Acer Aspire 1800 Lid Switch

[giant_squid]

Hello there,

Since four years, I have an Acer Aspire of the 1800 series that has served me well all this time, although I must say that it has had its share of repairs.

The current problem is that since a few days, I have no image on the LCD screen - that is, only the faint image. The problem is not the video card (I have the laptop connected to an external monitor that works fine), not the inverter (that I have replaced), not the cable (checked) and not the bulb (also replaced). So, as far as I can figure out, it could only be the lid switch that is faulty.

Now on this type of laptop, there is no mechanical switch; instead, the LCD switch is integrated in the motherboard (SW1 on the drawings). It feels like a small tube of glassy material, but I'm no expert to tell what exactly it is.

My question is: Would it work to bridge this switch electrically in some way? How safe would that be? Is there a chance of causing any permanent damage to the motherboard?

Any ideas, people?

[namaiki]

You could try run a magnet over it. On my Dell Inspiron 4100 there was a corresponding magnet in the lid that went right over something similar to that glassy thing when the lid was closed.

[giant_squid]

Thank you, brainstew, for your reply.

It was a nice and non-invasive piece of advice, so I did what you suggested (hoping that running a magnet over the switch would somehow "unlock" it), but with no success. But, at least, I now understand the mechanism of the switch. ;-)

My estimation is that the lid switch must be internally broken or otherwise faulty, so I will probably take the risk and try to connect its two ends electrically, to see what happens then.

Of course, I realise that there can also be some incontinuity in the circuit at another location of the motherboard. Just hope that's not the case.

[andyasselin]

try some eletric contact cleaner
when you push on microswitch it shound make clicking noise maybe it stuck