Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
I'm not trying to be funny.
Find a pillow. Then slam the remote against it with as force as you can muster, preferably from multiple directions. This might knock loose the sensor. |
#2
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
Hi,
I've got a programmable remote that has a switch inside that is used to detect motion (i.e., to see when you have picked the remote *up*). It uses this signal to "turn itself on". Note that it is NOT a (typical) mercury switch. I.e., I can leave the remote in *any* orientation and just "tap" it to get it to turn itself on (it then turns off after a short timeout to conserve batteries). I suspect this is just a ball rolling across a set of contacts so that any motion causes a *made* contact to *break* or a *broken* contact to *make*. But, the damn thing seems to stick from time to time. Of course, if it sticks "off" that's no problem -- just wack the thing until it decides that you have "moved it" : But, if it sticks *on* (i.e., if it keeps signalling "motion" to the electronics inside), then the batteries get depleted in short order (less than a day!) The switch itself is encased in a metallic jacket. Two terminals (axially). I'd say it is about 1/8x1/8x1/2" (a rectangular prism). Any ideas how to replace this (i.e., replacement part)? Or, how to *fix* it? Unit appears to be sealed so contact cleaner isn't a solution... : |
#3
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
William Sommerwerck wrote:
I'm not trying to be funny. Find a pillow. Then slam the remote against it with as force as you can muster, preferably from multiple directions. This might knock loose the sensor. I don't think it is "permanently stuck". I've tried your solution -- *without* the pillow! -- each time it has refused to shut off. So far, it has worked each time. But, it is very inconvenient -- put the remote down and forget to check it 15 seconds later (to verify it has powered down) and you end up with dead batteries! |
#4
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
I've tried your solution -- *without* the pillow! -- each
time it has refused to shut off. So far, it has worked each time. But, it is very inconvenient -- put the remote down and forget to check it 15 seconds later (to verify it has powered down) and you end up with dead batteries! What brand/model is it? Most remotes -- at least, those with a high-drain display -- shut themselves off after a user-selected timeout. |
#5
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
William Sommerwerck wrote:
I've tried your solution -- *without* the pillow! -- each time it has refused to shut off. So far, it has worked each time. But, it is very inconvenient -- put the remote down and forget to check it 15 seconds later (to verify it has powered down) and you end up with dead batteries! What brand/model is it? Most remotes -- at least, those with a high-drain display -- shut themselves off after a user-selected timeout. Something from Radio Shack (I'll have to get a magnifying glass to read the damn microscopic part number molded in the plastic). Yes, this shuts down in about 10-15 seconds. WHEN IT WORKS! (I suspect there may be a way to adjust it -- I know I can adjust the brightnes of the lamp -- but regardless of the timie limit, it still suffers from not wanting to *reliably* turn itself off). I've learned not to give it an *excuse* to stay on. I.e., don't leave it on the sofa as each time you shift your position the thing *wants* to turn on. But, even leaving it on the floor (concrete slab) you have to watch it to make *sure* it turns off. frown I may just remove the damn switch and rely on "pressing a noncritical button" to wake the thing up (though you can't see where the buttons are with the light off!!) |
#6
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
You might want to look at the X-10 universal remote. I got it about two
months ago for $50 and free shipping, though it's not currently available at that price. (Quite a products -- it also controls X-10 modules.) It shuts itself off reliably. |
#7
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
D Yuniskis wrote:
Hi, I've got a programmable remote that has a switch inside that is used to detect motion (i.e., to see when you have picked the remote *up*). It uses this signal to "turn itself on". Note that it is NOT a (typical) mercury switch. I.e., I can leave the remote in *any* orientation and just "tap" it to get it to turn itself on (it then turns off after a short timeout to conserve batteries). I suspect this is just a ball rolling across a set of contacts so that any motion causes a *made* contact to *break* or a *broken* contact to *make*. But, the damn thing seems to stick from time to time. Of course, if it sticks "off" that's no problem -- just wack the thing until it decides that you have "moved it" : But, if it sticks *on* (i.e., if it keeps signalling "motion" to the electronics inside), then the batteries get depleted in short order (less than a day!) The switch itself is encased in a metallic jacket. Two terminals (axially). I'd say it is about 1/8x1/8x1/2" (a rectangular prism). Any ideas how to replace this (i.e., replacement part)? Or, how to *fix* it? Unit appears to be sealed so contact cleaner isn't a solution... : Is it possible to make a little hole in it to get some silicone or contact cleaner in there. |
#8
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
D Yuniskis wrote in message
... Hi, I've got a programmable remote that has a switch inside that is used to detect motion (i.e., to see when you have picked the remote *up*). It uses this signal to "turn itself on". Note that it is NOT a (typical) mercury switch. I.e., I can leave the remote in *any* orientation and just "tap" it to get it to turn itself on (it then turns off after a short timeout to conserve batteries). I suspect this is just a ball rolling across a set of contacts so that any motion causes a *made* contact to *break* or a *broken* contact to *make*. But, the damn thing seems to stick from time to time. Of course, if it sticks "off" that's no problem -- just wack the thing until it decides that you have "moved it" : But, if it sticks *on* (i.e., if it keeps signalling "motion" to the electronics inside), then the batteries get depleted in short order (less than a day!) The switch itself is encased in a metallic jacket. Two terminals (axially). I'd say it is about 1/8x1/8x1/2" (a rectangular prism). Any ideas how to replace this (i.e., replacement part)? Or, how to *fix* it? Unit appears to be sealed so contact cleaner isn't a solution... : usually called a trembler , see automobile alarm systems |
#9
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
usually called a trembler...
Wasn't that a Vincent Price movie? |
#10
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
William Sommerwerck wrote in message
... usually called a trembler... Wasn't that a Vincent Price movie? Wasn't it the Tingler? The essence of fear taking on the form of a lobster / section of spine, as it is that creature that gives the tingling. Complete with one on a string, run over the heads of the audience in the cinema |
#11
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
usually called a trembler...
Wasn't that a Vincent Price movie? Wasn't it "The Tingler"? Yes. I was being a wise-ass. The essence of fear taking on the form of a lobster / section of spine, as it is that creature that gives the tingling. Complete with one on a string, run over the heads of the audience in the cinema. That was actually a skeleton, in "House on Haunted Hill", dubbed "Emergo". Thought a William Castle production, the movie is quite so bad as you might think. (It's generally considered Herr Schloss's masterpiece.) It's also the first movie with a reference to LSD. Rent "Matinee" if you can find it. It's a spoof of Castle and his ilk. The movie itself is a bit slack and lacks focus, but is worth seeing for John Goodman's performance as Castle -- and even more for his latest film, "Mant!", a perfect send-up of '50s sci-fi/horror flicks. (It even has William Schallert as a libidinous dentist, plus cameos from other veterans of that era.) |
#12
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:35:43 -0800 "William Sommerwerck"
wrote in Message id: : That was actually a skeleton, in "House on Haunted Hill", dubbed "Emergo". Thought a William Castle production, the movie is quite so bad as you might think. (It's generally considered Herr Schloss's masterpiece.) It's also the first movie with a reference to LSD. I LOVE that movie! That was the first movie to give me a real scare when I was a kid - When that old ladies ghost came floating through the wall in the basement I practically ****ed myself. |
#13
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
mark wrote:
D Yuniskis wrote: I suspect this is just a ball rolling across a set of contacts so that any motion causes a *made* contact to *break* or a *broken* contact to *make*. But, the damn thing seems to stick from time to time. Of course, if it sticks "off" that's no problem -- just wack the thing until it decides that you have "moved it" : But, if it sticks *on* (i.e., if it keeps signalling "motion" to the electronics inside), then the batteries get depleted in short order (less than a day!) The switch itself is encased in a metallic jacket. Two terminals (axially). I'd say it is about 1/8x1/8x1/2" (a rectangular prism). Any ideas how to replace this (i.e., replacement part)? Or, how to *fix* it? Unit appears to be sealed so contact cleaner isn't a solution... : Is it possible to make a little hole in it to get some silicone or contact cleaner in there. I suspect doing so will run a good risk of breaking the thing. Perhaps a small "dremel" drill would be delicate enough. But, I am not sure that even cleaning solution would work. E.g., it's *sealed* so contaminants shouldn't have been a problem. It could just be the "ball" (if that is what's inside) has worn the "lands" on which it rides such that there isn't a reliable contact anymore. Low voltage contacts are notorious for this sort of problem (and I seriously doubt the assembly uses any precious metals to alleviate this!) |
#14
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:46:36 -0700, D Yuniskis
put finger to keyboard and composed: I've got a programmable remote that has a switch inside that is used to detect motion (i.e., to see when you have picked the remote *up*). It uses this signal to "turn itself on". Note that it is NOT a (typical) mercury switch. I.e., I can leave the remote in *any* orientation and just "tap" it to get it to turn itself on (it then turns off after a short timeout to conserve batteries). Could it be a piezo shock sensor? Is it mounted at 45 degrees on the PCB? - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
#15
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
"shake" switch?
Franc Zabkar wrote:
On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:46:36 -0700, D Yuniskis put finger to keyboard and composed: I've got a programmable remote that has a switch inside that is used to detect motion (i.e., to see when you have picked the remote *up*). It uses this signal to "turn itself on". Note that it is NOT a (typical) mercury switch. I.e., I can leave the remote in *any* orientation and just "tap" it to get it to turn itself on (it then turns off after a short timeout to conserve batteries). Could it be a piezo shock sensor? Doubtful. I *really* suspect it is just a metal ball with lots of opportunities to make and break a circuit (and these *differences* are what the processor uses to determine if the device is "being moved") Is it mounted at 45 degrees on the PCB? No. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
For women who desire the traditional 12-marker dials, the "Faceto,""Juro" and "Rilati" all add a little more functionality, without sacrificingthe diamonds. | Woodworking |