Steve Clunn wrote:
I have a logic system controller that was on a motorcycle and has been
sitting outside. wanted to put the controller on a golf cart and when I
took it out I noticed some water seeping out of it. I took the back off of
it and dumped all the water out but that's screws inside seemed a little
rusty. I haven't put any power to it and I'm wondering before I do if
there's something I can pour inside the controller to clean up some of this
dirt and or water mud.
Hi Steve,
Do not power it up! You really need to look inside to judge how much
water was in there, how long it sat, and how much damage it did. Then
clean it out the best you can, and dry it out *thoroughly* before
applying power.
Don't just "power it up to see if it works". If it's still wet, dirty,
or there are corrosion products, that's a great way to destroy it!
Many modern electronics components can survive exposure to water. Water
based fluxes and cleaners are often used during PCB manufacturing. The
kinds of parts that don't survive well are electromechanical parts, like
switches, relays, and connectors. So, you can wash a circuit board in
clean water (like distilled water) to remove dirt, mud, and other
debris. A *small* amount of detergent can also be used. But don't use
much; it can leave a film on things that will cause problems.
Isopropyl alcohol is a good solvent for more aggressive cleaning. It
also absorbs water, and so is very good as a "drying agent" to get water
out of things.
If there are any visible signs of rust or corrosion, it means the water
has been there for a long time. That's bad news. Traces can corrode
away, connectors can lose their contact plating, and the corrosion
products can leave behind conductive residue that creates random shorts
and leakage currents. Boards with this kind of damage are difficult or
impossible to restore.
Good luck with it!
--
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more
violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage, to move
in the opposite direction. -- Albert Einstein
--
Lee A. Hart, http://www.sunrise-ev.com/LeesEVs.htm
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