kay

Well-known member

• Jul 21, 2014

• #1

My petzl Tikka no longer switches off properly. When the switch is in the fully off position, the lights still glow very gently.
Left to myself, I'll probably use a knife to try and winkle all the gubbins out of the case, then prod and scrape in the area of the switch. Does anyone have any better ideas?

 

TheBitterEnd

Well-known member

• Jul 21, 2014

• #2

It does sound like a dodgy contact could be the issue but it could also be a component breaking down. One option is to just take the batteries out when not on standby, it probably won't be drawing much current.

 

Les W

Active member

• Jul 21, 2014

• #3

Have you got it wet?
I used to strip down my Petzl Myo and scrub the circuit board with a dry tooth brush.
When it got wet the heatsink rusted and the next time it got wet the water moved the rust onto the circuit board and bridged the tracks on the board and caused it to do all kinds of weird things. A quick brushing with a dry toothbrush usually solved it.

Just an idea...

 

Tangent_tracker

Active member

• Jul 21, 2014

• #4

Defiantly sounds like it has got wet - lamps controlled by micro's require a minuscule current to actually tell the circuit to switch the lamp on!

 

kay

Well-known member

• Jul 21, 2014

• #5

Yes of course I've got it wet! I use it as my back-up light and I cave in Yorkshire.

I usually open it up and take the batteries out as soon as I get home (if I don't, the batteries rust themselves to the terminals). OK, toothbrush it is.

Thanks, everyone.

 

A

Andyj23UK

New member

• Jul 22, 2014

• #6

KAY -  take the batteries out and leave the lamp - battery cover open on a sunny windowsill

its just a bit of water tracking across the switch

 

kay

Well-known member

• Jul 22, 2014

• #7

Andyj23UK said:

KAY -  take the batteries out and leave the lamp - battery cover open on a sunny windowsill

its just a bit of water tracking across the switch

Click to expand...

It's been open with the batteries out for the last several weeks. I suspect I should dry it in a drier room - the rust theory sounds convincing.

 

M

maxf

New member

• Jul 22, 2014

• #8

Put it in a pot of dry rice ?

 

Tangent_tracker

Active member

• Jul 27, 2014

• #9

It is not the water that causes the problems  directly, but the impurities water carries. If something has dried out and still faulty then there is a residue that has been left behind and / or some corrosion. Look on the board for unusual deposits.

Usually some IPA will clean the board nicely

 

kay

Well-known member

• Jul 27, 2014

• #10

Many thanks for everyone's help. A gentle soaking in Great Douk followed by a baking on a sunny windowsill has sorted the problem nicely, without my having to dig too deep into its innards.