Re: GMCFESIL: (Guy Macon's Cure For Electronics Soaked In Liquids)

Jun 22, 2007 8 Replies
D

Hi Guy,



IMHO, Step #1 should be: "DO NOT attempt (FIGHT THE TEMPTATION) to power it up it see if it still works!"


We used to sell cellular phones, and we'd get a "liquid damage customer"at least once per month.



First question: "Have you tried powering it on?" If the answer was "Yes", our responce was "Well, it's probably TOAST, then!" The look on their face when the realization hit them was a little sad, but a little bit funny, too.



>
>
> Gabor wrote:
>>
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>>>
>>> We don't know enough about cleaning and tips and tricks to really fill
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>>>
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>>> and if there is anything you could add to the site please feel free to
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>>> could improve the site or if something doesn't seem to be working
>>> properly.
>>
>>How about...
>>How to clean your keyboard
>>
>>
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>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> GMCFESIL: (Guy Macon's Cure For Electronics Soaked In Liquids)
>
>
> (Feel free to repost, but please include this reference
> to my webpage at [
formatting link
].)
>
>
> [1] Remove all power sources. Unplug the device and
> remove all batteries, including soldered in batteries
> if you can.
>
>
> [2] Disassemble the device as well as your skills allow.
> If there is a paper cone speaker or other part that
> looks like it might be damaged by water, set it aside.
>
>
> [3] Go outside with a garden hose or put it in the sink
> and flush it with clean water to try to remove any
> soap, coffee, urine, or whatever else you managed to
> get in there.
>
>
> [4] Use a 1/2 gallon jug of distilled water (make sure it's
> the distilled kind) and flush out the normal water.
>
>
> [5] Use a bottle or two of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to
> flush the distilled water out. For antique devices
> that may have natural rubber in them, use pure drinking
> alcohol. In either case, the higher the proof/percentage
> the better.
>
>
> [6] Put it in a warm, dry place until you can't smell any
> alcohol. Then leave it for at least another day before
> reassembling and testing.
>
>
> [7] If you are in a hurry, you can try to accelerate step
> six with a fan, blow drier, etc. It's up to you to
> insure that you don't start an alcohol fire.
>
>
> Guy Macon
>
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>
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>
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G

Excellent suggestion. Here is the new version:

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GMCFESIL: (Guy Macon's Cure For Electronics Soaked In Liquids)

(Feel free to repost, but please include this reference to my webpage at [

formatting link
].)

[1] Do not attempt to power the device up to see if it still works. Doing so is likely to damage the electronics. [2] Remove all power sources. Unplug the device and remove all batteries, including soldered in batteries if you can. [3] Disassemble the device as well as your skills allow. If there is a paper cone speaker or other part that looks like it might be damaged by water, set it aside. [4] Go outside with a garden hose or put it in the sink and flush it with clean water to try to remove any soap, coffee, urine, or whatever else you managed to get in there. [5] Use a 1/2 gallon jug of distilled water (make sure it's the distilled kind) and flush out the normal water. [6] Use a bottle or two of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to flush the distilled water out. For antique devices that may have natural rubber in them, use pure drinking alcohol. In either case, the higher the proof/percentage the better. [7] Put it in a warm, dry place until you can't smell any alcohol. Then leave it for at least another day before reassembling and testing. [8] If you are in a hurry, you can try to accelerate step six with a fan, blow drier, etc. It's up to you to insure that you don't start an alcohol fire.

Guy Macon

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Thanks!

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E

Guy Macon writes: [snip]

Won't the fire dry things faster?

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M

[6a] If you use pure drinking alcohol, fight the urge to let it drain into you mouth.
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H

(6b) Reduce drying time by licking off any excess alcohol.

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A

What about for electronics that are still working but are full of water especially things like static inverters , fluro light balasts , transmitters , industrial pcs etc ?

Alex

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G

The water will cause ionic corrosion, thus converting the working unit into a nonworking unit. This can happen in a week if you spilled, say, salt water in it, or it could take months if the liquid was tap water. If you are lucky the failure will be an open circuit and the unit will go dead. If you are unlucky it will be a short circuit and the unit will catch on fire.

Simply letting it dry does not remove the deposits that promote corrosion. GMCFESIL: (Guy Macon's Cure For Electronics Soaked In Liquids) does. Once dry, the damage comes from humidity and the minerals/salts deposited on the circuitry, which means that the unit may survive for years in a dry desert environment, but go bad in a few weeks in a humid environment.

If the liquid has an organic component (coffee with cream, soda, blood, urine, etc.) it can promote insect infestations, bacterial growth, or mold.

(Feel free to insert humorous comment of your choice here concerning how one manages to soak a PC in blood or urine. extra points if you mention Bill Gates.) :)

-------------------------------------------------------------

GMCFESIL: (Guy Macon's Cure For Electronics Soaked In Liquids)

(Feel free to repost, but please include this reference to my webpage at [

formatting link
].)

[1] Do not attempt to power the device up to see if it still works. Doing so is likely to damage the electronics. [2] Remove all power sources. Unplug the device and remove all batteries, including soldered in batteries if you can. [3] Disassemble the device as well as your skills allow. If there is a paper cone speaker or other part that looks like it might be damaged by water, set it aside. [4] Go outside with a garden hose or put it in the sink and flush it with clean water to try to remove any soap, coffee, urine, or whatever else you managed to get in there. [5] Use a 1/2 gallon jug of distilled water (make sure it's the distilled kind) and flush out the normal water. [6] Use a bottle or two of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to flush the distilled water out. For antique devices that may have natural rubber in them, use pure drinking alcohol. In either case, the higher the proof/percentage the better. [7] Put it in a warm, dry place until you can't smell any alcohol. Then leave it for at least another day before reassembling and testing. [8] If you are in a hurry, you can try to accelerate step six with a fan, blow drier, etc. It's up to you to insure that you don't start an alcohol fire.

Guy Macon

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R

Someone misunderstood the concept of "p-code"?

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