HELP! I spilled water on all my electrical equipment!

keith p · 06-29-2008, 12:38 PM

Help!

My return hose popped off the false wall on my Aquapod 12G. It spilled water all over all my switches and electrical equipment. I'm not worried about the cheap power strips, but I am concerned about some the more pricey electronic stuff. The GFI outlet popped instantly.

What do I use to clean it? I opened everything up with a screwdriver (split every housing) and aimed a fan at them. It has all dried with a salty stickiness. What can I clean this stuff with? I was thinking non-lubricated switch cleaner from radio-shack.

PhotoJohn · 06-29-2008, 01:02 PM

you could probably use RO water as long as you let it all dry

keith p · 06-29-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJohn

you could probably use RO water as long as you let it all dry

Even on the brand new Aquacontroller JR (which I was going to hang later today) ?

PhotoJohn · 06-29-2008, 02:19 PM

hmmm i dont know about that. i would contact the company first

BrianG · 06-29-2008, 04:04 PM

Did it get on the controler it self?

keith p · 06-29-2008, 07:50 PM

Everything got hosed

I got un-lubricated switch cleaner from rat-shack. Everything is working now.

I got a new hose that won't slip out and screws to finish hanging everything (with drip loops!)

**SaltCritters** · 06-29-2008, 08:08 PM

that happened to me a few weeks ago. I just let my Aquacontroller sit under the fan over night then sprayed some WD40 on a rag and lightly wipped the board off. Unfortuently my DC8 didn't make it

BrianG · 06-29-2008, 10:47 PM

I have also used rubbing alcahol with cutips and cleaned off the contact points, and just let the item sit out and air dry over night.

bbl_nk · 07-01-2008, 04:27 PM

I'd stay away from using more water. As an old avionics tech in the Navy, and having gone through corrosion control classes...water isn't the best cleaning agent for this. Get yourself a squirt bottle with a tip where you can get a small steady stream, rubbing alcohol, small brishes (snall, stiff bristle paint brush, toothbrush, q-tips, etc) and get ready to clean. Stay away from lubricants like WD40 and the such. They will elave a residue that is a conductor.

* Scrape away any visible chunks of salt
* Spray with alcohol and allow to drain off and flush out
* Clean with brushes being careful around components
* Reflush with alcohol and allow to air dry
* Recheck and see if there is any visible residue

You can also check out a spray electronics cleaning solvent. Not sure if they have any at Radio Shack but do a Google search on it.

Good Luck!

**CarmieJo** · 07-01-2008, 11:00 PM

Great info, thanks Brian!

keith p · 07-02-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbl_nk

You can also check out a spray electronics cleaning solvent. Not sure if they have any at Radio Shack but do a Google search on it.

Good Luck!

Thanks. Thats what I did. So far, so good.

Next I need to make a gutter to protect my gear.

bbl_nk · 07-03-2008, 08:16 PM

We used to use liquid freon before the EPA outlawed it. It worked INCREDIBLE for cleaning corrosion on electronics. The nice thing about the spray and or alcohol is that it will evaporate quickly but is liquid enough to flush out the nasties.

Its amazing how we pick a hobby where we put so much into electrical and dangle it so close to constant danger

inachu · 08-25-2008, 03:30 PM

This is why I put my fluval into a smalll canister in case of leaks.