Hello!

I am not in the electronics repair trade, but have found myself with some electronics that need repair. I had decided to task myself with learning what I need to know, but have reached a bit of an impasse and was wondering if I could get some help.

It sounds silly, but I have a virtual pet from 1997 that turns on and functions fine, but I can't get two of the three buttons to work. I've disassembled and cleaned the contacts with alcohol and a q-tip, and coated the membranes with CaiKote 44. The only result is that the one button that never gave me issue now works like an absolute champ.

I looked up possible causes, and came back with MAYBE capacitor issues. I have both a cylinder and a ceramic capacitor, but neither look to be damaged or leaking. Traces all look fine to me.

I'll include pictures, hopefully someone with a more discerning eye can identify what I need to fix?

https://goo.gl/photos/mQkEGqUv9CQncPq86

It's literally just two buttons that are causing me issue, I'd love to know why.

Thanks,
Bailey

On Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 1:11:57 PM UTC-4, Bailey S. wrote:
Hello!

I am not in the electronics repair trade, but have found myself with some electronics that need repair. I had decided to task myself with learning what I need to know, but have reached a bit of an impasse and was wondering if I could get some help.

It sounds silly, but I have a virtual pet from 1997 that turns on and functions fine, but I can't get two of the three buttons to work. I've disassembled and cleaned the contacts with alcohol and a q-tip, and coated the membranes with CaiKote 44. The only result is that the one button that never gave me issue now works like an absolute champ.

I looked up possible causes, and came back with MAYBE capacitor issues. I have both a cylinder and a ceramic capacitor, but neither look to be damaged or leaking. Traces all look fine to me.

I'll include pictures, hopefully someone with a more discerning eye can identify what I need to fix?

https://goo.gl/photos/mQkEGqUv9CQncPq86

It's literally just two buttons that are causing me issue, I'd love to know why.

Thanks,
Bailey

The best cure for a Virtual Pet is a real one. There are millions in need, and far too few takers.

Yes, they eat, require attention, take up space and all those 'inconvenient things' that living creatures do, but are well worth it.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

On 15/5/17 5:33 am, wrote:
On Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 1:11:57 PM UTC-4, Bailey S. wrote:
Hello!

I am not in the electronics repair trade, but have found myself with some electronics that need repair. I had decided to task myself with learning what I need to know, but have reached a bit of an impasse and was wondering if I could get some help.

It sounds silly, but I have a virtual pet from 1997 that turns on and functions fine, but I can't get two of the three buttons to work. I've disassembled and cleaned the contacts with alcohol and a q-tip, and coated the membranes with CaiKote 44. The only result is that the one button that never gave me issue now works like an absolute champ.

I looked up possible causes, and came back with MAYBE capacitor issues. I have both a cylinder and a ceramic capacitor, but neither look to be damaged or leaking. Traces all look fine to me.

I'll include pictures, hopefully someone with a more discerning eye can identify what I need to fix?

https://goo.gl/photos/mQkEGqUv9CQncPq86

It's literally just two buttons that are causing me issue, I'd love to know why.

Thanks,
Bailey

The best cure for a Virtual Pet is a real one. There are millions in need, and far too few takers.

Yes, they eat, require attention, take up space and all those 'inconvenient things' that living creatures do, but are well worth it.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA


Plus no dodgy caps either although the occasional electrolyte emission
may occur.

On 5/14/2017 1:11 PM, Bailey S. wrote:
Hello!

I am not in the electronics repair trade, but have found myself with some electronics that need repair. I had decided to task myself with learning what I need to know, but have reached a bit of an impasse and was wondering if I could get some help.

It sounds silly, but I have a virtual pet from 1997 that turns on and functions fine, but I can't get two of the three buttons to work. I've disassembled and cleaned the contacts with alcohol and a q-tip, and coated the membranes with CaiKote 44. The only result is that the one button that never gave me issue now works like an absolute champ.

I looked up possible causes, and came back with MAYBE capacitor issues. I have both a cylinder and a ceramic capacitor, but neither look to be damaged or leaking. Traces all look fine to me.

I'll include pictures, hopefully someone with a more discerning eye can identify what I need to fix?

https://goo.gl/photos/mQkEGqUv9CQncPq86

It's literally just two buttons that are causing me issue, I'd love to know why.

The dumb blonde sitting next to me says to check the rubber switch
membrane to see if the carbon is worn off.

--

Rick C

Oh, well, I have two real pets as well, but they are fully functional.

I'm trying to fix the electronic one that is not.

On Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 10:35:48 PM UTC-4, rickman wrote:

The dumb blonde sitting next to me says to check the rubber switch
membrane to see if the carbon is worn off.

--

Rick C

Rubber switch membrane? The only membranes I've got are the buttons in the front and the reset in the back. I've coated them in CaiKote, which is supposed to help responsiveness, but hasn't helped this time. I guess I could try test a different set of button membranes? Couldn't hurt.

On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 3:29:34 AM UTC-4, Bailey S. wrote:
On Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 10:35:48 PM UTC-4, rickman wrote:

The dumb blonde sitting next to me says to check the rubber switch
membrane to see if the carbon is worn off.

--

Rick C

Rubber switch membrane? The only membranes I've got are the buttons in the front and the reset in the back. I've coated them in CaiKote, which is supposed to help responsiveness, but hasn't helped this time. I guess I could try test a different set of button membranes? Couldn't hurt.

I haven't used CaiKote, but I use a carbon paint concoction that a part vender mixed himself, and it works well if not spread on too thick.

Anyway, make a resistance check of the working rubber membrane and compare it to the ones that don't. Usually, with the probes a couple of mm apart, you should get a reading of at least 1K or less for reliable contact.

Also check the resistance of the painted-on circuit traces that often make up the circuit side of the "switch" to see if they're OK, again, comparing it the paths that work.

If everything checks out resistance wise, it's probably the chip (likely printed directly onto the PC and covered with a blob of expoxy).

On 5/15/2017 3:29 AM, Bailey S. wrote:
On Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 10:35:48 PM UTC-4, rickman wrote:

The dumb blonde sitting next to me says to check the rubber switch
membrane to see if the carbon is worn off.

--

Rick C

Rubber switch membrane? The only membranes I've got are the buttons in the front and the reset in the back. I've coated them in CaiKote, which is supposed to help responsiveness, but hasn't helped this time. I guess I could try test a different set of button membranes? Couldn't hurt.

Have you tried checking to see if the buttons work? It will be hard to
do, but you can measure the resistance across the buttons when you press
on them. Otherwise you would need to inspect the membranes.

BTW, how is "responsiveness" an electrical parameter? I don't even know
what that is supposed to mean. Can you explain?

--

Rick C