Would erasers work on NES cartridge connectors?...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:02 pm

Some time ago, I asked on here about cleaning HuCards. The response was that you just use a pencil eraser on the connectors.

Would this work on NES cartridges?

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:19 pm

I've heard the same thing about using an eraser to "clean up" battery terminal contacts, and for other similar applications.

It is an abrasive, though, so I believe that you are effectively sanding down the terminals. Depending on whether you want to clean the cartridge terminals of grime or remove oxidation, I would probably start low on the cleaning chain (whatever that may be), and keep moving up until it starts working well.

I'm not clear on the "cleaning chain," but I've heard things about clean, dry clothes, then moving on to very mild solvents, and the like. I've also heard never to use abrasives or solvents, but I'm not sure either way about it.

A page states that for their product, one should use a soft cloth and 91% isopropyl alcohol, as it won't harm the product's faceplate. Their product could be made with different metals or applications, though.

ZTS, Inc. FAQ wrote:Q. Is there any maintenance required for my tester?
A. The only maintenance we recommend is periodic cleaning of the tester's contact terminals, including the negative probe tip. Clean all tester terminals with a soft cloth and 91% isopropyl alcohol (Never use abrasives, such as a pencil eraser, to clean terminals). Isopropyl alcohol will not harm the tester's faceplate or enclosure.

Endymion · Post by **Endymion** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:27 am

icepick wrote:It is an abrasive, though, so I believe that you are effectively sanding down the terminals.

Nonsense, a pencil eraser is something electrical engineers swear by to clean metal contacts all over. There is no way a rubber pencil eraser is going to wear away the metal.

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:54 am

Really? That's good to hear; I'd not heard of any... well... "professionals" using them, but I suppose that if they don't rip holes in paper, they're probably pretty safe to use on metal terminals.

(Some erasers do rip holes in paper, though. Those really hard, rough ones. I like the mushy ones, but not the gummy ones.)

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:30 pm

It's kind of hard to use erasers on nes carts. Last time I went through my collection, I bought a bit and took the carts apart. Then I use pencil erasers, emery sticks for fingernails, whatever it took to get the contacts shiny.

futurebiblehero · Post by **futurebiblehero** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:50 am

Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol have always worked for me. Out of the 15-20 or so "dead" cartridges I've owned, only two have remained that way after a thorough cleaning. There may be a better method out there that I don't know about, but this one's never given me many problems.