Wet PC

[Renegade 13]

Whoa dude, that day is a long way off. Just look at Canada One of the least populated countries per square mile. Come move up here if you're worried about endless cities, and where people have a number not a name. It'll be a long time before Canada is overpopulated!! Of course, you have to like snow, and cold, and dark, and hard work, but if you do, this is the place for you!

Seriously, I can see what you are describing happening within a century or two, but hopefully by that time I'll be long gone.

[Phoenix-D]

Atrocities, I'd like to point out that predictions of that sort aren't new. It was once predicted that we would overpopulate and begin to starve within 40 years.

That was 1798.

[Wardad]

Atrocities,

Sorry to hear of your problems.

I have some experience with WET circuit Boards. Cold testing below 0c has a way of frosting up the Boards with moisture from room air. Some what avoidable... but back on subject.

Power Down and dry the PCs quickly, with warm to hot air. A hair dryer could help, just avoid too hot settings that can melt stuff.

I generally stick contaminated Lab Test Boards in a burn in oven set to LESS than 70c for several hours.
Caution: A home oven may not be well behaved, use a thermometer.

70c is the standard commercial IC operating maximum, but with the power off your IC can handle higher storage temperatues. The real limit will be the pLastic connectors etc.

Your pc Boards are likely to be an FR4 epoxy fiberglass, which is porous, like a sponge with microscopic holes. It should have the standard print coat moisture barrier, but check around the solder lands and you will see that the coverage is not 100%.

One of the worst things that could happen...
A milky white and very conductive substance forms around the solder joints and causes a short.
A little washing with a qtip (or antistatic brush) and 90% rubbing alcohol can clean it up.
BUT... this crap forms were water sits, like under connectors and sockets that you can't get to. Murphies law you know.

good luck

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Atrocities, the evils of the day really are sufficient.

i'm not saying that planning for the future is bad, but, at the risk of sounding trite, to make a difference tommorrow you do something today.

[ January 31, 2004, 23:44: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
Atrocities, the evils of the day really are sufficient.

i'm not saying that planning for the future is bad, but, at the risk of sounding trite, to make a difference tommorrow you do something today.

If you can make a differance to day, you have my blessing. The unfortunate truth is, what ever gains you make today may be forgotten tomorrow.

But that does not mean you should not try to make the world a better place.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

if they may be forgotten tommorrow, they may also be remembered tommorrow.