SSlmixed.com Forum
Tech discussion => General info - Tools,How to - => Topic started by: marcmozart on November 12, 2013, 06:14:50 PM
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If you're getting unpleasant audio when you're pressing a button on the Routing Matrix, here's what to do:
1. Take out cards (attached with one screw, one damned screw BTW!)
2. Bath the routing cards in Isopropylalcohol. Leave them in the bath for a couple hours at least, in between take them out to press the switch repeatedly.
3. Take them out to let them dry.
4. Put them back into your channel. Done.
Works perfectly. I have never heard a routing switch that clean. Perfect.
PS: Notice the dirt in the alcohol after the bath. No wonder the switches were messy! I'm cleaning the Isopropylalcohol with a coffee-filter and re-use it.
(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac155/mozartandfriends/SSLRoutingCardsCleaningIsopropylalcoholBath_zps21c349d3.jpg) (http://s895.photobucket.com/user/mozartandfriends/media/SSLRoutingCardsCleaningIsopropylalcoholBath_zps21c349d3.jpg.html)
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Brilliant,
well done!
last time we did it with ultrasonic bath which is expensive and does not get to the bottom of the problem!
keep us posted how it goes in the next few months as I think you might need some lubricant spray to keep the contact smooth.
Mattia.
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Yes, we'll see. I'm staying away from lubricant spray. It's a dirt magnet. Will keep you posted though!
Brilliant,
well done!
last time we did it with ultrasonic bath which is expensive and does not get to the bottom of the problem!
keep us posted how it goes in the next few months as I think you might need some lubricant spray to keep the contact smooth.
Mattia.
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Yes, we'll see. I'm staying away from lubricant spray. It's a dirt magnet. Will keep you posted though!
Brilliant,
well done!
last time we did it with ultrasonic bath which is expensive and does not get to the bottom of the problem!
keep us posted how it goes in the next few months as I think you might need some lubricant spray to keep the contact smooth.
Mattia.
there is only one brand that I would always suggest:
Caig industries incarnated in the formerly known Progold G5
Mattia.
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I've found that Caig's Deoxit FaderLube also cleans switches really well.
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the problem I have with Caig is that too much comes out at once.
I have been using Electrolube EML 200F for lubrication and am quite happy with it. It is a lubricant, and nothing else. Application can be done directly from the pressurized can as it comes out in a reasonable stream.
EML is also the recommended lube for the old neve boards. (OEM stock) You'll have to track it down if you want some, usually going to the distributor and buying a case.
see Geoff Tanners remarks
http://auroraaudio.net/ask-geoff/neve-2/tech-tips
Alan
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the problem I have with Caig is that too much comes out at once.
I have been using Electrolube EML 200F for lubrication and am quite happy with it. It is a lubricant, and nothing else. Application can be done directly from the pressurized can as it comes out in a reasonable stream.
EML is also the recommended lube for the old neve boards. (OEM stock) You'll have to track it down if you want some, usually going to the distributor and buying a case.
see Geoff Tanners remarks
http://auroraaudio.net/ask-geoff/neve-2/tech-tips
Alan
I think it might be this one?
http://uk.farnell.com/electrolube/eml200f/contact-cleaner-200ml-aerosol/dp/279481?Ntt=EML+200
Mattia.
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looks like it, not available in US thru Newark. The photo they use is not correct, but the one in the product data sheet is.
I have to order a case at a time thru the distributor.
Alan
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Hi
We are having some issues with the channel routing switches as well. Its the Alps blue type. Marcmozart are you're switches still working great?
We have a small cheap ultrasonic bath and was wondering if it would be even more effective and/or faster using isopropanol in the ultrasonic bath. And do you know if it is ok to cover the entire 4 switch pcb in isopropanol?
Thanks in advance!
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So far the cleaned switches keep working great. But it's only been a few months so we'll have to wait and see.
It is totally OK to cover the entire PCB in Isopropanol. No problems so far.
Hi
We are having some issues with the channel routing switches as well. Its the Alps blue type. Marcmozart are you're switches still working great?
We have a small cheap ultrasonic bath and was wondering if it would be even more effective and/or faster using isopropanol in the ultrasonic bath. And do you know if it is ok to cover the entire 4 switch pcb in isopropanol?
Thanks in advance!
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Ok. Thanks for the quick reply. Has anyone tried the combination of isopropanol in an ultrasonic bath?
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bath if too agressive will damage the latch and make the switch useless.
isoprop is good but wont last very long.
we have done quite a lot of experiments here at funky junk and we found that washing the switches with warm water (while upside down) and rinse them various times completely cleans the crap in there.
after that let dry for a couple of days, spray some EML in it and you are done.
Mattia.
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Great. Do you use Distilled water or normal tap water? Is this the eml product: http://www.electrolube.com/products/contact-lubricants/122/22/. Thanks a lot. This forum is a fantastic resource of hi q ssl knowledge!
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And how do you get the eml into the blue alps type switch?
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I see they have changed the packaging again and I can't tell them apart anymore! I'll have to go actually read the side of my cans. Used to be "its the blue one" now they seem to all be red, sheessh.
Alan
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And how do you get the eml into the blue alps type switch?
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distilled water!
I spray the lubricant from the top of the switch there is a small aperture where the actuator is and the spray goes in there.
yes the one on the link is correct.
Mattia.
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Hi. Finally came around to start this process. Just one question left: Isn't it fine to use de-minerilized water instead of distilled water?
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Meanwhile I tried distilled water - works great! It's less than 1 € for 2 litre at the drugstore...
Hi. Finally came around to start this process. Just one question left: Isn't it fine to use de-minerilized water instead of distilled water?
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Marc, how's your switches now?
As I'm recapping our console I decided to clean routing switches also. I use pretty similar method except my alcohol is (I Use stuff named Etax which is over 99% ethanol) in separate glass cap whics is in ultrasonic cleaner filled with water. After a wash I spill a bit of Deoxit Gold in to them.
-Paavo
edit: forgot to mention. xmax said in some other thread that blue/white (propably Alps) switches may gummed if Deoxit is used to them. I gave a try for few switches and none of them gummed. Yet.
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Hey Paavo,
so far, all is good - when doing more routing cards I want to try to apply Caig Deoxit after the cleaning. Also want to try to apply that to card edge connectors.
Marc, how's your switches now?
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deoxit is primarily formulated to breakdown the contaminants on the surface of the switch contacts.
what you want after cleaning is something to protect the contact surface from becoming oxidized or dirty again. In the caig product line I think its the D5, which ever they say is for long term protection (Blue?). These type of products are primarily a very fine oil with low volatility and hence low gumming properties. (gum is dried up old oil and gunk) I use the Electrolube EML for this purpose with good outcomes.
But the red deoxit is not what you want for long term protection.
Alan
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Yes exactly, clean and protect is the way..
Deoxit Gold is protector/conditioner as far I understund right.
Plenty of manufactures around like EML, CRC and they all have quality products. I just found Deoxit stuff from my local store.
-Paavo
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I think Caig has not helped the discussion by continually changing the product names. In my mind Deoxit was only for the products that broke down the oxidation. Now I see they have changed their product line naming again. They are all called Deoxit. Bad Caig, bad.
so the current product is called Deoxit Shield S series, used to be Preserve It, Blue.
Alan
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We did this on our 1994 4064g+ 6 months ago: Luke warm demineralized water and a lot of pushing the switches. Changed the water 4 times. Applied eml spray and clean up the boards with isopropanol on q tips. Did wonders! All still work great. This was the blue type Alps switches. Alcohol in the switches might weaken the latch. Just my 5 cents. 😀
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