#electronics beings of Fedi, can you please tell me how to #repair this switch in my electric kettle? it looks like it’s been exposed to a lot of water (hot water leaked into the electronics of the kettle) and it’s rusted. the problem is that it doesn’t complete the circuit when it’s in the “on” position. I want to either disassemble and clean the rust off of it or just buy a replacement switch

but, I can’t even disconnect it from its electrical connectors. they look like you can just pull them off, but I’ve been pulling fairly hard and they won’t budge

so my questions are:

• how do I get the electrical connectors to disconnect?
• is there a way to disassemble this switch?
• should I even be messing with this, or should I just buy a new kettle?

@kasdeya quick google of the part number "qx188a" turns up multiple lookalike parts on alibaba/etc, e.g. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Qianxun-Chaserr-QX188A-Steam-Switch-for_1601565493767.html - not sure what the best way to deal with the corrosion would be, but failing that it seems like you'd definitely be able to replace the switch rather than the entire kettle

@erin ooh - thank you! this is really good to know

@kasdeya tried to fix it myself before. here's what *not* to do:
-trying ro remove the metal piece from the plastic retainers because they will break.
-trying to clean it with isopropyl alcohol because that does nothing.
-trying to scrape it clean with a sharp object lile a knife or scissors because that also does nothing.

possible solutions:
-a small piece of sand paper attached to a screw driver with a ton of patience
-some kind of water resistant, electrically conductive paint?

@kasdeya do the spade connectors move a teensy bit when you jiggle them? you can sometimes get them out by wiggling while pulling

otherwise try slicing off the heatshrink and pushing the little detent on the spade connector in with a small screwdriver

if that doesn't work, just snip the wires about an inch back and solder or crimp them back together when you're done. something like this should be fine i think: https://www.amazon.com/TICONN-Connectors-Waterproof-Electrical-Automotive/dp/B086Z3H4X8

fwiw this is switching mains voltage, so when you make sure they're insulated when you reassemble it (tape / heatshrink)

@CIMB4 omg isopropanol is literally the first thing I was going to try - that is very good to know thank you! I wonder if WD40 would work better

@kasdeya also, the mfq sells that part on alibaba, but they probably have a minimum quantity they'll sell. worth a shot to ask 'em what their minimum order is, if the original switch is too far gone
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Qianxun-Chaserr-QX188A-Steam-Switch-for_1601565493767.html

@eclairwolf they do wiggle! but unfortunately wiggling isn’t enough to get the stubborn things loose :/

I’m definitely going to cut off the heatshrink next - thanks for the suggestion! and also yikes - I’ll definitely figure out a good way to insulate them later, once I have the switch working again (or a new switch). thanks for the warning and the info about that too

@kasdeya uhh i just reread and realized i didn't actually answer any of your stated questions..

i dunno what's up with those spade connections being stubborn, my assumption would've also been that they pull straight off with enough force. there may be a detent engaged under the heatshrink which is making them not want to separate? unsure. when in doubt use more force; worst case scenario you break something that was already broken :p

if you really can't get them to budge and end up wanting to replace the switch, then as long as the wires have a little extra length, you should be fine to cut the old switch and connectors off, strip the wires, and either solder the wires directly to the new switch, or crimp on new connectors of a matching size. for a diy fix, heatshrink on the new connections is kinda optional as long as the switch is enclosed and there's no other bare wires around that could cause a short

@kasdeya

@CIMB4
If the problem is rust maybe you can unrust it being adding a powder of an even quicker rusting material.
WD40 will also not help with rust

@kasdeya for the connector, there is a little "metal clip" inside. You can remove the black protection to take a look.
For the rust, you could try with a sand paper