Hello @electrotechs,
My partner’s MP3 player has a volume button that has died. I’d guess it might be an easy fix… if I can get the case off without ruining it. Considerably more mini than I usually deal with. Anyone around tonight who might be able to give me a hand? It’s a Sony nwz e585 - and I’ve struggled to find any advice/disassembly instructions online!
Cheers,
Tom
OK, bit of investigation got the thing open. Think I’ve found the dead component - a very slim 3mm waterproof tactile switch (terminology?) that has died. The little diaphragm no longer pops back up properly after being depressed.
I think maybe the broken button is attached by pins? Or possibly soldered on the rear? It’s mounted on a thin, flexible PCB film that’s glued(?) to the metal body.
Does anyone have a spare component and the time to help me with the swap? Payment in beer/chocolate/sparkling company available 
Looks like an awkward spot to fix:
All offers of help welcome…
It looks like a surface mount switch, that is soldered to the outward face of the PCB. It might be difficult to source an identical component. You might be able to buy a bulk pack from China, if you can find the exact size. It will take a couple of weeks to a month to arrive. I doubt you will find a British distributor for the exact type you want.
Here is an eBay search:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=smd+momentary+push+button
Here are a few specific examples that might be somewhat close:
I couldn’t find any that were 3 mm square.
How about this guy: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tactile-switches/7182443/
Edit: misread datasheet, not 3mm wide.
I think the switch on the mp3 player is a very thin type, less than 1mm thick.
Thank @andrew_d and @Calum_Nicol for advice.
Yes, it is very thin - 1mm or slightly less.
IF I could get a replacement component, do you think it would be possible to remove the old one and replace it, without knackering the delicate flexible pcb it’s mounted on?
In terms of trying to replace it, I guess the new part would need to match dimensions… How about other factors such as current rating of contact configuration…?
Desoldering the old switch and soldering in a replacement is probably doable, as long as you have the replacement. The specific dimensions of the switch are likely only relevant in that it must fit back in the housing and mesh with the external button. However, you might be able to hack the case to accommodate a different switch, rather like the one that Calum posted, if functionality is more important than appearance.
I don’t think current rating is particularly relevant, it would only be carrying a minuscule current. The pin configuration matters, of course, but I imagine all switches of this type have the same configuration: when you depress the switch, electrical contact is made between one facing pair of pins with the facing pair on the other side.
Do you think this might work?
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tactile-switches/7561656/
Looks like it would be the right size (maybe a little on the small side, even!)
You can buy a pack of five and see. You could measure the old one accurately with a caliper to make a comparison with the dimensions of that one if you don’t want to take the risk.
For the sake of £2 and some change, I’ve bought a pack. Assumed there would be ridiculous postage charges - but RS do free postage! Brilliant. I suspect it is fractionally smaller, but by such a small amount that maybe it will still work. Will hope to bring the bits down on electronics night/over the weekend.
Huge thank you to @emuboy for de-soldering the dead switch, and replacing it with one of my new RS purchases. And also to @electronoob for advice, encouragement, and some bits to practice my own soldering with.
The new part had a slightly different profile, and sits proud of the original position - so the longest part of the whole operation was reshaping the external plastic panel that you push to activate the switch. Initially, it either wouldn’t engage at all, or would get stuck and jam the volume to full. Some grinding and some gluing got me there in the end.
And the owner is delighted with the repair!
Only a 50p component… And most of a day of effort, all told.
