Category: Geeks r Us
Hello,
I've had my display for about five and a half years. Been using the Isopropol Alcohol treatment recommended by most manufacturers on a regular basis to clean it.
However, I notice that there are some dots in certain cells that appear either rather weak or don't go down properly. I do clean with all pins up, then all down, even with the unit upside down to help any gunk escape. I generally use a fresh paper towel for this.
Anyone tried any kind of brush or other remedy? I'm not in a position to be sending anything back, so appreciate your input. All input is appreciated.
Canned air usually can be gotten from radio shack or other electronic stores and works well. Blow each cell out that is givng you a problem.
Hey guys
Can you explain the treatment recommended by manufactuers for cleaning? My display needs some TLC, after about the same amount of time, so any tips and tricks would be helpful.
Cheers
-B
Thanks BigDogDaddy,
I'll get me some of that.
wildebrew,
What you need is 90% Isopropyl alcohol, and they recommend a "lint-free" cloth, which is why I use a paper towel.
Now your manufacturer probably has a method for getting the pins to be up or down in some sort of diagnose or test mode.
You want to dampen your cloth or paper towl with the alcohol (make sure it's the highest percentage you can get) and wipe the cells while up, then wipe them while down.
Do this repeatedly, and use a dry towel to take up as much of the alcohol residue as absolutely possible.
The reason I do it with the display upside down (part of the time) is to make sure and dislodge anything that's caught down in there.
The reason I asked about a brush was it would appear that a brush of a certain consistency might help to remove anything.
I've heard of using pins or styluses to clean around the edge of the cell well, but personally have not done so nor would recommend. I don't know, but imagine the cell pins are pretty delicate.
I've had a chance to look at the newer FS display models and they sure look nice; seem to clean real good and the cells don't die on you so much.
I guess no matter how much TLC you give your equipment, a Braille display's gonna get exposure to the oil on your hands after a while. And my guess is most blind people take really good care of this expensive stuff. It's not like you can just go out and get another one ...
Excellent, thanks very much for this advice. Ashamed to say, but I've never known how exactly to take good care ofmy display, but I had one from 1993 till 2005 without problems and have had my alva Satellite now since 2003 and only now noticing a few dots that don't go down properly. I also have a 40-cell and 80-cell FS displays and I like them (fortunate and generous ex employers all felt buying a braille display was no biggie, back when the economy was good).
But I'm definitely having a good go at my Alva, my fav display by far, it shows, the price tag is twice what the FS 80-cell costs, and Alva has, more or less, gone bust, believe Optilec took themover.
Thanks
-B