Starite Heater Keypad has gone bad & need help

[myLABSpool]

Hi, I have a Sta rite heater SN200 and the membrane keypad has gone bad-- meaning it's very finiky to push the buttons just right to get it to turn on and sometimes impossible. There is no remote or anything like that on this heater so the keypad is my only means of operation.

A few questions:
1. Is there anything I can do to "temporarily" improve the keypad performance. Such as poke some small holes in the buttons and inject some electro-contact cleaner under them?

Replacing the keypad. I do plan to replace the keypad and I found an online retailer that sells the keypad membrane only rather than having to buy and replace the whole "Control Board Enclosure/Membrane Panel Kit" which is almost twice as expensive as the membrane only (membrane only $75).

2. Is it advisable to replace the membrane only, and does someone have instructions on how to do this? Or is it advisable to just replace the whole "Control Board Enclosure/Membrane Panel Kit?"

FYI...I'm pretty technical and handy with tools.

Thanks for the help.
Andy

[myLABSpool]

Bump... anyone with suggestions or guesses at this point?

[aylad]

Bumping again....anybody with a Sta-Rite heater?

[myLABSpool]

Ok so I solved my problem, at least temporarily. I turned off the power to the heater and with a sharp utility knife I cut the membrane just below and on the sides of the buttons. I then carefully lifted the membrane just enough so I could expose the contacts of each button to fit the spray tube of electro-contact cleaner and spray some under each contact. Then slid a flat piece of paper towel under the membrane of each button to remove excess cleaner.

Seems to have worked like a charm and we'll see how the repair holds up.

I may tape the membrane to protect it or figure out some other way to seal off the buttons. I just don't want to seal it so tightly that when I have to remove the tape it pulls of the buttons completely.

[Watermom]

Thanks for coming back with an update. It may help someone else in the future!