How can I fix this?????

This is a picture of the cassette deck LCD display from my JVC PC-55.
The display was missing some of its display letters and icons so I took a extra deck apart that I got from Erniejade,but it has the same problem. :annoyed:
It looks like that the adhesive that hold the ribbon conductor to the PC board has gotten old and is coming off from the traces.
How would I reattach this and what can I use? I know it can't be soldered,so is there a special glue I need?
Thanks.

Oh, man, that sucks! Most of those ribbons are attached with a heat dye that bonds the ribbon to the board. It MIGHT be possible to use some sort of super glue with a syringe / needle setup.

Of course, you could always just rip out the cables and hard solder in wires.

Superglue is non-conductive so while it would mechanically reattach the ribbon, it wouldn't restore functionality.

I recently purchased a silver epoxy that should work. That should glue the ribbon back and restore connectivity. The problem is the intricate and micro nature of the ribbon will make it extremely difficult to not short the traces if the adhesive bleeds across when assembling.

What does the other end of the ribbon attach to? Can you replace the ribbon with thin wire bundle instead?

Also, are you certain that the ribbon can't be soldered? I have had good luck soldering printed copper traces on ribbons if low heat with very good (temp adjustable) soldering iron. I'm not talking about the cheaper adjustable watt irons -- I'm talking about the irons that can adjust the temperature at the tip.

Superduper said:

Superglue is non-conductive so while it would mechanically reattach the ribbon, it wouldn't restore functionality.

Click to expand...

I was thinking that the glue would be applied on the "white" strip areas that don't have any traces. However, I wasn't thinking ahead in that any amount of glue might raise the ribbon just far enough off the board to lose the connection.

I think I'd just try and go for ribbon wire similar to that used in computers. Would that work, Norm?

The ribbon is attached to the LCD display so I don't believe it can be soldered. The ribbon is made of a plastic type material. :annoyed:

in my humble opinion, this is kinda of tricky to fix.

sometimes it is not possble.

the suggestions the guys gave you are very good.

i personally do not have a second one but this,

opinion, thought:

does the malfunction in the led display come from the ribbon??? ( and not from the LCD itself )

i think you have guessed it is. OK.

now youre trying to connect the thing back.

that will be difficult. at least, for starters i would try to put it back on, to see if it works as it did,

in an abnormal way.

then if i suceeded in doing that i would try the next step, that would be to do the UPGRADE

to the better condition, or FULLY WORKING LCD display.

you might try to check the ribbon for BREAKAGE with YOUR MULTIMETER,

on the CONDUCTIVE MODE. or whatever you call it,

when it displays 001 means you have CONNECTION,

if you get no READOUT it means, the RIBBON thread is broken.

SO you must FIX that ONE.

the methods they said are very good, using a small wire like FATDOG said,

like the ones in computer cabling. those maybe the BEST ONES for this JOB.

this will be HARD, it is almost MINI ELECTRONICS.

i see no other more effective way to do this. or do i? i think not.

hmmm...

captain, full speed ahead.

WARP 5 it is then , SIR.

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this fix is a brain fryer.

If you can't get the adhesive or don't want to spend $40 for the one I listed I would try to solder individual wires from the board to the LCD display, providing you can get to a soldereable area in the LCD

It looks like now none of the ribbon is connected.... taking it apart probably made it alot worse.

As far as fixing it.... I was thinking.... I wonder if there is a way to physically hold the ribbon to the board. You cold put a small amount of conductive material.... a SMALL amount... on each contact point. Then use a small strip of some stiff material across the area and fasten it to the board at both ends, perhaps gluing the ribbon to the strip on the top of the ribbon. Does that make sense??

Fatdog said:

Superduper said:

Superglue is non-conductive so while it would mechanically reattach the ribbon, it wouldn't restore functionality.

Click to expand...

I was thinking that the glue would be applied on the "white" strip areas that don't have any traces. However, I wasn't thinking ahead in that any amount of glue might raise the ribbon just far enough off the board to lose the connection.

I think I'd just try and go for ribbon wire similar to that used in computers. Would that work, Norm?

Click to expand...

Yeah bobby, I think the computer ribbons would work but whether it will be a lasting reliable repair will depend upon the flexibility and if I recall, the ide cables aren't very flexible. Gluing the ribbon (white areas) onto the PCB would reattach the ribbon but since the conductive traces aren't spring loaded, the traces will not likely have a good connection and I highly doubt the glue method would work.

You may also want to try Mouser.com and see if you can find a ribbon socket. There are sockets that are common to micro devices such as cell phones and cameras that have spring loaded contacts. The ribbon slides into the connector much as a regular connector does. The only issue I see is that those sockets typically have a much higher trace density.

Here is another possible repair method using more commonly available materials.

(1) first the ribbon has to be stabilized, or rather, immobilized so I would glue it back towards and tight against the LCD. Hot glue would work great.
(2) find a thin, flexible wire bundle to interface to the ribbon. I'd prefer Stranded as opposed to Solid core as solid may be too inflexible.
(3) using the silver conductive epoxy, epoxy the wires, 1 by one onto the conductive traces that are detached. Then solder the other end onto the circuit board.

The secret to making this a lasting repair is to immobilize the ribbons from further future movement.

Another repair possibiliy is to "splice" the end of the ribbon onto another ribbon, maybe even the flat IDE cable that bobby suggested. Glue the ribbon and IDE cable together, sort of like putting your palms together flat. Then fold the IDE conductors over, 1 by 1. Epoxy the IDE strands to the ribbon traces and connect the other end of the IDE in the normal fashion.

Well, those are the things I can think of...

If these are heat sealed to begin with, why not try and re-apply heat evenly see if it bonds again? Of course you should take care not to apply too much as to melt the plastic. And, I don't know how you would apply heat evenly across the entire strip.

These are nearly impossible to do. It is a physical connection basicaly. One conductive surface touching another....held with adhesive.....simple right...........not. nothing to solder to on the lcd side.......it probably connects right ot the glass.........best bet is to make sure all the surfaces are conductive and try and restick.....need some ideas for an adhesive that is so thin it does not seperate the conductors but so strong the cable can't move or slide........

when you fix it, and i do mean fix it, you will have made a very nice repair for us all to be in awe! you will be the ribbon re soldering guru. take that as a challenge sir

milosancho said:

If these are heat sealed to begin with, why not try and re-apply heat evenly see if it bonds again? Of course you should take care not to apply too much as to melt the plastic. And, I don't know how you would apply heat evenly across the entire strip.

Click to expand...

Yes I tried this with my heat gun on my extra deck but it didn't work. That is ok though,I think I'm just going to leave it alone rather than risk breaking it or the display quits working altogether. :grim:
Maybe someone will have a parts PC-55 or PC-550 I can get the display from.
Thanks for the advice guys,you all rock.

I know it sounds hacky, but I'd get it to sit flat with a tight rubber band and then run a line of hot glue along the edge.
As long as the band, or equivalent is giving even pressure the ribbon shoulf make contact. The hot glue will lock it in place, luckily the contacts go all the way to the edge of the ribbon, which should make the connection nice and solid.

Sounds amateur hour, I know, but that's how I roll!

Good luck Skippy.



Rock On.

i wonder how it turned up

eldorado said:

i wonder how it turned up

Click to expand...

Yes I tried this with my heat gun on my extra deck but it didn't work. That is ok though,I think I'm just going to leave it alone rather than risk breaking it or the display quits working altogether.
Maybe someone will have a parts PC-55 or PC-550 I can get the display from.
Thanks for the advice guys,you all rock.

yes you had said so before, sorry i re asked.