On Monday, April 25, 2016 at 8:28:56 AM UTC-4, Teodor V. wrote:
On 2016-04-25 11:59, wrote:
Hi all

I have a lamp I use for camping. Accidently it was left with the batteries in for the winter, and they have leaked a bit.
I have repaired cases like this before, usually with a file and sand paper, then added some solder on it.
But do you have any better suggestions?

I've wandered across gear with leaked batteries a number of times in my
life... What I do these days is to disassemble, go over what I can wash
in water and what I can't. What I can't wash in water I go over with an
old toothbrush (tho an ESD brush should be safer) and IPA (Isopropyl
alcohol) or IPA wipes (or denatured ethanol) taking off any residue I
can get off.

The rest I use a dedicated dish brush and your garden variety washing up
liquid on, as well as hot water as my hands can bear.
Haven't run across things leaked to such an extent that solders have to
be redone or reflowed.

As to tougher spots of electrolyte, I've recently come across videos of
using white vinegar (acetic acid), pickling grade to remove corrosion, I
wonder if it could work on tough crusts of electrolyte?

/Teo.

--
Teodor Väänänen | Don't meddle in the affairs of wizards,
| for you are good and crunchy with
Remove stupidity to reply | ketchup.

Yes, vinegar and/or baking soda, depending on the nature of the leaked electrolyte. If possible, the dishwasher as preferred cleaning method top rack, and only those machines without an exposed heating element inside. That will remove any salts and loose corrosion.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA