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projects:challenger604:cabinlightswitch

This is an old revision of the document!


Challenger Light Switch

There is a switch panels in the “couch” and the push-button switch marked “Read” - which turns on a reading light, is no longer working.

Disassembled the switch panel. The panel consists of a circuit board and 7 little “modules” which push into it with pin/tube connectors.

The modules are:

  1. Headphone
  2. Audio Select
  3. Horizontal Slider
  4. Volume Up
  5. Volume Down
  6. Center Read
  7. Read

I repaired just the “Read” module. The “Volume Up” module's push button is not as “lively” as the others, but am not fixing it at this time because don't want to possibly break a working switch.

The switch panel has a short 10“ wire, then what looks like a RS232C Male connector.

There is a wide label stuck to the cable. It has this information on it:

AUDIO INTERNATIONAL
P/N:30802001
CUST P/N: SPS-2-4-4567
S/N: 060100840
WT: .400 LBS
REV: IR
DATE: 06/22/01

Etched into the gold metal on the switch panel is this information:

 127.1364
 B
 6-22-10
 

Repair Notes

When pushing the “Read” button - it would not click, despite repeated attempts. Disassembly consisted of taking out 6 screws holding the back to the gold front piece. Also took out 2 screws that hold on a strain relief. Was able to separate the circuit board by prying it gently away from the gold front piece. This caused all of the buttons to be completely free since they are all connected by pin/tube connections. Disassembly of the “Read” button was the removal of 4 brass screws. Discovered that the button had a thin piece of foam rubber wrapped around it. With age, this has become flaky and no longer firmly in position. Removed the foam rubber from the button. Tested out the button with no foam rubber. This caused a healthy click to be restored. However, the design of the button is such that the button can fall out of its assembly if inadequate friction is present. I purchased some rubber bands, and reassembled the button so that the rubber band was wrapped around the button. Fed excess of the rubber band out a hole, then wrapped it around the button assembly after placing it in the gold front piece.

Although I did not test this, it is assumed repaired because it did not click on receipt, but it does now.

To repair other buttons, it is possible to just lift it out of its gold front piece. If repairing with a rubber band, the gold front piece will need to be pulled out to get access.

Design concern

Mechanically, the push buttons are just pressed into their sockets. There is no mechanical stop. Also, depending on some thin foam rubber to hold the button in place seems less than ideal.

12/27/2018

The switch is a small mechanical push switch plus a small circuit board.

projects/challenger604/cabinlightswitch.1545980907.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/12/28 07:08 by dwheele