Re: PK5501 LCD Some Keys Don't Work

["E DAWSON" <edawson@xxxxxxxx>]

"Frank Kurz" <tech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6o2dnQsxDuUHwfPNnZ2dnUVZ_rmdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On 04/10/2012 4:59 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> PK5501 LCD Some Keys Don't Work
>>
>> I had a service call to move a keypad today because the customer is
>> removing the wall where it was previously mounted.  After the move keys
>> 369# (and the various special function keys) no longer work.  Keys
>> 124578*0 still work fine and user codes using those keys (fortunately
>> they had some programmed) still arm and disarm.  I didn't drop or abuse
>> the keypad in anyway during the move. It seemed like an easy service
>> call.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> I did already order a replacement keypad.
>
> Chances are some drywall dust (or other non-conductive material got behind
> that row of keys.  Take the keypad apart and clean all the surfaces (back
> of the buttons and the PCB with some alcohol swabs).
>
>
> Frank

Do you really know for sure that the keypad was working correctly before you
moved it or did the customer tell you that it worked fine before. You say
that they already had codes that did not use those "now" non-functioning
keys. It is possible if they had codes that did not require the use of those
keys that you mentioned, that they did not know that there was anything
wrong. I doubt that you tested those keys prior to removing it, you would
have had no reason to suspect anything prior.

You may be the innocent victim of either the customer knew there was
something wrong with it and blames you wrongfully; or they knew nothing of
it either and you are ending up with the blame and it had nothing to do with
moving it.

Disassembling the keypad and cleaning may work, but I have experienced those
keypads with that similar problem myself-they can just go bad. Hopefully,
they are paying for the keypad in any case, for your sake. The age of the
keypad can matter as well as finding out the fact that their system got
surged somehow. If you can find something else on their system that does not
work correctly, such as wired doors or windows that do not chime, or other
things, you might find that the system got zapped at one time.

Hope this helps you in some way. I just would not assume guilt and
responsibility in your case until you have logically reasoned the whole
thing out first.