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[Water Damage? — Parallax Forums

[Water Damage?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-06-29 10:44 in General Discussion
I have an outside robot that got caught in the rain for a couple of minutes
without its protective cover while I came inside to check the computer
readout.(dumb me). All the electronics got wet including the BS2, Linx HP
xmit,rcr, motor mind B, gear motors and my vom. I disconnected the power and now
have a fan blowing over the electronics. Question - have I smoked everything or
is there a chance?
Jerry

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-28 14:06
    There is a chance.
    I have saved many flood electronics (saltwater is worst) before.
    Disconnect all connected parts.
    Carefully dry everything (may use a hair dryer -low temp!)
    (50% alchool 50% distillled water could help to a first clean)
    (take care to not initiate a fire)
    Clean any oxide signs(small brush).
    Verify for cut wires. Reflux solderings if signs corroded.
    Test items separeted.
    For future consider use a conformal coating.
    Good luck
    ACJacques

    CGIJERRY@A... wrote:
    >
    > I have an outside robot that got caught in the rain for a couple of minutes
    without its protective cover while I came inside to check the computer
    readout.(dumb me). All the electronics got wet including the BS2, Linx HP
    xmit,rcr, motor mind B, gear motors and my vom. I disconnected the power and now
    have a fan blowing over the electronics. Question - have I smoked everything or
    is there a chance?
    > Jerry
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-28 14:14
    I had a similar experience sometime ago. It came out OK, after treatment
    similar to the steps descibed by A.C. Jacques. Just one word of caution: you
    may have to be *very* patient with the drying process, especially in wet
    weather. Residual humidity it may go undetected by a common ohm meter, yet
    short parts of the Stamp.
    Best of luck.
    George Chamilothoris.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-28 14:27
    Another way to get water out of electronics is to put it in a bell jar and
    suck the air out of the bell (if it can fit). As the pressure drops the
    boiling point of water drops and you literally boil the water off at room
    temperature.

    Then you just have to get the disolved solids off. We used to do this when
    our pressure meters would unseal and 1000PSI salt brine would pour in!

    Regards,

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * 8 channels of PWM at http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak5.htm


    >
    Original Message
    > From: A.C.Jacques [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=fUIWjyf8aW6oArTn8uchv-XYvHmYH1ZLa68lS1YGPh15QghU7x616UgptmLUTx_gVohC-OellZS9jt6T06G3x7o0]acjacques@i...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 8:06 AM
    > To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: [noparse][[/noparse]Water Damage?
    >
    >
    > There is a chance.
    > I have saved many flood electronics (saltwater is worst) before.
    > Disconnect all connected parts.
    > Carefully dry everything (may use a hair dryer -low temp!)
    > (50% alchool 50% distillled water could help to a first clean)
    > (take care to not initiate a fire)
    > Clean any oxide signs(small brush).
    > Verify for cut wires. Reflux solderings if signs corroded.
    > Test items separeted.
    > For future consider use a conformal coating.
    > Good luck
    > ACJacques
    >
    > CGIJERRY@A... wrote:
    > >
    > > I have an outside robot that got caught in the rain for a
    > couple of minutes without its protective cover while I came
    > inside to check the computer readout.(dumb me). All the
    > electronics got wet including the BS2, Linx HP xmit,rcr, motor
    > mind B, gear motors and my vom. I disconnected the power and now
    > have a fan blowing over the electronics. Question - have I smoked
    > everything or is there a chance?
    > > Jerry
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-28 16:29
    Thanks. very encouraging words. Right now I have a couple of hair driers
    going(low heat) and on the surface it appears dry but I know that down in the
    crevices it is still wet. Patience will be hard to come by since I am anxious to
    know if all my components will still work. Oh well, its a rainy day. I'll find
    something else to do during the drying process....
    Jerry..
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-29 07:57
    CGIJERRY@A... wrote:
    >
    > I have an outside robot that got caught in the rain for a couple of minutes
    without its protective cover while I came inside to check the computer
    readout.(dumb me). All the electronics got wet including the BS2, Linx HP
    xmit,rcr, motor mind B, gear motors and my vom. I disconnected the power and now
    have a fan blowing over the electronics. Question - have I smoked everything or
    is there a chance?
    > Jerry

    Jerry -

    I highly doubt it. You'll probably know for sure by the time you read
    this. You might consider a conformal coating to protect the electronics.
    This is a (generally) clear or translucent liquid which comes with
    various applicatiors (spray, brush, dip), different types (re-entrant or
    permanent, dye-colored or "clear", thick/medium/thin viscosity, varying
    chemical compositions ("tar"/petro-chem, latex/silicone, in a
    non-conductive vehicle/base.

    Many companies make this type of product, and here are just a few names
    that come to mind:

    Humiseal
    GC Chemicals
    3M

    This is the same sort of "goo" the US Army uses on new and stored
    weapons, and most of it is impervious to all but the most severe weather
    and service conditions. Most of the manufacuturers can be found by
    searching "industrial coatings" + "conformal"; the later due to the
    property of conforming to the bodies encased in the dried base.

    Hope that helps.

    Regards,

    Bruce
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-29 10:43
    Jerry,
    If your power was off you've done nothing harmful to your robot.
    Don't make the mistake of trying to blow any moisture out with
    compressed air,(you can develop high static charges). A warm
    light bulb and a longer time than necessary to dry things out should
    do the trick. I rebuild and repair CNC machines and some systems
    that have been long in hostile environments, ( any machine shop ),
    get their boards pulled for a trip to the sink, are run under water
    and softly scrubbed with a three inch soft bristle brush and JOY
    liquid....good anti-static properties. A distilled water rinse and
    a long drying time and you're ready to go. Watch out for trim-pots and
    capicitors, try to keep the gunk from getting in.
    Jim Hyland
    Original Message
    From: Bruce Bates <bvbates@u...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 11:57 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: [noparse][[/noparse]Water Damage?


    > CGIJERRY@A... wrote:
    > >
    > > I have an outside robot that got caught in the rain for a couple of
    minutes without its protective cover while I came inside to check the
    computer readout.(dumb me). All the electronics got wet including the BS2,
    Linx HP xmit,rcr, motor mind B, gear motors and my vom. I disconnected the
    power and now have a fan blowing over the electronics. Question - have I
    smoked everything or is there a chance?
    > > Jerry
    >
    > Jerry -
    >
    > I highly doubt it. You'll probably know for sure by the time you read
    > this. You might consider a conformal coating to protect the electronics.
    > This is a (generally) clear or translucent liquid which comes with
    > various applicatiors (spray, brush, dip), different types (re-entrant or
    > permanent, dye-colored or "clear", thick/medium/thin viscosity, varying
    > chemical compositions ("tar"/petro-chem, latex/silicone, in a
    > non-conductive vehicle/base.
    >
    > Many companies make this type of product, and here are just a few names
    > that come to mind:
    >
    > Humiseal
    > GC Chemicals
    > 3M
    >
    > This is the same sort of "goo" the US Army uses on new and stored
    > weapons, and most of it is impervious to all but the most severe weather
    > and service conditions. Most of the manufacuturers can be found by
    > searching "industrial coatings" + "conformal"; the later due to the
    > property of conforming to the bodies encased in the dried base.
    >
    > Hope that helps.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Bruce
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-06-29 10:44
    >>I highly doubt it. You'll probably know for sure by the time you read this.

    Just a followup on the water damage. After 12 hours of drying every thing is up
    and running to my amazement even the video xmit. The power was on when the rain
    started. Usually the cover is on but I was only going to be gone "a couple of
    minutes". That was enough time for the clouds to open up. Thanks for all the
    helpful suggestions..
    Jerry
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