rejuvinating aged chicklet pad??

**gordon_s1942** · 22-11-09, 11:30 AM

I have a Pro 37 Realistic/Tandy scanner I bought new many moons ago and considering the tender loving care its received (HAH!!), it still works but unfortunately the key pad is almost unusable now.
I did disassemble it once to clean the pads, an exercise I dont care to repeat, so I am hoping there may be an alternative to restore the pad.
I wont buy a new one as there isnt much here to warrant the cost.
After about 10 minutes of very gentle pressing I have managed to enter the RFB frequency for my area so it seems the underlying board works, so what can I do to revive the pads?

To save disassembling the whole unit, I could very carefully cut out the area holding the pad in place to work on it if that idea is any good.
I am not bothered by the cosmetics of it or the time it might take if I can keep it working, mostly now as a desk unit.

**SystemRat** · 22-11-09, 01:01 PM

I am not sure if you have a circuit board with a grid of contacts and a silicon rubber keypad with a conductive black pad under each button. If that's the case and you have tried cleaning both the grid and black pad then perhaps try a tiny amount of conductive paint on the face of the black pad which contacts the grid. Too much paint and it will flake off and cause trouble.

**BlackDuck** · 22-11-09, 01:07 PM

Some good advice was given here, might help.

**tristen** · 22-11-09, 01:45 PM

I have repaired many such scanners and have usually replaced the faulty keypad assembly.

However, if replacement is not possible due to non-availability or excessive cost, adopt the procedure suggested by SystemRat - try a tiny amount of conductive paint on the face of the black pad.

Removal and disassembly of the keypad is really not that difficult.

**gordon_s1942** · 22-11-09, 11:36 PM

conductive paint??
Sorry but you have lost me on that one. who sells it and where??

**mtv** · 23-11-09, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

conductive paint??
Sorry but you have lost me on that one. who sells it and where??

It's a carbon-based paint that is flexible & electrically conductive.

I've repaired numerous remotes in the past with it.

WES used to sell it, but I can't seem to locate it atm.

Here's another supplier.

DSE & Jaycar have silver conductive paint, primarily designed to repair PCB tracks & window demister tracks, etc, so it may or may not work.

**gordon_s1942** · 23-11-09, 10:20 AM

I was working out what would be the most sensible volume to buy based on what I might use then when I realised that the scanner alone has 25 pads.
Multiply that by God knows how many remotes etc, I could use a bucket full.

**tristen** · 23-11-09, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

I was working out what would be the most sensible volume to buy based on what I might use then when I realised that the scanner alone has 25 pads.
Multiply that by God knows how many remotes etc, I could use a bucket full.

You don't need to buy very much because you use only a "dab" on each surface which is about 6mm diameter from memory. Actually, if you "dab" it on you will apply too much. A quick, light wipe is all that is required.

"A Little bit of conductive paint goes a long, long way"!

**Fernbay** · 24-11-09, 08:11 AM

Or you could also try the silicone & al-foil that I advised.
You probably already have it there at home. It is very effective.

Before proceeding, tear off a small square of al-foil & touch it to the contacts. You should see the button register, confirming that the conductive backing on the rubber membrane has failed.

**gordon_s1942** · 25-11-09, 10:31 AM

Fernbay, I am sorry but I cant see where you suggested that neat trick before but as a simple test, it sounds good.

**Fernbay** · 25-11-09, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

Fernbay, I am sorry but I cant see where you suggested that neat trick before but as a simple test, it sounds good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fernbay

Best to use silicone to glue on some aliminium foil

22-11-09, 11:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
gordon_s1942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,295 Gameroom cash: $6792 Thanks: 151 Thanked 124 Times in 80 Posts Rep Power: 32	rejuvinating aged chicklet pad?? I have a Pro 37 Realistic/Tandy scanner I bought new many moons ago and considering the tender loving care its received (HAH!!), it still works but unfortunately the key pad is almost unusable now. I did disassemble it once to clean the pads, an exercise I dont care to repeat, so I am hoping there may be an alternative to restore the pad. I wont buy a new one as there isnt much here to warrant the cost. After about 10 minutes of very gentle pressing I have managed to enter the RFB frequency for my area so it seems the underlying board works, so what can I do to revive the pads? To save disassembling the whole unit, I could very carefully cut out the area holding the pad in place to work on it if that idea is any good. I am not bothered by the cosmetics of it or the time it might take if I can keep it working, mostly now as a desk unit.

22-11-09, 01:07 PM	#3
BlackDuck Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Where I live Posts: 1,524 Gameroom cash: $48481 Thanks: 440 Thanked 280 Times in 185 Posts Rep Power: 40	Some good advice was given here, might help. __________________ The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, or preventing all possibility of its continuing as a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities. Theodore Roosevelt At any given time, roughly 50 per cent of the Australian electorate are morons.

24-11-09, 08:11 AM	#9
Fernbay Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newcastle Posts: 2,684 Gameroom cash: $1125601 Thanks: 581 Thanked 940 Times in 365 Posts Rep Power: 25	Or you could also try the silicone & al-foil that I advised. You probably already have it there at home. It is very effective. Before proceeding, tear off a small square of al-foil & touch it to the contacts. You should see the button register, confirming that the conductive backing on the rubber membrane has failed. __________________ 大卫@ 湾电视澳洲 P.M. me for the Selectv Card Only Austech member deal. $39 inc post with 1 month FREE! Or $29 for Premium Members for a short time only. FS:- DM518s - $120 , DM500 2A PSU - $15, DM800HD - $360 (limited stock) PM for details

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22-11-09, 01:01 PM	#2
SystemRat I am NOT the Messiah! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,510 Gameroom cash: $55004 Thanks: 110 Thanked 237 Times in 119 Posts Rep Power: 40	I am not sure if you have a circuit board with a grid of contacts and a silicon rubber keypad with a conductive black pad under each button. If that's the case and you have tried cleaning both the grid and black pad then perhaps try a tiny amount of conductive paint on the face of the black pad which contacts the grid. Too much paint and it will flake off and cause trouble.

22-11-09, 01:45 PM	#4
tristen Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 583 Gameroom cash: $3087 Thanks: 123 Thanked 424 Times in 119 Posts Rep Power: 27	I have repaired many such scanners and have usually replaced the faulty keypad assembly. However, if replacement is not possible due to non-availability or excessive cost, adopt the procedure suggested by SystemRat - try a tiny amount of conductive paint on the face of the black pad. Removal and disassembly of the keypad is really not that difficult.

22-11-09, 11:36 PM	#5
gordon_s1942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,295 Gameroom cash: $6792 Thanks: 151 Thanked 124 Times in 80 Posts Rep Power: 32	conductive paint?? Sorry but you have lost me on that one. who sells it and where??

23-11-09, 10:20 AM	#7
gordon_s1942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,295 Gameroom cash: $6792 Thanks: 151 Thanked 124 Times in 80 Posts Rep Power: 32	I was working out what would be the most sensible volume to buy based on what I might use then when I realised that the scanner alone has 25 pads. Multiply that by God knows how many remotes etc, I could use a bucket full.

25-11-09, 10:31 AM	#10
gordon_s1942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,295 Gameroom cash: $6792 Thanks: 151 Thanked 124 Times in 80 Posts Rep Power: 32	Fernbay, I am sorry but I cant see where you suggested that neat trick before but as a simple test, it sounds good.