Czesc Jozefie,

U mnie wszystko OK. Dzieki :-)

So where the problem was ? According to my neighbour the plastic
keypad which is inside is very sensitive to corrosion (he
manyfactures electronics for agiculture machines and uses this kind
of products). The paths are made from silver. Accourding to him it is
a rather common problem esspecialy that I bought my mount second hand
and I belive it is 2002.

It may be the case that after some time you may have the same problem
as mine. My keypad has been successfuly repaired with no cost from my
side. As you said - Home repair is better than recycling. I wanted to
take some pictures of my neighbour work but he said that this was our
know how and we should keep it secret. :-)))

Anyway I remember the case with my FLI filter wheel USB interface.
Unfortunately I used 12V power supply form SBIG STV (different
polarization) and the chip responsible for controlling the stepper
motor exploded - quite a loud noise (one simple diode used in the
design would sort out the issue I think). The response for FLI
customer support was that it could not be repaired and I can get a
new one for US$199. Fortunately thanks to "home repair" (exchange of
a standard chip) it could come back to life and the cost for me was
US$2 (two dollars). :-)))

Trzymaj sie Jozefie.

Best regards,
Dominik



--- In ap-gto@..., "Joseph Zeglinski" <J.Zeglinski@...>
wrote:

Czesc Dominik,
Jak sie masz?

Just as a side note on most "elastomer keypads" (like those on

your TV

remote) in general.
I don't know if this is the same type as inside the AP keypad,

though.

I have found that the rubber membrane on a "typical electronics

product

keypad" leaches out some kind of oil as the years go by, probably

more if the

push buttons are used very often, like "TV channel surfing". I

suspect this is

the embedded "rubber mould, release agent", that remains behind in

the rubber

during manufacture, and slowly comes to the surface. Surprisingly,

the oil

film on the PCB, seemed about 1/16 inch thick! Quite a puddle, not

just a

film. There is no way that the carbon bump under the rubber button

could make

electrical contact with the etched copper pattern under it, through

that much

oil. I have now repaired my old Jerrold TV remote keypad about 3

times, and a

few others for relatives, simply by taking the case apart, and

washing both

the rubber sheet and the matching contacts on the circuit board. I

just poured

the Palmolive soap on the PCB, dunked the circuit board in the

sink, and

gently scrubbed off the oil in the mild sudsy dish washing soap

(NOT dish

washer detergent). On one unit, I tried, (unsuccessfully), just

spraying the

PCB with Windex, Isopropyl alcohol, or similar degreaser, but this

scum

requires a bit of rubbing with a good soap to make the contacts

work longer.

The keypad worked fine for another couple of years, or more, before

my

favourite button (channel skip) leaked out more oil, and another

washing.

By the way, the oil wasn't from kitchen cooking grease in the

air, since

the TV remote pad was always in the living room, and certainly hand

oils can't

leak through a full, solid rubber, sheet of buttons - so there

seems to be no

external source of this thick oil cover, other than the rubber

membrane

material itself.

Mind you, such home remedies may be frowned upon by the

manufacturer -

especially dunking the PCB in water - but since I was going to

toss it away,

I took a chance and continue using my original controller for many

years. The

water didn't affect the electronics after drying (isopropyl spray

like

eyeglass cleaner, might be a good final cleanup of any possibly

remaining

soap).
Home repair is better than recycling.

By the way - the AP Hand Pad has a 3 year warranty, so don't

try the above

home remedy, until it has expired, and you aren't sending it in for
professional repair.

I'm curious, Dominik, when you took the AP keypad apart, how

clean was the

PCB surface, and how old is your unit? I can't imagine why there

was a "trace"

needing repair, or how it might have been damaged. That is a

quality concern.

I wonder if the PCB can't take a lot of push button flexing, in the

cold.

Thanks,
Joe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dominik Wos" <dominik@...>
To: <ap-gto@...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 12:28 PM
Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Keypad problem ?

Hi,

Just to let you know my problem has been resolved with some help

of

my neighbour who deals with electronics.

The problem was the plastic dial keypad which is inside AP keypad.
After reparing one of its paths now the whole keypad work just

fine

(at least it should for some time).

All the best from Poland,
Dominik
--- In ap-gto@..., "Marj" <marj@> wrote:

Dear Dominik,

I have e-mailed you privately re: your keypad problem, but I have

not heard from you yet. Please check your e-mail. Thank you.

Marj Christen
Astro-Physics, Inc
11250 Forest Hills Road
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Phone: 815-282-1513
Fax: 815-282-9847
www.astro-physics.com
Please include this e-mail with your response.

-----Original Message-----
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]On

Behalf Of Dominik Wos

Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:20 PM
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Keypad problem ?



Thanks for your response. The only problem is my location -

Poland,

Europe so it is not so easy for me to send the keypad to the US.

It

works and only the first row of left side keys do not work (I

press

it but there is no reaction) and as I use the mount in my

observatory

I can live without this first row. I have looked into the keypad

to

see how it works and it is rather simply built but I have no idea
what inside the keypad is not working properly.

Anyway thanks for your advice,
Dominik

--- In ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com>

com, "Marj" <marj@> wrote:

Dear Dominick,

I have never heard of this problem before. Please try it again

and

if the situation remains, give us a call to obtain a return
authorization #.

Marj Christen
Astro-Physics, Inc
11250 Forest Hills Road
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Phone: 815-282-1513
Fax: 815-282-9847
www.astro-physics.com
Please include this e-mail with your response.

-----Original Message-----
From: ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com> com

[mailto: ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com>

com]On

Behalf Of Dominik Wos

Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 4:54 AM
To: ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com> com
Subject: [ap-gto] Keypad problem ?



Hi to the Group !

I have a problem with my 1200GTO keypad. After unusing the

mount

for

one week I switched it on and from this time the three left

keys

do

not

work (1, 6 and Goto). All other keys are ok and the mount is

fully

operational with using RS232 conection but without having

access

to "1"

key I can not use goto without my laptop. Strange ? Has anyone

had

the

same problem ?

Best regards,
Dominik







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