4 ms·
How do you wash electronic components without causing damage?
by oAlbe 6y ago
How do you wash electronic components without causing damage?
- lmilcin 6y agoMost boards can be washed safely but there are some components that can be damaged. Safest method is to use distilled, deoxygenated water (aka electronic water) to remove most contaminants, followed by 99% isopropyl alcohol or 96% ethyl alcohol to remove the rest and also water. Don't skimp on water and alcohol, submerge the board and use brush while submerged, to pull and dilute contaminants. Just never use tap or mineral water. You can use regular distilled water as long as you do it quickly, but unless it is deoxygenated it will be corroding so don't leave it in water for long. Alcohol is there mostly to dilute water so that it dries out very quickly. Without alcohol water could stay under components for a long time and kill or damage your board. Alcohols can damage some plastic components, so don't keep it in alcohol fo too long, either.
- Ardon 6y agoWater is not instantly harmful to unpowered electronics, especially distilled water. Just make sure there's no power and go to town.
- lmilcin 6y agoI would add that washing with water is normal part of board production. Fluxes are designed to be water soluble and a lot of fluxes are washed with water with addition of saponifiers. It is also normal to wash a board in ultrasonic cleaner after any rework or at the end of production process (especially in small scale production).