Electronic Timer Contact Cleaner Recommendation

[Todd Barlow]

Hello all, I have a GraLab 450 that has an issue with the selector switches not switching digits on the digital display.
I opened it up and blew out some loose debris from the switches, performance improved but still not 100%.
I am thinking of trying a contact cleaner but too many opinions and options on the web.

Looking for suggestions from Photrio about an appropriate contact cleaner (hopefully available in Canada) for the switch shown in the photo. (switch cover removed to show the actual contact mechanism)

Thanks in advance.
Todd

 

[Tel]

A lot of people (here and elsewhere) recommend Deoxit. I've used it on audio equipment and found that it works; it looks like your circuitry is similar.

 

[Joel_L]

+1 for Deoxit, I use the various flavors on many things.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

-1 for Deoxit, waste of money. If it gives you the warm and fuzzies, go for it. It will work as well as any other cleaner.

My advice is to get any contact cleaner on Amazon, it really doesn't matter which.

 

[4season]

Have used Deoxit in aerosol cans with good results, but I'd agree that other brands work about as well: GC Electronics's De-Ox-Id, for example, which can be had in liquid form.

 

[reddesert]

I've most recently used CRC QD electronic contact cleaner, because I can buy a can of it at local auto parts stores. There is probably something similar available in Canada. Make sure to get "contact cleaner" and not "parts cleaner" which is often a much stronger solvent that will attack plastics.

Typically (IMO) these contact cleaners are mostly light hydrocarbons, which evaporate quickly. If you look at the SDS sheets: for Deoxit, it is mineral spirits, difluoroethane, and some mystery trade secret. CRC QD is naphtha (US meaning of naphtha), difluoroethane, and various pentanes and hexanes. The contact cleaners of this type that I first used ~30 years ago had CFCs in them, but those have long been banned for good reasons.

 

[Todd Barlow]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I opted for the liquid Deoxit. I applied sparingly and then exercised the rotary switches in both directions.
It has fixed the issues of a flickering read out and wrong numbers showing on the LED display due to poor quality contact being made.

 

[chuckroast]

-1 for Deoxit, waste of money. If it gives you the warm and fuzzies, go for it. It will work as well as any other cleaner.

My advice is to get any contact cleaner on Amazon, it really doesn't matter which.

The problem with contact cleaner is twofold. First, it cleans but does not lubricate.

Second, some contact cleaners can be deadly for some insulation and plastics and has to be applied surgically.

Deoxit avoids both these problems.