From: jjhudak@gmail.com   
      
   On Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 2:20:10 PM UTC-4, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   > On 2022-09-20 06:03, Clifford Heath wrote:    
   > > On 20/9/22 05:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:    
   > >> On 2022-09-19 18:00, Bob F wrote:    
   > >>> On 9/19/2022 8:52 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:    
   > >>>> On 2022-09-18 16:44, Peter wrote:    
   > >>>>> On 9/17/2022 2:36 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:    
   > >>>>>    
   > >>>>>> > I have another device that the remote failed yesterday to get a    
   > >>>>>> response at some point. I could see a led blinking in the mode it    
   > >>>>>> does to tell the user that it is getting a command from the IR    
   > >>>>>> remote, yet it did not react. I had to power cycle the device -    
   > >>>>>> that button did work. My guess is that the device had hung.    
   > >>>>>>    
   > >>>>>    
   > >>>>> I had a similar problem recently with a Roku remote.  The batteries    
   > >>>>> were good but some corrosion had developed at the end of the spring    
   > >>>>> that made contact with the (-) end of one of the batteries.    
   > >>>>> Cleaned it off with a stiff pencil eraser and problem solved.    
   > >>>>    
   > >>>> That's what I thought the first time, battery leakage. I cleaned the    
   > >>>> thing very carefully, assembled it, new batteries, and soon again it    
   > >>>> had liquid inside the buttons. Actual tiny drops of some liquid. No    
   > >>>> corrosion. I repeated the process. Nothing worked. Ah, the batteries    
   > >>>> were dry all the time, and anyway, I changed to rechargeables.    
   > >>>>    
   > >>>> Something in that remote picks humidity from air.    
   > >>>>    
   > >>>    
   > >>> Is there a rubbery or even plastic material there that could be    
   > >>> breaking down? Some can release gooey liquid.    
   > >>    
   > >> Nope. None that I could see.    
   > >    
   > > The buttons are usually molded into a silicone sheet. The silicoen    
   > > starts to de-polymerise and that's where the liquid comes from - it's    
   > > silicone oil. You can clean it off with alcohol, but that just gives you    
   > > enough time to look for a new remote control.   
   > Well, that started to happen when the remote was not old, and several    
   > years later I'm still using that machine. It is my only device that    
   > developed that problem. I have (had, I threw them away this summer) TVs    
   > older than that.    
   >    
   > No one sells that ancient remote control AFAIK.    
   >    
   > --    
   > Cheers, Carlos.   
      
   Yes, some mfg remote have better longevity than the others.  Taking apart the   
   remote control and cleaning the button sheet and the circuit board with   
   alcohol (rubbing@70% or 90%) will remove the oils.  The remote should then   
   operate normally.  Don't    
   scrub the circuit board - gently wipe it with a antistatic wipe dipped in   
   alcohol. If really in a pinch, a cotton swab/ball will work.   
   Get used to doing this - I have several remotes that require this cleaning   
   process every 1-3 years, depending on the remote.     
   At some point in the life of the remote, the conductive coating on the silicon   
   pad keys will erode away and that key function will no longer work. The   
   contact material can be reapplied but since making a contact is a mechanical   
   function, the  material    
   will erode again.     
   Good luck   
   J   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)