My Dad who was a TV and Radio repairman way back in the 60s told me to make sure to keep moving the switch for a couple minutes after application on account of the microscopic granuals that form (which keep getting smaller and smaller as you grind them down) can come together and make super hard crystaline deposits if they're not thoroughly broken down. Seeing as you have direct access to the carbon points and are able to basically rinse them with the solution it's probably not an issue.
I am having the same issue on my Tek 2465b Sec/Div control. I think it is a rotary encoder though, not a rotary switch. Canned air and a little wiggling helps it along, but I need to get in there and perform a better fix. Thanks for sharing this technique.
Another option is the needle dropper bottle. That comes in S100 which is all cleaning product and no carrier solvent. After cleaning a application of DeoxIt Shield will prevent this from happening again in the future. That can also be purchased in 100% solution as well. That is handy in the nail polish applicator bottle. Mike
De-oxit is a great product. It's actually silver sulfide (Ag2S) on the switch contacts which is referred to as a semi-conductor and not the oxide form, but it gets generally referenced as oxidation. I use the foam swabs, not cotton or fiber based swabs like I think you did here. I also give the switch a good work out after I do this.
Alan speaks volumes of truth when he suggests that you do not "spray and pray" with the De-Oxit! I did so on my old (but immaculate) HP 1742 scope and some of the cleaner dribbled down into a heat sink assembly and onto a proprietary HP IC destroying one of the channels. De-Oxit is great stuff but not for indiscriminate use!
I was really careful when I cleaned my 2 old scopes and I only applied it to the switches. The controls I used a contact cleaner. I was worried about it dripping down inside on circuit boards.
Woah woah woah. WD-40 is #5 on the list... DeoxIT, PB-Blaster, Lectra-Motive, Novus, Then WD-40... The only really great thing about a spray can of scented Kerosene(Paraffin oil in The Queen's English.) is that it is a _spray can_ of RE-odorized Kero/Paraffin with a straw. The non-aerosol Quarts/Gallons are just novelties...
I Brazil we use a very good similar product which does the same great job. But my question to everybody is: do you worry and take actions to proper ventilate the surroundings while applying it? I am a bit crazy about the hazard symbols and notice in the can.
Nice vid. Thumbs up! Thanks Alan. What's your view on dielectric grease? Not on such rotary switches, but on multi-pin plugs in cars, for example. Deoxit is great for general cleaning and clearing up oxidation, but in a harsh environment it will return. Any down-sides to using dielectric grease on connectors?
Thanks for the info Alan. I have heard some people say that using DeoxIt around the phenolic wafers can cause them to absorb the solvent and begin conduct through odd paths. Have you ever had a problem with this?
Not a bad idea. It does have many uses. It is a very basic 10MHz oscilloscope, but does more radio-specific things like: transmitter signal monitor, trap display for amplifier linearity checking, RTTY tuning aide, 2-tone generator, optional IF spectrum monitor, etc.
The spectrum display is pretty primitive (as opposed to the wonderful displays today) but for it's time I used it for that and RTTY crossed bananas tuning as well...still in line here at the radio bench after all these years. 73 - Dino KL0S
This seems like it would work to restore the contacts on a Nintendo and cartridges. I might have to give it a try. I've been just re-plating the decks with silver solder.
Hello...I got my first can of Deoxit today....and what does the "P" stand for in the model number...my model number is D5S-6. no P..nice video as always
Do you have any experience with deoxit regarding leakage current / surface resistance? I tried to clean the switches on a Fluke bench DMM with a different product, and the meter never was the same again. No amount of washing resolved the leakage problems. Since then I have been wary to use anything other than polyphenyl ether contact lubricant, but the deoxit worked so well on the silver plated contacts I'm tempted to give it a shot.
I too would be wary of anything that leaves a residue. DeoxIT does leave a lubricant / contact conditioner behind, so I wouldn't use it on anything that requires extremely high resistance between terminals.
Alan, Nice short video on using DeoxIT. Good tip about using the lint free applicators. Did you clean any of the other switches while you had the case open? WB3BJU
I'm not sure what you have access to locally in Italy. Maybe you can find a local club that restores antique radios - they'll have good recommendations for you.
Alan, does deoxit dry completely or does it leave a small amount of lubricant? I have to clean some potentiometers and have heard that after cleaning pots, it would be good to add a minute amount of electrical lube so the carbon will not dry out and crack. May be an old tale some engineer told me when I was a lad just getting started in electronics. Thanks
DeoxIT leaves a small amount of conditioner / lubrication on the contacts. CIAG also makes a cleaner specifically for pots and faders. Here: store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f
***** Thank you for the quick reply and link. I have cleaned these pots before using contact cleaner from radio shack but the results weren't complete. I watched your video on the oscilloscopes, it answered a lot of questions I had about my Tektronic 475A. Thanks for putting those videos out, especially the one describing the RxTx ensemble from fivedash.com
What kind of lint free applicators do you use? I googled it and came up with some eyelash applicators but I'm not sure that's what you used. I have an old Swan 350C that I need to bring up running again and it's been sitting for about 20 years. I know the wafer switches will need cleaning.
Look for Foam Tip swabs, like items I, J and K on this catalog page: www.mouser.com/catalogviewer/default.aspx?page=2341&highlight=577-2306-50&catalogculture=en-US&catalog=648
Same problem on my Philips pm 3212 scope. Here in Italy Deoxit isnt avaiable and i cleaned the channel A rotary swiches with a rubber and contact cleaner. Unfortunately its still quite dodgy. It might be wear..
Hey Alan, whats your thought on the sprays that have like gold dust and thing like that in them to supposedly renew only warn out contacts? I was look at it when I was repairing my AM503 but I decided against it. Having lose conductive particulates kinda seems an not ok thing to have in your device.
I don't really have any experience with them. However, I worry a bit that the spray would put this conductive dust everywhere, not just where you want it to go... ...so I'd be a bit cautious.
i installed "bourns potentiometer" then i had a tech do an alignment me used that stuff on my brand new control pots i installed. it removed all the grease that they pack in the shafts to add drag and stiffen it and made them all loose i was so pissed off..
The main use in my shack is two-fold. 1) Monitor the RF envelope of my transmitter's output, and 2) provide basic spectrum monitor function on the IF of my rig during receive (to look for activity on the band). It has other capabilities that I don't use including trapazoid display for examining amplifiier linearity, provide 2-tone signals for tx testing, provide monitor function for tuning RTTY signals, etc.
I use a contact cleaner for volume controls but if that doesn't help I'll use Deoxit. I find this stuff works really well for switches. I used it to clean a scope that's over 30 yr. old and it works like new now.
Why leave the house to buy deoxit when you can walk into your laundry and use windex for free to clean volume pots and switches it really works i did it try for yourself no residue and it evaporates switch will apear to not work while wet but when it dries its fixed enjoy dont forget to turn knob when wet to loosen it up easy!;-)
The only problem I have had is with their spray cans that always spray full blast no matter what settings I try and I end up wasting a lot of it spraying all over the place. I haven't tried one with a trigger like that though.
![[ ออกกอง ] วัยหนุ่ม 2544 โลกหลังลูกกรง..ทัวร์กองถ่ายหนังใน "คุกของจริง" | JUSTดูIT.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vB--aOkZCpw/mqdefault.jpg)
My Dad who was a TV and Radio repairman way back in the 60s told me to make sure to keep moving the switch for a couple minutes after application on account of the microscopic granuals that form (which keep getting smaller and smaller as you grind them down) can come together and make super hard crystaline deposits if they're not thoroughly broken down. Seeing as you have direct access to the carbon points and are able to basically rinse them with the solution it's probably not an issue.
I am having the same issue on my Tek 2465b Sec/Div control. I think it is a rotary encoder though, not a rotary switch. Canned air and a little wiggling helps it along, but I need to get in there and perform a better fix. Thanks for sharing this technique.
Good performing product, has cleared up many an issue! Learned (of course, the hard way) NOT to use a Q-tip! Thank you for this video!
Very good Video,many people waste the Deox-it by just spraying!
73 Bob DW7NIB a US Marine Retired in the Philippines, I am good on QRZ
Thank you for the comments, and a big thank you for your Service!
It was my Honor to Serve.Semper Fi
Another option is the needle dropper bottle. That comes in S100 which is all cleaning product and no carrier solvent. After cleaning a application of DeoxIt Shield will prevent this from happening again in the future. That can also be purchased in 100% solution as well. That is handy in the nail polish applicator bottle.
Mike
Good tips, thank you!
De-oxit is a great product.
It's actually silver sulfide (Ag2S) on the switch contacts which is referred to as a semi-conductor and not the oxide form, but it gets generally referenced as oxidation. I use the foam swabs, not cotton or fiber based swabs like I think you did here. I also give the switch a good work out after I do this.
Wonderful video as always Alan. Now I want to find some old switches to clean because that looks very therapeutic. :)
Alan speaks volumes of truth when he suggests that you do not "spray and pray" with the De-Oxit! I did so on my old (but immaculate) HP 1742 scope and some of the cleaner dribbled down into a heat sink assembly and onto a proprietary HP IC destroying one of the channels.
De-Oxit is great stuff but not for indiscriminate use!
I was really careful when I cleaned my 2 old scopes and I only applied it to the switches. The controls I used a contact cleaner. I was worried about it dripping down inside on circuit boards.
Another nice tip Alan, thanks for sharing. DeoXIT is good stuff.
DeOxit, greatest thing since sliced bread!
...and WD-40!
In the UK it's Servisol. Deoxit costs about £20 if you can get hold of it.
Woah woah woah. WD-40 is #5 on the list... DeoxIT, PB-Blaster, Lectra-Motive, Novus, Then WD-40... The only really great thing about a spray can of scented Kerosene(Paraffin oil in The Queen's English.) is that it is a _spray can_ of RE-odorized Kero/Paraffin with a straw. The non-aerosol Quarts/Gallons are just novelties...
Very nicely produced video. Thanks
This is a great Product. I also use DeoxIT Gold
I Brazil we use a very good similar product which does the same great job.
But my question to everybody is: do you worry and take actions to proper ventilate the surroundings while applying it? I am a bit crazy about the hazard symbols and notice in the can.
Nice vid. Thumbs up! Thanks Alan.
What's your view on dielectric grease? Not on such rotary switches, but on multi-pin plugs in cars, for example. Deoxit is great for general cleaning and clearing up oxidation, but in a harsh environment it will return.
Any down-sides to using dielectric grease on connectors?
Thanks for the info Alan. I have heard some people say that using DeoxIt around the phenolic wafers can cause them to absorb the solvent and begin conduct through odd paths. Have you ever had a problem with this?
I've heard that too, but haven't experienced that problem. Then again, I usually apply sparingly...
Can you make review on this Kenwood? Looks like scope, but it can do something special.
Not a bad idea. It does have many uses. It is a very basic 10MHz oscilloscope, but does more radio-specific things like: transmitter signal monitor, trap display for amplifier linearity checking, RTTY tuning aide, 2-tone generator, optional IF spectrum monitor, etc.
The spectrum display is pretty primitive (as opposed to the wonderful displays today) but for it's time I used it for that and RTTY crossed bananas tuning as well...still in line here at the radio bench after all these years. 73 - Dino KL0S
This seems like it would work to restore the contacts on a Nintendo and cartridges. I might have to give it a try. I've been just re-plating the decks with silver solder.
Hello...I got my first can of Deoxit today....and what does the "P" stand for in the model number...my model number is D5S-6. no P..nice video as always
Not sure what the suffix stands for. Might just be a package code (size of can, etc.).
There’s a joke in there somewhere
Do you have any experience with deoxit regarding leakage current / surface resistance?
I tried to clean the switches on a Fluke bench DMM with a different product, and the meter never was the same again. No amount of washing resolved the leakage problems. Since then I have been wary to use anything other than polyphenyl ether contact lubricant, but the deoxit worked so well on the silver plated contacts I'm tempted to give it a shot.
I too would be wary of anything that leaves a residue. DeoxIT does leave a lubricant / contact conditioner behind, so I wouldn't use it on anything that requires extremely high resistance between terminals.
Never heard of DeoxIT, i think that in Europe we use Kontakt 60. Or it might be just me. Anyway it does the same job.
I see a cool HP calculator in the background. Which model is it?
It's a 15C
Alan,
Nice short video on using DeoxIT. Good tip about using the lint free applicators. Did you clean any of the other switches while you had the case open? WB3BJU
Yes, but didn't video any of that because there weren't any good before and after affects to show.
Since deoxit is almost unavailable in Italy, do you know if other kinds of contact cleaners work well enough?
I'm not sure what you have access to locally in Italy. Maybe you can find a local club that restores antique radios - they'll have good recommendations for you.
Alan, does deoxit dry completely or does it leave a small amount of lubricant?
I have to clean some potentiometers and have heard that after cleaning pots, it would be good to add a minute amount of electrical lube so the carbon will not dry out and crack.
May be an old tale some engineer told me when I was a lad just getting started in electronics.
Thanks
DeoxIT leaves a small amount of conditioner / lubrication on the contacts. CIAG also makes a cleaner specifically for pots and faders. Here:
store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f
***** Thank you for the quick reply and link. I have cleaned these pots before using contact cleaner from radio shack but the results weren't complete. I watched your video on the oscilloscopes, it answered a lot of questions I had about my Tektronic 475A. Thanks for putting those videos out, especially the one describing the RxTx ensemble from fivedash.com
excellent video! But i do have one question: What kind of cleaning stick do you use, OM?? thanks anyway!
I used the lint-free swabs such as these:
store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.206/.f
Thanks Alan. I've been using Electronic cleaners from Radio Shack. One of them has a lubricant. Is Dioxit better?
Not sure what Radio Shack's formulation is, so can't comment on that. The Caig products are an industry staple.
The one with lubricant has, Difluoroethane, white mineral oil, Poly Dimethyl Siloxane; and non-lubricated has, Isohexane, Difluoroethane, Ethanol.
What kind of lint free applicators do you use? I googled it and came up with some eyelash applicators but I'm not sure that's what you used.
I have an old Swan 350C that I need to bring up running again and it's been sitting for about 20 years. I know the wafer switches will need cleaning.
Look for Foam Tip swabs, like items I, J and K on this catalog page:
www.mouser.com/catalogviewer/default.aspx?page=2341&highlight=577-2306-50&catalogculture=en-US&catalog=648
Same problem on my Philips pm 3212 scope. Here in Italy Deoxit isnt avaiable and i cleaned the channel A rotary swiches with a rubber and contact cleaner. Unfortunately its still quite dodgy. It might be wear..
I used Deoxit on my scope that's 30+ yr old and it works like new now.
What else could I use?
Hey Alan,
whats your thought on the sprays that have like gold dust and thing like that in them to supposedly renew only warn out contacts? I was look at it when I was repairing my AM503 but I decided against it. Having lose conductive particulates kinda seems an not ok thing to have in your device.
I don't really have any experience with them. However, I worry a bit that the spray would put this conductive dust everywhere, not just where you want it to go... ...so I'd be a bit cautious.
I wounder how good they even work, as I imagine that the gold dust would be scraped off really fast.
i installed "bourns potentiometer" then i had a tech do an alignment me used that stuff on my brand new control pots i installed. it removed all the grease that they pack in the shafts to add drag and stiffen it and made them all loose i was so pissed off..
Sounds like you need to find a new tech.
w2aew o yeah that was a long time ago i dont go there
hi where do you buy Foam Tipped Applicators from ? is there a name to it I am in the UK thank you kind nice channel
The ones I used were from here:
store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.206/.f
thank you kind for this info vy 73 ilan
nice job
Alan, can you explain the use of that equipment? Thanks. CH!
The main use in my shack is two-fold. 1) Monitor the RF envelope of my transmitter's output, and 2) provide basic spectrum monitor function on the IF of my rig during receive (to look for activity on the band). It has other capabilities that I don't use including trapazoid display for examining amplifiier linearity, provide 2-tone signals for tx testing, provide monitor function for tuning RTTY signals, etc.
Thanks!.. Mmm, interesting for a nice future video.. 😎
Do you think this DeOxit cleaning solution will work on a "scratchy" audio volume potentiometer?
Yes no doubt.
They sell a special formula for volume/fader controls.
+w2aew Like this?
www.amazon.com/dp/B00006LVF1/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=26Y1O6GCL2690&coliid=I202Z58X84YUB
Yes, exactly.
I use a contact cleaner for volume controls but if that doesn't help I'll use Deoxit. I find this stuff works really well for switches. I used it to clean a scope that's over 30 yr. old and it works like new now.
Thanks alot for the tip !!
Why leave the house to buy deoxit when you can walk into your laundry and use windex for free to clean volume pots and switches it really works i did it try for yourself no residue and it evaporates switch will apear to not work while wet but when it dries its fixed enjoy dont forget to turn knob when wet to loosen it up easy!;-)
Anifa Bates did it work?
The only problem I have had is with their spray cans that always spray full blast no matter what settings I try and I end up wasting a lot of it spraying all over the place. I haven't tried one with a trigger like that though.
I have the same problem sometimes, which is why I often use an applicator.
use eraser stik 7099b an it will shine ,,what we used at gem city tuner
Thanks Alan. Better to go at it more carefully ! M0PWC
solder not sodder.