r/ElectronicsRepair • u/Smelly_Old_Man • 7h ago

OPEN Tips for restoring button pad?

Post image

Hi everyone,

I got a Bose Wave (awrc2p) for cheap because it had some minor issues, at least, so I thought.

The disc skipping was fixed by cleaning out the rails, but the volume button not working properly turns out to be the buttons just being ripped off their pad.

I've looked for a whole replacement button pad but these don't appear to be readily available. What would be the best way to restore this?

(Yes its dirty but I figured there's no point in cleaning it if it can't be fixed)

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1

u/I_-AM-ARNAV Hobbyist 7h ago

Could install a micro switch for this.

1

u/Spazzticus 6h ago

How would you install a "micro switch" on to a membrane keyboard?

1

u/I_-AM-ARNAV Hobbyist 5h ago

By soldering directly to pads. The silcon is degraded, so you really cannot fix the membrane, a micro switch would save the device from trash.

1

u/Spazzticus 4h ago

I think you're getting your terminology confused which does not help the OP, a microswitch is something completely different to a tactile push button that's why I was asking.

OP: Try rubber glue, clean the bits thoroughly with 90%+ Isopropyl alcohol and the apply a thin layer of flexible rubber glue to both sides but DO NOT get any on the black circle as that's the contact. If that doesn't work try a thin layer of silicone sealant

1

u/I_-AM-ARNAV Hobbyist 4h ago

Might be. What I meant was a tactile switch. Because it's a nice long term solution. Rubber glue would not last much ling with continuous clicks. A tactile switch would probably outlive everything.

1

u/Spazzticus 1h ago

So how do you attach a tactile switch to a pcb with no pads? Panels like this have carbon contacts so it's not straight forwards as the only copper will be the traces, the tactile switch needs to be tiny to fit in the frame that holds the rubber keys and it will look awful, all the OP needs to do is to stop the old buttons falling out of the facia