A client found one on eBay. ----- Original Message ----- From: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Cc: Sent: Fri, 6 Sep 2019 08:57:56 -0700 Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Old Outback Mate question Allan, I believe the original Mate is still available. At least my distributor still has them in stock. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar On 9/5/2019 8:01 PM, Sindelar Solar wrote: Wrenches, I have a customer with a 2005-era Outback VFX3648-based off grid residential system. Her original Mate had lost response on several of the six buttons. I told her that the Mate is no longer made, and a Mate3 is larger (won't fit her space), expensive and overkill for her needs. I offered to attempt to repair hers, as it seemed to me that it would be a simple task. I removed the cover and the silicon button molding, and used a Q-tip with a bit of electronic cleaner and lubricant from Radio Shack to clean the contacts. When I put it back together none of the buttons made active contact. - Any idea what I might have done wrong to cause further failure? I'm wondering if the cleaner included an oil that hindered conductivity, rather than enabled it, and whether trying again with denatured alcohol (or something more potent still?) might resolve the problem. - Any suggestions about how to correct the (fairly common) problem of the buttons not making contact after years of service? - Anyone repairing older Mates that you might pass on? - Any way to buy a new or refurbished Mate? Thank you for any help here., Allan -- ALLAN SINDELAR al...@sindelarsolar.com [1] NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. 505 780-2738 CELL _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org [2] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [3] List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html [4] List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [5] Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org [6] Links: ------ [1] mailto:al...@sindelarsolar.com [2] mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org [3] http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [4] http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html [5] http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [6] http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
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