On Wed 28-May-1997  1:28a, Rich Willbanks@1:379/301.1 wrote:
RW> Ok, how can I clean the buttons/contact on my scanner,
RW> and TV/VCR remote ?  I have a AR1000 and the SEARCH
RW> and SCAN buttons are to the point I have to push them a
RW> dozen times to get them to work.
This is a message that was caught in a time warp...  Shesh, just today showed 
up on my system.
Anyway, after you posted this,a few days later (the 5th of June) Richard 
Mekka posted a message and the subject was "AR1000"...
In that message, he talks about his AR1000's keyboard problem, which may 
actually require parts to fix.
But, since you asked, I will tell you how to do it on MOST scanner's 
keypads...
You disassemble the unit in whatever manner required.  There may be screws 
holding the case together, or it may be press fit, or hidden latches may hold 
it, or in some cases, it may be glued (in the case of cheap remotes) and will 
require you to saw it with a dremel or similar tool at the seam, all the way 
around, and is usually not worth the effort unless you can't get a universal 
remote for it.
Once you get it apart you will find that the keypad is usually one of the 
following:
The keys are combined with the conductive pad (1 piece)
The keys are seperate and press against a multi-contact conductive pad.
The keys are seperate and there is a conductive material on the bottom of 
each key.
Which ever of those it is, more than likely you can clean it by taking the 
part with the conductive material and washing it with plain tap water.
DO NOT SCRUB, and only use a small amount of a mild detergent if you do have 
to remove something sticky (like coke).  Again, DO NOT SCRUB.
When you are sure it is clean, you can then dry it well.  If it is the 
conductive pad type, you can lay it on a clean, soft lint-free towel and fold 
the towel over to cover it and dab at it... Do not rub it.
When it is completely dry, take rubbing alcohol and clean the conductive 
material itself, and don't rub this stuff.  Just wipe some across it and 
don't try to dry it, it will dry quickly enough on it's own.  The idea here 
is to remove any oil left behind by your hands.
Now you need to clean the contact points, which will probably look like 
little mazes...  The traces are usually coated with a conductive material, so 
they will probably be black.  You don't want to spend very much time on them 
at all, hopefully you can use a lint free, soft cloth (or those chamois 
tipped sticks for use on video heads), coated with alcohol, and wipe across 
each contact point, each time inspecting your cloth for residue.  If you see 
nothing at all, you probably can (and should) move to the next contact.
If you see something, wipe at it again, but do so lightly.  If you see MORE 
of whatever it was on the cloth, you are removing the conductive coating and 
no more is needed on that pad (you have probably done enough damage to that 
one).
Anyway, if you do remove too much of the conductive material from either the 
pcb traces or the mating parts, don't worry, more than likely you can fix it!
Chemtronics makes several different conductive coatings, and several 
different applicators.  I have successfully used their Micro Tip Silver 
Conductive pen to repair recoat the contact points many times.
You should not have anything at all to worry about as long as you don't use 
anything abrasive to clean it with, and don't apply any pressure or friction.
There was a time when repairing remote controls would make a person some 
money. When I worked for a repair service at one time, we had other repair 
shops bring those remotes to us to fix.  They thought we had some secret 
technique because every one they brought, we fixed.  They were 50-100 each 
back then.
Now you can buy a BETTER remote to replace most popular ones for 10-25 
dollars, and have it control several components at one time.
Oh yes, one other thing...  If you have Pepsi Syndrome (spilled coke or 
epsi)
and the buttons will press, but don't releases, or they double up, you will 
have to clean the sides of all the buttons where they poke through the case.
Usually you are not going to hurt them by scrubbing them, but you have to be 
aware of what you are touching on the other side...  Make sure you are not 
rubbing those darned contact pads!  You will need to clean the holes in the 
case too, and for that you might be best off using a damp household sponge, 
and maybe a little windex if water alone does not cut it, but I would do it 
from inside the case, especially if the face plate is painted, or there are 
numbers/letters stenciled on the case.
DR. John M. Hoyt / AKA Warren Peace  -  C-Link! International Coordinator
                                     -  Fido Net 391 NC/EC
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