Question for an electronics repair guy..

[Knievel]

I've got a glass touchscreen with a ribbon cable coming off it and the cable has come loose from the wiring on the glass. If I squeeze the cable against the glass it works fine.

Is there a way to reconnect the ends of the ribbon cable to the wiring..I'm thinking a conductive adhesive or something? I don't think I can solder to the trace on the glass.

[ChadTower]

I've got a glass touchscreen with a ribbon cable coming off it and the cable has come loose from the wiring on the glass. If I squeeze the cable against the glass it works fine.

Is there a way to reconnect the ends of the ribbon cable to the wiring..I'm thinking a conductive adhesive or something? I don't think I can solder to the trace on the glass.

Pics?  You're going to have to elaborate on this "wiring on the glass".

[Knievel]

Tough to get a good picture of it, this is from the backside...

[ChadTower]

Your best bet is to wire jumpers to the ribbon cable.

[Knievel]

Yea..my only concern is getting solder to stick to whatever that wiring on the glass is made out of. Was hoping there would be a product to re-secure it.

[saint]

I'd be tempted to hold it down so the ends properly line up, and fasten it with some sort of adhesive, such as hot glue (though I would make sure it wouldn't melt first).

[Ken Layton]

If it's a MICROTOUCH brand touchscreen, I'd contact the manufacturer's tech support dept and/or checkout their FAQ page for repair information. Microtouch uses real glass in their touchscreens.

If you have an ELO brand then I feel very sorry for you. ELO is the cheapest POS plastic touchscreen I've seen. Pure crap.

[ChadTower]

I'd be tempted to hold it down so the ends properly line up, and fasten it with some sort of adhesive, such as hot glue (though I would make sure it wouldn't melt first).

That's a better solution IF he can hold it in place securely enough to test connectivity without gluing it first.

[Knievel]

Thanks guys. Ya it's an ELO, glass with a plastic front skin.

The glue idea is good but unfortunately it needs quite a bit of pressure to make contact. I'm going to take a stab at soldering it before it hits the trashcan. I'll let you know how it goes...

[ChadTower]

The glue idea is good but unfortunately it needs quite a bit of pressure to make contact. I'm going to take a stab at soldering it before it hits the trashcan. I'll let you know how it goes...

If you were to clamp something larger onto it tightly, then hot glue that object down, it may provide enough pressure to maintain the contacts.  Or you could just rig up a tiny clamp to it and leave it there... maybe a plumbing type clamp somehow, or just rig something that tightens with screws to hold it down.

[RayB]

I'd avoid glue. Too easy for the glue to seep inbetween and actually BLOCK contact.

[tommy]

If you're going to glue it i would suggest a UV glue, you need to make the glue hard with a black light but it holds much better then hot glue and its made to use on glass.

[SirPeale]

What about tape?  Align the wires where they should be (you may need a helper) and tape it down.

Now of course you couldn't use Scotch tape or the like, but something *much* stronger.

[ChadTower]

Would tape provide enough downward pressure?

[richms]

Conductive paint, as used to repair car window heaters. Paint that between the 2 surfaces

[ChadTower]

The odds of doing that and not shorting out two traces are really, really low.