A500 rubber keyboard contacts

[LordCrass]

I replaced the keyboard membrane on my A500 to fix a few dead keys, which worked, but there's still one key left that requires excessive force to activate so I think the rubber contact has worn out.

Is there anywhere that sells replacements? If not, are there any cheap PC keyboards that used the same contacts I could source these from?

In the meantime I guess my best option is to swap this flakey contact with a lesser used key. Some people mention using tin/copper foil on the contact to solve the problem, but doesn't that get abrasive on the membrane's contacts?

[Jope]

Did you try the paper trick yet?

[levellord]

I had the same issue with one of my keys on A4000 keyboard and after messing around with conductive glue, conductive paint and what not (which none worked) I ended up buying a key replacement off the eBay. I bought replacement key for A500 and that worked well for me, I just replaced key cap with my own.


Below is an eBay link of what I bought:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264498141823

[Jope]

Yep, no point in making a mess with glues and paints and soft pencils. Everyone has a piece of office paper around the house to wipe the contact rubber with

[LordCrass]

Paper trick? Not familiar with that. Just rub the contact with a piece of paper? How does that work when wiping it with your finger or a cloth doesn't?

I guess buying entire replacement keys is an option ($26USD shipping??? Forget it), but then you're still dealing with these decades old contacts again.

[japhi]

I did it a couple of weeks ago with copper tape, some keys (spacebar, L, M, cursor keys, -) of my A500 keyboard did'nt work anymore.
I bought a new hard membrame but it didn't help, same keys didn't work.
I had here some copper tape and used it on the 'plunger' of the bad keys.
Work's again like new, only one downside... when I play some pinball games... now with the working spacebar... TILT again


First two pictures from someone who did it with aluminium tape, 3rd picture the copper tape I used

[Jope]

Originally Posted by LordCrass

Paper trick? Not familiar with that. Just rub the contact with a piece of paper? How does that work when wiping it with your finger or a cloth doesn't?

It's mildly abrasive, so wipe it a few times (5-10x back and forth) and see. Remember to blow off any paper dust that accumulates on the rubber and be sure to clean the membrane of any dust.

A finger is the worst thing to use to wipe any contact, you will deposit all kinds of oils and fat on the contact.

[bdb]

Originally Posted by Jope

It's mildly abrasive, so wipe it a few times (5-10x back and forth) and see. Remember to blow off any paper dust that accumulates on the rubber, and be sure to clean the membrane of any dust.
.

Thank you for the information, it worked perfectly!