2026-10-09 - Repairing a Cheap Kitchen Timer
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As should be obvious to anyone reading my repair articles, I specialize
in repairing devices that aren't worth repairing. It shouldn't come
as a surprise then that I decided to perform a trace repair in order
to fix a cheap kitchen timer.

The timer in question[0] belongs to some relatives of mine and wouldn't
allow the time to be set properly anymore. There are only two screws
on the outside[1] and five more inside holding the circuit board[2].

It quickly became apparent that the trace around the contacts for one
key was broken due to corrosion[3]. Some of the other traces were also
slightly corroded, but weren't completely broken yet. In order to fix
the broken trace, I first tinned the remaining parts[4], then soldered
a fine copper wire (0.118mm) to bridge the gap[5]. Since the conductive
rubber from the key needs to press down on the traces in this area, I
wicked away as much excess solder as possible while still leaving the
soldered wire attached[6-7]. I additionally tinned the other corroded
traces just to protect them a bit, even if they weren't broken yet.

While I was at it, I also cleaned off the conductive rubber on the
keys a bit with isopropyl alcohol so that no dirt would prevent a good
contact from being made[8]. Finally, I cleaned the outside of the timer
since it was somewhat filthy in its original state[9] (I mean, what do
you expect from a timer that spends its entire life inside a kitchen?).

Well, a trace repair might be a bit overkill for a simple kitchen
timer, but at least I prevented another device, however small and
inexpensive, from landing in the trash.


[0] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/timer.jpg
[1] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/outside_screws.jpg
[2] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/inside_screws.jpg
[3] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/corroded_traces.jpg
[4] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/tinned_traces.jpg
[5] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/repaired_trace1.jpg
[6] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/repaired_trace2.jpg
[7] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/repaired_trace3.jpg
[8] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/keys.jpg
[9] gopher://lumidify.org/0/phlog/2026-10-09-kitchen-timer/dirty_outside.jpg