Wet Electronics. WAS: RE: [at-l] Hike Report DWG->HR Day 2

[Clifford R. Haynes" <chaynes@megalink.net (Clifford R. Haynes)]

Rubbing alcohol is about 70% water. it's actually best to just pull the
battery and let  it dry, if the water was pure. If the water wasn't pure it
is best to soak/wash out the dirty water with distilled water and let it dry
before use.

----- Original Message -----
From: Shane Steinkamp <shane@theplacewithnoname.com>
To: W F Thorneloe <thornel@attglobal.net>; <at-l@backcountry.net>
Cc: Shane Steinkamp <shane@theplacewithnoname.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 11:24 AM
Subject: Wet Electronics. WAS: RE: [at-l] Hike Report DWG->HR Day 2


> > I awoke with the door slightly downhill, a puddle and 1
> > inch of rain covering my new cell phone and disposable
> > camera. They weren't in Ziplocks out of stupidity...
>
> > My drenched cell phone does nothing. It holds my important
> > phone numbers. I am screwed.
>
> > I get into the motel, find no HBO, lots of Weather
> > Channel, a shower, no hair dryer or other means of force
> > drying the phone.
>
> This is an important lesson on several counts, but I thought I'd add some
> tricks to try if this happens to you.  I have had a lot of experience with
> wet electronics.  The following is provided as 'emergency survival' for
your
> electronics, and isn't 100%.  YMMV.
>
> Electronic devices are sensitive to water, but most hand-held things like
> cell phones, radios, walkmans, and cameras that run on DC batteries aren't
> really harmed by water as long as they are OFF.  If the device is off,
then
> there is no juice flowing through the circuit to short out.
>
> If you ever drown your cell phone, like OB did, here's what you should do:
>
> Pop the face-plate off.  Pop the battery cover off, or the battery if
there
> is no cover.  Drop the cell phone, bottom down, into a sock, and sling it
> around your head really hard for fifteen seconds.  Take it out, drop it
into
> the sock top down and sling it around your head again for a few seconds.
> The centrifugal force will drive out the water.
>
> If you have rubbing alcohol, put the cell phone in a plastic bag, and pour
> in the alcohol.  Shake.  Repeat above phone-in-sock procedure with a dry
> sock.  The alcohol will displace the water, and dry faster.  High-octane
> booze will work too.  (Tequila rescued my weather radio.)  Beer will not.
> Do NOT use the alcohol you burn in your alcohol stove, as this may
dissolve
> something...  If you are desperate, cut the fuel alcohol with 50% water
and
> try that, but only if you are desperate.
>
> Put the battery back in, but leave the covers off.  Let the phone dry.
Put
> the covers back on.
>
> After it dries, it should be fine.
>
> If you don't have alcohol, still sling the phone in a sock and twirl it
> around and around.  Wash the unit out with alcohol at the earliest
> convenience.  MAKE SURE IT'S OFF when you do this.  You can also buy an
> electronics cleaner from electronic supply houses, but straight Isopropyl
> will work fine.
>
> Of course, the other lesson is to have a paper back-up of your important
> numbers.
>
> Shane
>
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