Disable Mute Button

[Reedsofok]

We have a portable DVD player for our daughter who has disabilities. She keeps muting it and then can't unmute it. Is there any way to disable the mute button so that she can't push it?

 

[ADRT]

It would involve taking the player apart if you think you can do that without damaging it. Usually the exterior button is a plastic piece that is separate from the actual momentary push button mounted to the electronics board. Simply remove the external plastic piece and cover the hole with something.

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Some other ideas.

• Desolder and remove the actual pushbutton (a "tact switch", usually) from the board;
• Cut the track to one of the pushbutton's solder pads - as long as there's only one track going to the pad, and no more than two pads are connected, otherwise you might stop other buttons from working too;
• Desolder and remove the pushutton, cut one of the required leads off it (or bend it outwards so it won't go through the board), and refit and resolder it;
• If the pushutton has a plastic stalk, cut it off;
• Use some strong glue such as two-part epoxy to glue the plastic button presser piece to the front panel so it can't be pressed down.