RE: Intermittent function switch

I have two FT-100D's and the switches on the front panel are not carbon
buttons they are surface mount momentary switches and they do get dirty.
Cleaning them requires that the front panel be taken apart so you can get to
the individual switches.  Any decent contact cleaner should work, but the
best ones have a bit of lubricant in them.  After applying the cleaning
solution the switch(s) must be exercised to remove the contaminants from the
contact surfaces.  Also, any cleaner must be used sparingly so that it does
not get into the LCD display.  If after cleaning the switch is still
intermittent than it will have to be replaced.  If you do not have
experience with and the proper equipment for doing surface mount work the
task is best to someone that does.   One wrong move and the board will be
destroyed.

 

73,

 

Steve

 

 

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2019 11:30 AM
To: FT-100 Mailing List
Subject: RE: [FT100] Intermittent function switch

 

  

On Fri, 1 Mar 2019, 'Eric van de Weyer' [email protected] [FT100] wrote:

> Another way to fix the conductive rubber pads is a very light wipe over 
> with a very fine sandpaper or emery paper. This often works better than 
> solvents and lasts longer. I have used this method for many years with 
> 100% good results.

Hadn't thought of that... One more item to add to my next Bunnings visit, 
I guess (and to check out how their serve their onions and sausages; 
that's a local joke[*] for our non-VK members).

In one case, the conductive bit had actually detached itself from the 
underlying button (it's a 2nd-hand rig), so I'm experimenting with the 
buttons from an old remote control; either that, or I'll just glue a bit 
of al-foil onto it.

[*]
Bunnings is an Australia-wide hardware chain (with an interesting past, 
but that's irrelevant), and they usually have a "sausage sizzle" out the 
front. Well, traditionally the onions are served on top of the bangers 
(otherwise it's un-Australian), but some shiny-bum with nothing better to 
do decreed that henceforth the onions shall be served *under* the snags, 
because of a potential slip hazard should they fall off (whatever happened 
to taking personal responsibility for where you step?), and has since 
become a national joke. Over at www.horsfall.org/bunnings-sausage.jpg you 
will see a potential solution...

Sorry for the OT stuff...

-- Dave





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