Repairing Non-Functional Buttons on LeapFrog Hug & Learn Baby Tad

Written By: Jesus Hernandez

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Repairing Non-Functional Buttons on LeapFrog Hug & Learn Baby Tad

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 40 minutes

Introduction

Does your child have a LeapFrog Hug & Learn Baby Tad with non-functional buttons? Learn to fix it yourself with this easy guide.

This guide requires soldering. For your own safety, use lead-free solder and work in a well-ventilated area. Wear safety goggles and try to work with your head at a distance from the solder. Make sure to wash your hands after finishing your work. Do not eat or drink while working with solder.

Tools

Step 1

Open the LeapFrog's back.
Carefully pull out the battery compartment just enough to hold it in your hand.
With your Philips head screwdriver, unscrew the battery compartment and take the batteries out.

Step 2

Carefully cut the cable tie with your scissors and pull it out.
The battery compartment will become loose; set it aside carefully.
Be careful putting the battery compartment aside, as you could rupture the soldering on some cables or wires.

Step 3

Once you have the battery compartment on the side, take all the stuffing out.
Under the battery compartment, there will be another compartment held in place inside a cloth bag. This will be the button compartment.
Carefully cut the cloth covering the button compartment around the edges.
To avoid damaging cables within the button compartment, you can pinch the excess cloth on the sides and begin your cut there.
Remove the button compartment and set it aside.
NOTE: The button compartment from my LeapFrog was completely ruptured from the battery compartment.

Step 4

Find all the broken or disconnected cables.
Using cable pliers or another method, strip the loose ends of the cables.
Once all the cables have been stripped, twist the ends to make them more compact.

Step 5

On the button compartment, pinch the glue on both sides of the circuit board and remove it.
Put the soldering iron to warm up.
Handle soldering iron with care. Be sure to place it on its holder away from the cloth towel and any other flammable material. Never leave a soldering iron unattended.

Step 6

When the soldering iron is ready, place its tip on the first soldered bit that doesn't have a wire connected to it.
Once the solder begins melting, add a little pressure and you will be able to find a hole through the board.
Once you can see the hole, remove the soldering iron and perform this on the rest of the lone soldered bits.
Insert your needle through the holes you just opened and wiggle it to clear them of any extra solder.
Set the soldering iron down (only on its holder) when not in use.

Step 7

Once you have opened all the holes needed, take a look at the board and try to figure out where each loose wire goes.
Place each end of the loose wires through the holes you made in Step 7.
Each button has a group of four wires, and the circuit board is labeled with each of the buttons' names(i.e. circle, square, diamond, etc.). You can also follow the wires that are still connected as guidance.

Step 8

Hold the solder wire with one hand and the soldering iron with the other.
One way to perform this is to hold the soldering iron against the surface you want to solder, then bring the solder wire with the other hand to the tip of the soldering iron.
Once you have finished soldering all the wires, disconnect the soldering iron and place it on its holder on a flat surface. Wash your hands after working with solder.

Step 9

After you have soldered all the groups of wires, cut the excess wires on the other side of the board.
To prevent the wires from touching, use your needle to bend the wires in an up-and-down pattern throughout the board. Cover any exposed wires with electrical tape.
Once you have cut the excess wires, replace the button compartment inside the cloth bag.
The star, triangle, and heart should be oriented towards the head, with the blue side of the circuit board facing up.

Step 10

Once you have put the button compartment inside, sew the hole closed using your needle and thread.
Wet and twist the end of the thread, then hold about one centimeter between your thumb and index finger. Next, push the needle eye into the thread, rather than pushing the thread into the needle.
As you sew the hole, make sure that the other four pairs of colored-cables stay on top of the thread. This will prevent them from being restrained and from being ruptured.

Step 11

After you have sewed the button compartment back into place, you can proceed to replacing the stuffing.
Put the button compartment back inside its sleeve and secure it with the 15-inch cable tie. Cut off the excess cable tie with your scissors.
It is easier to first put the entire battery compartment inside its sleeve, then slowly pull the cloth into place. Then you can push the cable tie through its slot and secure it.