Cleaning input selector
Discussion
Hey all,
No doubt there's someone here who may be able to advise:
I have an old Denon (~20 yrs old) amp that sits on my desk to power my PC monitors.
For some years now, the sound has been crackling - traced to the input selector. A new selector switch from Denon (when I last looked, bet they don't have them now) was ~100 quid, which is a joke. Twisting this to a different input and back solved the crackle, by and large.
Anyway, it's got to the point where twisting the selector switch only solves the crackling for 5 minutes or so, and it's getting pretty annoying.
So! I googled 'switch cleaner' - and there was a few sites that tell you how to do it, but also warn against using some types of switch cleaner, as it can degrade the component; however, that was mainly talking about potentiometers and cross-faders.
So, to clean this, would switch cleaner do coupled with an air duster? It could be that it's actually on it's way out, which would be a shame. But it's worth a go, I reckon.
No doubt there's someone here who may be able to advise:
I have an old Denon (~20 yrs old) amp that sits on my desk to power my PC monitors.
For some years now, the sound has been crackling - traced to the input selector. A new selector switch from Denon (when I last looked, bet they don't have them now) was ~100 quid, which is a joke. Twisting this to a different input and back solved the crackle, by and large.
Anyway, it's got to the point where twisting the selector switch only solves the crackling for 5 minutes or so, and it's getting pretty annoying.
So! I googled 'switch cleaner' - and there was a few sites that tell you how to do it, but also warn against using some types of switch cleaner, as it can degrade the component; however, that was mainly talking about potentiometers and cross-faders.
So, to clean this, would switch cleaner do coupled with an air duster? It could be that it's actually on it's way out, which would be a shame. But it's worth a go, I reckon.
Get some switch cleaner from Maplins or similar, the Servisol Super 10 is only a few pence more than their own brand.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/contact-cleaner-4153
Power off the amp, take the lid off and squirt away, try and get the cleaner inside the switch, it usually runs down the shaft. Activate the switch back and forth a few times to clean the contacts, then apply a bit more cleaner. It will dry out quite quickly, after that test.
I use it on pots and switches, never had any issues. You could try without removing the lid, if you can pull off the knob and squirt some on the shaft.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/contact-cleaner-4153
Power off the amp, take the lid off and squirt away, try and get the cleaner inside the switch, it usually runs down the shaft. Activate the switch back and forth a few times to clean the contacts, then apply a bit more cleaner. It will dry out quite quickly, after that test.
I use it on pots and switches, never had any issues. You could try without removing the lid, if you can pull off the knob and squirt some on the shaft.
Was having similar issues recently with my NAD 3130 amp. Took off the case to find 27 years of fluff and muck in and on top of all the gubbins. Soft brush and vacuum followed by liberal squirting of electrical contact cleaner. Waited and hour or two before powering up, clear and crystal once again. 
Was having similar issues recently with my NAD 3130 amp. Took off the case to find 27 years of fluff and muck in and on top of all the gubbins. Soft brush and vacuum followed by liberal squirting of electrical contact cleaner. Waited and hour or two before powering up, clear and crystal once again.
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