Hello,

No formal training, but do like to repair devices at home (and keep vintage electronics and computers going).

Yet another alkaline battery has leaked prodigiously into a device (after only a few months). A wall-mounted thermostat.

Is the sort of clip pictured, which contacts an AA battery negative terminal at one end, and seemed to just clamp onto a conductive trace at the edge of PCB at the other, an easy-to-find standard form (for replacement) or a custom piece?

It is quite corroded and even peeling, and suspect replacing the clip would be better than devising a work-around.

Visually searching through product photos on supplier websites (like Digi— and Mous-- here in the US) has not been effective.

Thanks for any comment.

  • ron33OPEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Thanks so much for the comments.

    After viewing in-stock battery clips, did get the impression it was custom.

    Interesting suggestions re: part from a broken one, foil /paperclip, and shape-your-own (not set up to re-plate).

    Since it’s summer here, do have a while to explore options before the next heating season.

    PS For future reference, does this sort of exposed PCB trace (pad?) used for electrical connection take solder well?

    • Enclose0314English
      1·
      1 year ago

      PS For future reference, does this sort of exposed PCB trace (pad?) used for electrical connection take solder well?

      I can’t tell if you have gold plate or just raw copper (probably gold. But in either case, yes, it is solderable. You can think a little bit about how they manufacture the boards. First the print on the green solder resist, then they dunk it into an electroplating bath for a gold finish, or a dunk it in solder for HASL. It would be a lot of trouble to go through (=$$$) to individually mask off that part of the board for some special process.