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Drying a submariner propellor — Parallax Forums

Drying a submariner propellor

JonathanJonathan Posts: 1,023
edited 2011-02-16 11:30 in Propeller 1
Hi All,

Ouch! Just went out to check on my wind turbine and found that my propellor based controller was submerged under about 4 inches of water. I don't know how that much water got into my enclosure, but there it is. Anyway, any suggestions for how long to dry the prop and other components? It was still on a bread board. I think I'll blow it out with compressed air and stick it in the oven.

Poop. Wonder if my data from the strom is still on the eeprom. Along with a cry from help from the prop. Help me, Spock.... :)

Jonathan

Comments

  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-02-16 08:57
    I would suggest using some cleaner (99% alcohol) to remove any water-born grime, use a hair dryer to remove as much water from under components, then put in a low heat (200 degrees) oven for an hour or so. You really want to ensure that all water is out from under components.

    Once you've got it dried out give it a try -- you may be okay. My business partner cleans PCBs in a dishwasher and they're fine, so long as they're properly dried.
  • Miner_with_a_PICMiner_with_a_PIC Posts: 123
    edited 2011-02-16 09:08
    This reminds me of a couple of incidents where electronics got wet, one was a remote that dropped off the couch into full cup of soda and the other a cell phone that got completely submerged for an entire rafting event(~3hrs + 2hrs before servicing). In both cases I used alcohol, 100% (optimum) or if you must 91% as a dehydrating agent (for the soda incident warm water was used to wash away the sugars prior to applying alcohol). First shake off excess water, next submerge in alcohol with agitation (< 1 minute), get a fresh quantity of alcohol and repeat. Remove excess alcohol and dry (air or warm oven). The alcohol gets into all the nooks and crannies and grabs the water and allows for removal of the H2O with the alcohol. The main issue worry about is corrosion which results naturally from oxidation and can be aided by biased wires (electrolysis).
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 1,023
    edited 2011-02-16 11:08
    Well, what I did was blow it all off with compressed air, spray it with contact cleaner, wait a few, more compressed air and then bake in the oven for a couple of hours.

    And whaddaya know, it works! Data intact too. It lives boss, it lives!

    Thanks for the suggestions

    Jonathan
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2011-02-16 11:30
    glad to see that your propeller did not suffer any cavitation!
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