X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: chris_in_nj on July 04, 2014, 12:15:32 PM
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Hello to all X10 users,
I could not find these anywhere on the net. I tried Google, eBay, etc.
I have a few of these palmpad remotes, and over the years, the battery contacts broke in half. They are U-shaped to allow the "AAA" cells to fit snugly in the battery compartment. But, as they are dropped several hundred times through the course of time, the battery contacts get stressed by the repeatedly deflecting them so that batteries make good connection to the contacts.
I would hate to replace the whole remote, if all I need to do is to replace these contacts.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Any and all help and direction would be greatly appreciated.
Happy 4th of July.
Chris.
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X10 never sold spare parts for their devices. That is probably why you can't find them.
I checked some of the FCC Database filed for the HR12A and the other models based on the same basic device. None had a parts list in the files.
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Hi Brian,
Thanks for moving my thread to more appropriate section of the forum.
I didn't know where to park my thread, so I decided to put it in "General" section. I just joined. LOL :D
Thank you for replying to my thread.
I was afraid, I was not going to get anywhere with this problem.
I have about 5 of these, and they all have battery contact issues.
I hate to trash them and go buy another set, as it's a total waste of money.
But, I love my X10 system, so I'll have to fabricate new ones from soft steel.
Thanks again.
I'll save this forum in my favs. I'll look around it, as it has other informative stuff.
Catch you later.
Chris.
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Welcome to the forums.
I am glad my information was of use to you.
You may also find helpful information in the X10 Wiki. http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Main_Page
Along with.
http://tuicemen.com/forum/
http://jvde.us/forum/
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But, I love my X10 system, so I'll have to fabricate new ones from soft steel.
Chris.
Or paper clips(?).
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That little metal band between the two sections of a cheap ballpoint pen given to you by a small time politician at the county fair.
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But, I love my X10 system, so I'll have to fabricate new ones from soft steel
Chris.
Or paper clips(?).
Not very professional, but a good idea nonetheless.
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That little metal band between the two sections of a cheap ballpoint pen given to you by a small time politician at the county fair.
Unfortunately, I don't go to any county fairs, and fortunately, I don't run into any "smalltime" politicians on a regular basis.
I think I'll stick to the idea given in the post above yours. However primitive, it should work, and it just be a long term solution if done the proper way.
Thank you all for your feedback and your ideas.
Regards,
Chris.
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...or brass strip from a hobby store - tinned at the contact points.
TOS
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Not very professional, but a good idea nonetheless.
Ha ha. OK here is professional: ;)
http://www.x10.com/hr12a.html
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You want to use spring steel. It's meant to be bent and used for this exact purpose (you know...springs). It will elastically bend quite a bit before it reaches it's yield limit (permanently bent). Once you source some, you can cut it out with sheers and bend it to the right shape and it will replace the original parts perfectly.
McMaster-Carr may not be the best source for your needs, but:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-spring-steel-sheets
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One of the battery spring clips in my lab Palmpad finally snapped due to being re-bent several times after trips to the floor. The repair was simply wedging a piece of the pink anti-static foam behind the half of the tab that was still left. That was at least a year ago, and it is still working fine.
Jeff
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I have used Keystone for many battery terminals that have gotten eaten away.
http://www.keyelco.com/category.cfm/Battery-Coin-Cell-Holders-Contacts-Clips/Contacts-For-Molded-Cases/id/410
They have a large variety.
Hope this helps.