbed on with a match stick. something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190772296791  (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190772296791)  probably a very soft pencil would work too.

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: omega2018 on 28 October 2015, 01:15:11

update on this a year on in case anyone finds it useful.  the graphite worked for nearly a year but has now failed. the problem seems to be that the original conducting paint wears off the rubber buttons where they contact the circuit board.  i happened to have some genuine gold leaf, gold being a good conductor.  i cleaned the rubber with meths and pressed on two layers of gold leaf.  sorted.  for now anyway.

it's for a windows media centre remote, not infra red but longer range thru wall radio transmitter, can't get them anymore hence me going to all this trouble. 

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: Bigron on 28 October 2015, 05:49:16

I've used Electrocure on a car heated rear window in the past as well as on circuit boards, but having just had a quick Google, I am disgusted at the price!........
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WINDOW-BROKEN-LINES-ELECTRO-CONNECTOR/dp/B00P8009O4
I confess that when I used it for personal purposes, the company I worked for "lent" me some!

Ron.

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: KSR on 28 October 2015, 08:49:18

just replace the switch?

Title: Re: electric conducting lube?
Post by: ronnyd on 28 October 2015, 19:58:42

Buy a new all makes remote and then key in the required code, should be in the manual that,s with the remote.