Help! Replacing button on PCB.

Thread Starter

Gralf

Joined Jan 12, 2021
4
Hello all!

New homeowner here, and our house has what I am told to be a pretty nice Gas Fireplace. Which would be great except that the up key on the remote control doesn’t really work.

I don’t really want to fork out the $100+ for a new remote (new homeowner and father!!) and I am pretty handy with projects (though my experience so fas has only been in plumbing and tiling... the COVID bathroom remodel turned out great!).

I do have some base knowledge from my experience as a nuclear power officer in the US Navy (though that was a few years back and mostly operational).

Anyways I believe the pictures button to be faulty and I would like to think it would be pretty simple to solder a knew one in. What I’m hoping for is advice on

a) removing the old button (like can I just pop it off or should i use some other technique)

b) what to order to replace the button (and where to order it)

c) any tips on soldering in the new button

d) any other tips or advice!

thanks for any help in advance!!
 

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SamR

Joined Mar 19, 2019
5,031
Looks like a pretty standard tactile switch. Need to measure the size and then check out DigiKey or even Amazon. It will have to be desoldered and new soldered back in place. I suspect it may not be the button...
 

Reloadron

Joined Jan 15, 2015
7,501
Yes, looks like a tactile push button switch and they are very common. You need to desolder what is on the board and solder a new one in place. Keep in mind orientation is important. Button switches like that have a single contact but you have two pins and two pins common to each other. While I was not in the US Navy the Navy Nuclear program was my career.

Ron
 

Mrchow

Joined Jan 12, 2021
14
Assuming that it's the button that has gone bad. It's quite an easy fix. First get the measurements and order the part (tactile switch) from Amazon, DigiKey ( https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/e-switch/TL3305AF260QG/5816184), or from your local hobby shop. Mke sure they are the surface mount type.

As for taking them off do desolder them, you don't want ripped pads.

For soldering just clean the pads, put some fresh solder on and solder the switch.

One advice that at times I have been guilty of not following. Apply the right heat for the shortest period of time.

Hope this helps!
Cheers
 

JohnInTX

Joined Jun 26, 2012
4,787
It looks like a standard 6mm tact switch like one of these:
https://www.mouser.com/E-Switch/Ele...0zlgaZ1z0z2tt&Keyword=6mm+tact+switch&FS=True
You can open the search up a bit to get the leads exact if you want. You might give E-Switch a little jingle and see if they'll send you a sample.
https://www.e-switch.com/product-catalog/tact

I'd recommend you clip the switch leads on the board then de-solder one by one.

You don't necessarily need the surface mount one. You can clip the tips of the leads off a through hole one and tack it on. The body size of the switch is the same.

Good luck and welcome to AAC!

I see Mrchow beat me to it. Well done.
 

sagor

Joined Mar 10, 2019
903
To determine if it is indeed the switch, place a short jumper wire across the terminals. If the logic works, the the switch is bad. If the logic does not respond, then the switch may be good and something else is broken...
 

Lo_volt

Joined Apr 3, 2014
316
To determine if it is indeed the switch, place a short jumper wire across the terminals. If the logic works, the the switch is bad. If the logic does not respond, then the switch may be good and something else is broken...
Or, with the battery removed, check the continuity across the switch.
 

Wolframore

Joined Jan 21, 2019
2,609
Check these traces out, it looks like some sort of damage, can’t tell from the pictures. D6 looks dimmer than the others, it may have some white corrosion that’s spilling over to the switch causing the voltage to be indeterminate when it’s active.

there was plenty of room for wider traces here. That’s what I would have done. No clue why the vias are so large.

EBBEFC06-9175-4561-9268-BC22C2E54182.jpeg
 

Thread Starter

Gralf

Joined Jan 12, 2021
4
Thanks so much everyone! I’ll try these out when I get a chance and let you all know how it goes!
 

Thread Starter

Gralf

Joined Jan 12, 2021
4
Cleaning those traces with q tips and rubbing alcohol did the trick. It still takes a couple tries of hitting the button sometimes to get the remote to work, but it is a lot better than it was. Thanks for the help!

Check these traces out, it looks like some sort of damage, can’t tell from the pictures. D6 looks dimmer than the others, it may have some white corrosion that’s spilling over to the switch causing the voltage to be indeterminate when it’s active.

there was plenty of room for wider traces here. That’s what I would have done. No clue why the vias are so large.

View attachment 227635
 

Wolframore

Joined Jan 21, 2019
2,609
Nice thanks for follow up, letting know, those 6mm tactile switches are cheap and easy to change out if you want like new.
 
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SamR

Joined Mar 19, 2019
5,031
A little careful soldering to repair those traces might just do the trick if you know how. Maybe a bit of electrical contact cleaner for the switch too. Never tried to clean a tactile switch and they are pretty tightly made... Glad it worked out!
 

Thread Starter

Gralf

Joined Jan 12, 2021
4
Thanks! I’ll let you know if I get around to it. Onto the next project (kitchen backsplash) for me!


A little careful soldering to repair those traces might just do the trick if you know how. Maybe a bit of electrical contact cleaner for the switch too. Never tried to clean a tactile switch and they are pretty tightly made... Glad it worked out!
 
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