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[omega2018]

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.

[zirk]

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) 

[Broomies Mate]

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.

[dbug]

Good quality electrical contact cleaner

[chrisgixer]

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

[tidla]

Had to click on this one, just to check.

[The Sheriff]

Had to click on this one, just to check.

Yes.
Anyway, I'm the expert on lube, people know this.

[omega2018]

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   probably a very soft pencil would work too.

[omega2018]

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. 

[Bigron]

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.

[KSR]

just replace the switch?

[ronnyd]

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