Help me fix this old LCD connection

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Steve
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Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by Steve »

Hi guys,

I remember these sorts of connections from old hand held games I'd dismantle in the 80s when I was a kid. This is an old Toshiba display, I wanted to recap it (which I did) but it required seperating the gold PCB area from the rubber carbon connectors.

Now putting it back together they're not making a good connection anymore. I am cleaning the surfaces of both the rubber and gold contacts with IPA but it isn't helping.

Any suggestions? Is there a trick with these? I remember reading that they say not to clean the Amiga 1200 expansion connector with IPA but use a rubber instead? I don't know. Perhaps I need to wipe it with some kind of electrical contact enhancing solution or a contact cleaner?

Thanks,

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stephen_usher
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by stephen_usher »

Oh dear. Zebra connectors... :-(
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Steve
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by Steve »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:04 pm Oh dear. Zebra connectors... :-(
I watched a few videos on YouTube and they say to remove the zebra connectors (thanks for telling me what they're called!) Then cleaning both the glass contact, PCB and zebra connectors themselves with acetone. One person used ethanol. Do you think I should try acetone or ethanol?
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exxos
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by exxos »

Quick wipe with IPA wipes and put some contact grease on it. Though the carbon rubber strip does breakdown and perish over time anyway.
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Steve
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by Steve »

exxos wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:02 pm Quick wipe with IPA wipes and put some contact grease on it. Though the carbon rubber strip does breakdown and perish over time anyway.
Ok cool yeah I did see one video where they used contact grease. I got some from your store. I'll just smooth some on the zebra con and then wipe it down to take off excess.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by rubber_jonnie »

You could try a cotton bud dipped in Electrolube and wiped along all the contacts an Zebra strips.
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Tomswork
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by Tomswork »

@rubber_jonnie

After cleaning I have used double sided electrical conducive tape it only conducts in one direction and blocks side connectors

3M Electrically Conductive Adhesive Transfer Tapes


Ton
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Tomswork wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:29 pm @rubber_jonnie

After cleaning I have used double sided electrical conducive tape it only conducts in one direction and blocks side connectors

3M Electrically Conductive Adhesive Transfer Tapes


Ton
3M make some neat stuff :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by Steve »

Cheers for all the ideas... I think I'll try the grease method first. If no joy I'll try to get some of that 3M tape thx.
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exxos
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Re: Help me fix this old LCD connection

Post by exxos »

You should be able to get replacement rubber strips.. Just may take some finding to get one that fits and has a carbon pitch which matches ..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
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