Micro SD card stuck in plotter

Skylark

Skylark

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 Jun 2007
Messages
7,667
Location
Home: North West, Boat: The Clyde
Visit site
I'd not inserted a card into my Simrad NSS12 for about 18 months until June due to Covid. At that time is was stiff/hard to insert but I was able to remove it without issue. Used the boat again this week and now the card is well and truly stuck. Simrad support team suggest either thin nose pliers or a blade.

Does anyone have any alternative suggestions based upon a similar experience?

IMG_1616.jpg
 
When you insert a micro sim in most devices a catch engages with the notch on the side of it. Removal normally requires you to push it futher in to release the catch. Is the Simrad like that? If it is then attempting to pull it out with pliers may not be a good idea. Is there a good reason why it must be removed? If you do try pliers, be very gentle with it.
 
Thanks, @Norman_E

Yes, the Simrad card normally requires it to be pushed further in to enable it to spring out. The picture shows that its edge is flush with the slot so stuck, probably through lack of use in a marine environment. I don't think pliers, or better tweezers, will work as there is no visible card section to grip. A Simrad guy also suggested a knife blade as there is a small lip on the edge of the card.

The main reason to remove it is that "I always do" whenever I leave the boat. Another reason is to up-date the cartography.
 
+1 for pushing in before. pulling,, should br very little in there to hold it apart from the very small side clip
 
RichardS said:
I would spray something in there to try and free it off.

First choice would be contact cleaner with lubricant, second choice would be contact cleaner and third choice would be WD40 ..... but all should be OK.

Richard
Click to expand...
Thanks, Richard,

I wasn't planning to "confess" but I had to seek help from WD40 to insert it. Holding the card as close as possible to the rear, I slid it in-out-in-out at least 20 times until I was confident enough to fully insert it, it was that stiff. Sadly, it seems that the rubbing action was insufficient to fully free it and hence it's stuck ?

Leaving my boat virtually unattended for so long thanks to Covid has caused many issues. Boats are made to be used! Not sat in cradles :cry: I've just had the headsail furling mechanism replaced (this also required a new forestay). My sound system has died. Even the light inside the fridge has gone dim. Nothing is "simple" anymore. I removed the light cover expecting to see a bulb......but.....oh no, it's a small circuit boat containing LEDs. During my next visit, I plan to spray this with contact cleaner (more in hope than expectation) so I'll also use it on the SD card/plotter.

Separate moan, why does it use a micro SD card? These things are unnecessarily tiny, far from appropriate for a marine environment. There's enough room on my plotter for a 4 1/2 inch floppy disk :)
 
Skylark said:
Separate moan, why does it use a micro SD card? These things are unnecessarily tiny, far from appropriate for a marine environment. There's enough room on my plotter for a 4 1/2 inch floppy disk :)
Click to expand...
Try and buy the contact cleaner with lubricant. It's probably more appropriate for the marine environment.

I agree with you about the micro SD card. That's just perverse. :(

Richard
 
Don't spray anything in there except Plastic Safe Contact Cleaner ... and DEFINITELY NOT WD40 !!

OK ... this is a problem that many of us RC'rs get with some of our gear that use SD Cards ... what happens is the small tab that locks the card in place - when you press card to let it eject a small amount - is stuck and it holds the card in.

Solution ... YES - thin knife blade --- NOT PLIERS. Make sure card is pressed in as would be to eject. Now carefully insert a thin blade and then taking care - prise the card out slowly using that lip at its outer side. It will likely take a few attempts to get it to come out ..

DO NOT force it out unless you have pressed it in first - if you do - then you will damage the card slot and it may then never lock a card in.

Sometimes you will find that you need to PRESS in ... try prise it out .... PRESS in again ..... repeatedly ... due to the locking tab not working well ... but repeat and it will usually give up the fight ...

Once out - you can use SAFE Contact Cleaner in there to see if tab can be freed up ... but please do not use anything else ...
 
I wasn't planning to "confess" but I had to seek help from WD40 to insert it.
Click to expand...

That ADDS to the problem .... you know that WD40 leaves crappy residue ? Even the 'new formula' does ... its crap !!

I used to help in a Car Service in return for use of their gear for my Club Race Car ...... service guys hate car electrics - so that was what I used to help with. Actually led to my getting married - fixed a young girls car .... but anyway - one of the common faults was WD40 sprayed into distributor caps .... so much residue ..... First thing we'd do was to spray in contact cleaner to get rid of it ...
 
Refueler said:
Is that why its recc'd NOT to spray ignition parts too much ??

You want oil in an SD Card slot ?
Click to expand...
It will have no effect at all on HT voltages and very unlikely to affect low voltages as the spring contacts will push it aside. It is a risk worth taking rather than getting the card stuck in the slot or not being able to get it out. If you have ever used lubricating contact cleaner then that also leaves a similar thin layer of oil on the contact surfaces but it does not cause a problem as it is designed to be pushed aside.

Richard
 
If there is space to get it in try this. Cut up a drinks can and cut a strip about 10mm wide. Fold it 90 degrees close to one end. Cut the folded bit off square and about 2mm from the fold, then flatten it so that it makes a hook. Insert it on the opposite side of the card to the contacts so that the folded piece catches the small lip on the card, and see if that will pull it out. Drinks cans are only about 5 thousandths of an inch thick so a folded piece should go in. If its too loose and does not grip, use tinplate from a traditional can, as it is both stronger and a bit thicker.
 
How about using a set of feeler gauges, one piece either side you need the thickest possible that can remain mobile then using decent long nose pliers attempt to clamp the card between the feelers the beauty of this method is you can vary the thickness to suit also I would try some mild heat say from a hair drier just give it your best shot without causing damage good luck also a better tool for this method is long nose mole grips
 
Last edited:
I would caution against forcing it. I managed to bend the little contacts in the plotter which stopped it working until they were straightened out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top