Key fob battery change

[hodroyd]

I think that little black plastic thingy is supposed to be fastened on to the circuit board..??

 

[dunnah01]

i think mine only had 1 in it

It looks like one but there are two CR1220's stacked up on mine

 

[tonym3]

I have one key that was not working and when I opened it just one battery rattling around!! They are the most flimsy cheap feeling keys I have ever encountered when I tried using the "wrong" one it feel apart in my hand. I'd love to find a newer stronger casing for them, must be some Alfa/Maserati/fiat key that would hold the key blade and circuit board and have a better more robust feel.

 

[hodroyd]

All our keys are quite good. The 4200 key buttons can wear a bit, but new rubber inserts are available, I think I saw some on eBay..??

 

[tonym3]

Yes you can buy the rubber inserts on eBay for around £10, these are fine on mine it's the plastic surround that feels cheap

 

[CatmanV2]

I would expect a competent jeweller or engineer would be able to make a replacement without *too* much difficulty. Actually, thats an interesting thought. Anyone own a CNC machine? Titanium or billet Aluminium keys, anyone?

Or perhaps carbon fibre? We have some experts in that material here.

C

 

[philw696]

I would expect a competent jeweller or engineer would be able to make a replacement without *too* much difficulty. Actually, thats an interesting thought. Anyone own a CNC machine? Titanium or billet Aluminium keys, anyone?

Or perhaps carbon fibre? We have some experts in that material here.

C

Now were talking because one thing that lets the 4200 down is the key as its not upto the quality you would expect.
The ones my 456 had were just class.
Phil.

 

[Brendan]

The drab colour lets it down aswell

 

[CatmanV2]

OK, I am *very* tempted by this idea. I know two jewellers, but CNC would be a much better way to go. Let me put some feelers out.

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

OK, I am *very* tempted by this idea. I know two jewellers, but CNC would be a much better way to go. Let me put some feelers out.

C

Now this does sound tempting. Polished aluminium, a carved trident on the back with red enamelled stripes and solid buttons with a good positive click.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hmm, enamel and aluminium may be complex in terms of finding the right people with skills / equipment. Red enamel *paint* OTOH.

The click is going to be a challenge. Really not sure how to address that, yet. How much do you think you'd pay, Chris? Changing the switch should be technically simple, but an utter bugger in terms of the doing, so cost would go up.

C

 

[tonym3]

As far as cost, its not an essential but would be a nice addition, I guess I would be happy to pay £70 per key. Probably would just have one made so I could keep the second as original.

 

[CatmanV2]

OK, be interesting to see what can be done, but I rather fear that without mass production, it would be well over that cose.

We shall see

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

Looking at it as a piece of jewellery I guess a good pair of hand-made cuff links costs £150+, and this would have the same exclusivity.

Other difficulties would be getting the RF signals out of a metal enclosure and making sure the little black bit was situated correctly for the code to be read.

and as you say, Tony, would only want one, keep the other as stock.

No idea how much it would cost to design, prototype, test and manufacture.

 

[CatmanV2]

Good points all.

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

An interesting idea worth looking into, especially if we can find someone who would regard it as a challenge. Don't need to just look at metal, as you said Catman. Plenty of other "quality" materials out there. Maybe one side metal, one side carbon fibre. It would be good to talk to an industrial designer or someone with experience making things like this, see what they think.

I know I had a slight "is that all..." moment when I first picked up the key and my thumb sank into the little rubber bit - until I looked up and saw what it had just unlocked, of course.

Would pay to have something more satisfying to click...

 

[CatmanV2]

Indeed, they are not that nice. Wood could be an interesting material.

C

 

[tonym3]

Looking at it as a piece of jewellery I guess a good pair of hand-made cuff links costs £150+, and this would have the same exclusivity.

That's a nice way to look at it, if it was done well then why not, I would have thought with an exclusive brand you would find a fair few people willing to pay £150 for their spare key to be made into something more desirable.

If you could get 10 owners all prepared to pay £100 for the right piece then surely it would be tempting for someone to have a go at designing and making something.

 

[tonym3]

I know I had a slight "is that all..." moment when I first picked up the key and my thumb sank into the little rubber bit -

This was exactly my feeling I thought the guy had given me the spare key!!

 

[CatmanV2]

I'll got to be worth a try. Let's see what comes up

C