I am pleased to advise I did this same repair on a Panasonic remote by using a strip of double-sided tape and aluminium foil. Peel open one side of the tape and stick on some kitchen Al foil. Use a previously emptied ordinary stationery hole-punch to cut out a small circle. Peel off the other side of the tape from the circle and stick it to the remote key moulding. This has been working fine since 25/12/23.

@user-rf9me7xm1w

4 ай бұрын

Great tip, thanks.

@colinwilkinson6576

4 ай бұрын

It's good to know I'm not the only person to come up with that idea. My first attempt at fixing remote buttons was by using alfoil and super glue, but the glue never seemed to bond properly.

@flamencoprof

4 ай бұрын

@@colinwilkinson6576 My guess would be that superglue sets very hard and rigid, whereas the button is soft and stretchy, so the flexing would constantly strain the attachment between the two. (My GUESS! 😀)

@colinwilkinson6576

4 ай бұрын

@flamencoprof My problem happened before the actual use stage - possibly because neither material was porous enough to allow adhesion. What you just said makes sense, so even if I did get it to stick, it would most likely fail not long after...

@daledickey8400

4 ай бұрын

Standard white glue will work just fine, extremely small amount applied with a toothpick.

It's nice to know these are made and sold. Non-professionally Ive cleaned the pad, and scrubbed it with a number 2 pencil lead. Technically, is graphite, so it works great. I've not gone back on any of them to redo it. They still work a few years later. Thanks for the video and knowledge!

Michael, good to know there are such items available to repair those remotes that stop wotking. Great video!

@gregalss

4 ай бұрын

wotking 🤣😂😂😂😂

I'll buy some of those in, they're on eBay too. Previously I've used the film from some of the very thin "bubble button" type scrap remote controls for this purpose.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

They seem to be made of the same material vestel use to earth the LCD screen which are available in strips .

Brilliant little conductive pads! Saves messing around with conductive paint. Thanks for the information. I too noticed your home-made IR tester, I made a similar one about 15 years ago, it looks almost identical, even down to the black plastic box! I put a BNC connector on mine, so that I could 'scope the output.

Very useful to know these are available. BTW, if you need to check the output of a remote, just aim it at a mobile phone camera, it responds to the wavelength emitted by the led.

@sw6188

4 ай бұрын

This only works with some phones now. Many have infra-red filtering on the cameras and won't show the light output from a remote control.

@pizzablender

4 ай бұрын

@@sw6188For me it works, and it is easy to check on your phone with a working remote. But they will (of course) not work with an RF remote.

@Subgunman

4 ай бұрын

The selfie camera on most phones is far more sensitive to IR emissions from remotes.

Believe it or not but those silicone pads used in remotes are actually semi permeable and after 10 years or so your skin oils will penetrate down to the conductive pad and render it useless. I have tried 98% isopropanol and have removed traces of oils and dust from the conductive face but the issue would return within a month. I then tried cleaning the problematic contact with acetone which goes deeper into the silicone to lift out the oils. As for these adhesive conductive pads I would think that as time passed the adhesive costing would give way to the oils leaching through the keypad. I have never had an issue with the conductive epoxy paints available from companies like Digital Key, Newark Electronics or Farnell's. Expensive but they work.

Great video as always Michael, thanks for taking the time.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

No problem , many thanks for watching .

This is great, I could fix music keyboards with this. Thanks for sharing this.

Nice and easy, thanks Michael.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks JJ hope you are keeping well.

Great video mate thank you for sharing this :)

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks for watching .

That's actually really cool and practical michael and i really like that remote control tester top notch 👍

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks for that .

Thanks for showing us this michael, another very interesting video as always, keep up the good work, all the best kim

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks for watching ,.

Yes that’s a good idea, I never had much luck with the conductive paint approach. It worked but went off in the bottle before you got to use much of it.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I tried conductive paint many years ago but it went on to thick and takes ages to dry.

Excellent! Hopefully this may fix my Dr 5 drum machine. Much more important than a tv remote. Cheers!

wow , I'm also thinking you made the remote control tester yourself

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I did but its a long time ago now in the mid to late 1980 s

Sadly most remote pads seem to leak their degrading goo out of the rubber itself causing the adhesive to give up. Have tried to glue pads with various types of adhesive with no joy. Have mostly used the tinfoil/hole punch method so far with some success on ultra rare remotes, but one remote is really being a pain in the bum. Might need to come up with something more exotic. Thanks for the video though.

@andrewlittleboy8532

4 ай бұрын

I occasionally have to wash my Sony remote as the pcb is covered in a silicone type goo!

ali foil sticky tape works well too

@flamencoprof

4 ай бұрын

Yes, see my later comment!

0:37 in Lebanon, there is a universal remote control for the A/C, and it works fine

I have the same Panasonic remote in the video . The most used buttons seem to exude an oil that acts as an insulator on the conductive pads. I think the oil is absorbed by the slilcone from the fingers. I periodically dismantle the unit , dip the silicone button molding in fuelite to degrease it and wipe the PCB pas with alcohol. After this treatment the unit works perfectly. The remote has never had anything spilt on it and is kept very clean. I'm an electronics technician (45 years as one) The "carbon on the button" on my unit is a 2mm thick conductive silicone pad surrounded by natural unpigmented silicone. Your one is different , being all black.

You can also buy it as tape. Just use hole punch pliers (the ones with the revolving part to choose the size) to get the size you need.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Yes I realise this now, it's exatcley the same tape used in Vestel TV sets to connect the earth band on the LCD screen to the chassis, I must find where this tape comes from as the ones from Vestel cost about 40p for just over an inch and they never stick properly when removed.

@Ni5ei

4 ай бұрын

​@@michaeldranfield7140 I got it from Ali. If you search for conductive tape you'll find it. Only a few Euros for 20 meters.

Gonna try this on my car key fob. Still intermittent after cleaning.

Thank you for sharing this interesting and educational video with us. Please may I ask what do you use to "clean" the buttons as the first attempt fix when they are not working before adding the sticky pad?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I use IPA , Isopropyl alcohol.

excellent.

I have already been doing that. I use kitchen foil which is aluminum. I then apply a bit of neoprene cement which is a flexible shoe glue and stick this on the pad. I get to cut the aluminum by using a hole punch for paper. Same result, works like a charm.

@flamencoprof

4 ай бұрын

Same, but with double-sided tape. It's only been 2 months so far but seems OK.

You can also buy 'conductive paint' in little bottles to repair remote control buttons that no longer work.

I've used self adhesive copper foil punched out with a hole punch - works a treat. Have you got a link for your tweezer set ? Very impressive.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Have a look at Farnell electronic components , search SMD tweezers, I bought these individually and put them in a storage case, they didn't come as a kit.

@fraserhardmetal7143

4 ай бұрын

@@michaeldranfield7140 thanks F

I have been using conductive paint that is sold for adding shielding inside electric guitars, it lasts well and you don't have to risk buying from China.

Thank you Mike for this. I stuck tinfoil onto the buttons with superglue but as always with superglue after a year the pieces fell off.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

super glue was invented to stick rubber, its very poor on any other materials.

@irishguy200007

4 ай бұрын

I don't believe that, I think it was invented to stick the users fingers together.

@Omega_Mark

4 ай бұрын

Use a more flexible glue. Try something like B-6000 or B-7000 (also used to seal phone screens or even fix your shoes). The glue becomes soft again when you apply heat to it.

@irishguy200007

4 ай бұрын

That's very true, Anything But stuper glue.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

if you cast your mind back to when superglue was invented , it was only ever made to bond rubber items,its pretty useless for anything but rubber .@@irishguy200007

Simple and effective

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Yes , no waiting for paint to dry.

What about adding graphite dust from a pencil onto the power button which has some adhesive placed on it prior to this?

@vkp111

4 ай бұрын

I think it will leave marks on the pcb and make it always conductive.

Excellent, what I've always done is just buy a roll of aluminum tape, use a hole punch for paper and punch some circles out from the alu tape and stick them on, does the exact same thing and probably a lot cheaper as the roll can last a life time.

Ive done a similar thing where ive transplanted the conductive pad part from an unwanted remote button to mend remotes.. im such a cheapskate😂

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I did just that a few months ago on a sony remote power button but the new button was a little bit shorter so harder to press.

Michael, can I ask, where did you get your tweezer pack from? Been doing my nut trying to find a decent kit!

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

They didn't come in a kit , I bought them all separately and put them in the plastic box , go to Farnell electronic components and search SMD tweezers

Could you give a link where you got your tweezer set?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Have a look at Farnell electronic components, type in SMD Tweezers, these didn't come in a kit , I bought them all individually and put them in a plastic storage case.

Why don't they put different size pad on the same sheet.

@opapagaio15

4 ай бұрын

So you have to buy more than one sheet, silly!! 🤣

How or why, do the adhesive button repair dots work?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

There made out of an electrically conductive cloth like material .

I usually use pencil graphite shavings.

Thanks Michael good tip, I’ve used an HB pencil to get the carbon pad back thanks I’m going to buy some 😊

Why is your remote control tester so damn big? Mine is on a 4x4 grid prototype board, so damn small I can't even remember where I put it, but I know it still works.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

only case I had at the time, I made this in the 80 s .

Great video, have you any information on the remote control tester you were using.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Have a look at world radio history television magazine may 1999 , I think it is and you will see my mains operated design .

question is, do they stick ok to the silicone rubber button mat?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

It did seem to stick ok but I guess time will tell, seems to be made of the same material that vestel use to provide a static earth connection to the LCD screen .

@andygozzo72

4 ай бұрын

@@michaeldranfield7140 its usually difficult to get anything to stick to silicone! there used to be a special repair kit with some sort of primer and conductive paint, but i dont know if still made .

Brilliant idea. The problem with my remote is it keeps using batteries every three weeks.

@NewbFixer

4 ай бұрын

if it uses wifi like the now tv remotes etc.. it will eat batteries as its constantly connected to the wifi. If its a standard IR remote it could be a stuck button constantly using power.

@opapagaio15

4 ай бұрын

I had this problem once with a hard-to-get remote, my solution was to put a 'push to make' clicky switch in series with the battery - it meant you needed two fingers to operate the remote but it was that or nothing.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

This is usually caused by the energy storage electrolytic going open circuit.

@NewbFixer

4 ай бұрын

Over my head but i think your saying bad capacitor? im here to learn :) @@michaeldranfield7140

How did you make the remote control tester?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Have a look on world radio history, Television magazine May 1999 , I think it was and you will my mains operated design .

@truthreigns7

4 ай бұрын

@@michaeldranfield7140 okay, thank you

You can buy carbon or silver paint just paint the dot leave to dry job done.

@ThePrawlin

4 ай бұрын

Yes but the paint doesn’t adhere properly to the silicon rubber keypads. A few months at most and the conductive paint falls off.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

and it goes on too thick and takes ages to dry.@@ThePrawlin

Maybe we could all join in and donate some money for Mr. Michael to purchase a tripod.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I have one , should use it more often !

@truthreigns7

4 ай бұрын

@@michaeldranfield7140 i understand. I do enjoy your videos and all your explanations

I have been repairing remote controls for ages, just using aluminium foil pieces, cut out of the aluminium foil that's part of the Cadbury "Fruit 'n Nut" chocolate bars....... works a wonder...

@Zardox-The-Heretic-Slayer

4 ай бұрын

that's a great excuse to have loads of chocolate "it's just so I can fix remotes with it"

I repaired mine using aluminum foil and glue. Anything conductive will work.

I wonder if a soft pencil wouldn't work either?

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I guess it would work but with only a thin layer it may not last.

Link? to purchase

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

just type in remote control repair on Aliexpress.

an easy fix it the devils came in half easly not screwed together.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Funny you should say that, there are loads of different case opening tools also on Aliexpress.

the Chinese have come up with something that's actually useful. Yes it makes a change 🙂

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

useful and not faked , fakes been the things the Chinese are really good at .

There's also a paint 'Keypad fix' that supposed to have been tested to 2 million keystrokes, yea right 🙂

@capriracer351

4 ай бұрын

I used that on my garage remote control. Use the remote at least 4 times per day to open, then close the garage door. Has held up for 3+ years.

Jst looked. $1.76 on aliexpress - remote control button repair...

Probably after a while the adhesive dries up, patch falls off and makes constant contact.

@NewbFixer

4 ай бұрын

says you with absolutely no videos on your channel and likely no experience fixing anything. And its Solder not sodder. MURICA! 😛

@sodderbridge

4 ай бұрын

@@NewbFixer I have been in electronics repair business since late '80s.

@NewbFixer

4 ай бұрын

I feel ive been a little harsh there buddy sorry. There is value in these little stickers and the knowledge of knowing they exist and how they work. Hopefully they will last until the end of the devices life which these days is probably a few years. take it easy and keep fixing :) @@sodderbridge

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

only time will tell but I have seen this material used as static earth in vestel TV s and its never dried up in those .

Chinese have also come up with a useful thing called a cheap camera tripod. Give it a try. You’ll be equally amazed with the results.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

I do have one, must use it more often .

So the Chinese actually came up with something that is actually useful! 😂😂

@sw6188

4 ай бұрын

The question now is how long these will last.

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

@@sw6188 Only time will tell .

Aren't tv's free now? 0:32

Moist

😀 birilliant!

@michaeldranfield7140

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks ,