Contact Cleaner - Cleaning Synths

[WWBJD]

So I've got some contact cleaner (DeoxIT), that I've been diddling with today.

Questions:

1) How conservative do you need to be with this stuff? Should there be a residue left on the keyboard, before it evaporates? Should I be seeing "pink" all over the circuit board?

2) Should you clean out IC sockets?

Thanks!

-B

[Tardis]

I use the same cleaner sold under the name "Peavey Funk Out". It's safe, and I've never had a problem. After you spray, and operate the component back and fourth a few times, let it dry for about 5-10 minutes before turning the device on. It leaves a silicone residue behind to lube the component.

[WWBJD]

I use the same cleaner sold under the name "Peavey Funk Out". It's safe, and I've never had a problem. After you spray, and operate the component back and fourth a few times, let it dry for about 5-10 minutes before turning the device on. It leaves a silicone residue behind to lube the component.

Thanks Tardis. I think that's more about "fader lube" though. I'm just talking about cleaning the PCB.

Still wondering if I should clean within an IC socket?

And how much I should be brushing/smearing onto the PCB?

Thanks again,

-B

[DX]

Hi:

I wouldn't clean the IC sockets. Not a special reason but some ICs can be damaged just touching them. So, If no OS problems or malfunctions at normal operation, I wouln't choose to remove ICs for cleaning sockets.

Regarding the contacts, It depends what kind of contacts the keyboard has. If carbon contacts, cleaning sprays don't fix it. If metal tongue steeel contacts as DX series or JX8P, I suposse it can help, but at least, my old DX7 (lots of lives on its back), hasn't any problem with the contacts dirt.

regards.

PS: edit: uups, I did understand you meant cleaning KEY contacts. Regarding the whole synth, just the cares as said by Tardis. Let it evaporate itself a while. And try to not apply spray a lots, so it must become in a river crossing some Printed Circuit Board.
PS2: (I read really fast the threads and later I need to add things): I wouldn't spray the PCB unless it show some corrosion. Anyway, Contact cleaner sprays are not dangerous in most of cases for PCBs, even can prevent corrosion and others.

[deadgobby]

If you want to clean out the sliders and pan pots to get rid of the static. Please use Astroff Alcohol at lest %75 or above. AKA rubbing alcohol. NOT WITH THE GREEN DYE. When the alcohol dries off will leave the green dye. Now time to turn off beast and unplug it from the wall. We do not want to get jolted here.
For the sliders take a Q tip and dip it in the bottle. Swab out the sliders with the Q tip with a up and down motion and move the slider up and down. You can use a twist motion as you swab out the slide too. You'll notice a big difference on the movement of the slider. You'll all so see on the Q tip will accumulate with the grime of time.
Now with the pan pots. They are the knobs that go from right to left. Duh! You'll may to open up the machine to expose the pan pot in question. You may see some very small holes in the pan pots some are on top of the pot and some are at the side. Or you'll see a rectangular slot. You can see if the pot is moving up and down with a twist to the left and right. Squirt the alcohol in the holes and twist the pan pots left to right. Don't worry if the liquid drips every where. Electricity will not conduct through alcohol. If you have a copper track that lies under the keys. Take the mighty Q tip and swab it too. Why not. A dirty track can cause all sorts of things. Any hoo. All the Alcohol needs to to do dry. So let it dry for about a day or so. I clean my Arp Quadra, Mini Moog D, Roland Sh-101, System 100, and other goodies once a year in that fashion of what the beast can do
As for input and out put.

[resyn]

Just make sure not use a dilute solution of alcohol, ie diluted with water, bacause then it will surely conduct electricity...