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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
I'm doing scheduled maintenance on a number of PA system amplifiers
located in a night club. Normally these machines get a clean with compressed air and optional paintbrush for stubborn fur balls. Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. Is my best cleaning strategy for cleaning amps affected by this problem to liberally wash the PCB with isopropanol and let them dry? Removing the boards would have to be the only way I suppose as in-situ cleaning, aside from creating problems with excess solvent, means the underside of the board doesn't get done. Optionally I can use methylated spirits (denatured ethanol) as a cleaning solvent which is MUCH cheaper than isopropanol here although probably not as effective in terms of removing oily residues. Any feedback appreciated! Cheers, Anton. |
#2
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
"Antony N. Lord" wrote in message ... Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. FWIW, I believe the chemical is (ethylene) glycol mixed with water. In the US they are called fog machines. http://www.smoke-source.com/Smoke_Machine.html |
#3
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
In article , Antony N. Lord wrote:
I'm doing scheduled maintenance on a number of PA system amplifiers located in a night club. Normally these machines get a clean with compressed air and optional paintbrush for stubborn fur balls. Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. Is my best cleaning strategy for cleaning amps affected by this problem to liberally wash the PCB with isopropanol and let them dry? Removing the boards would have to be the only way I suppose as in-situ cleaning, aside from creating problems with excess solvent, means the underside of the board doesn't get done. Optionally I can use methylated spirits (denatured ethanol) as a cleaning solvent which is MUCH cheaper than isopropanol here although probably not as effective in terms of removing oily residues. Any feedback appreciated! See how it works. i would think water or water/alcohol would be best. greg |
#4
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
Antony N. Lord wrote: I'm doing scheduled maintenance on a number of PA system amplifiers located in a night club. Normally these machines get a clean with compressed air and optional paintbrush for stubborn fur balls. Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. Is my best cleaning strategy for cleaning amps affected by this problem to liberally wash the PCB with isopropanol and let them dry? Removing the boards would have to be the only way I suppose as in-situ cleaning, aside from creating problems with excess solvent, means the underside of the board doesn't get done. Optionally I can use methylated spirits (denatured ethanol) as a cleaning solvent which is MUCH cheaper than isopropanol here although probably not as effective in terms of removing oily residues. Any feedback appreciated! Cheers, Anton. Short of using some dedicated flux remover or PC board cleaner in a can, here is one thing you can try: WD40. SPray on WD40 and scrub with a small paint brush, tooth brush or Q-tips. I had a old pioneer board last week i tried with alcohol and such and it would not come clean or would leave deposits on the board. The WD40 seemed to do the trick. I have also tried small portable steamers with limited success. Bob ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#5
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
Bob Urz wrote:
Antony N. Lord wrote: I'm doing scheduled maintenance on a number of PA system amplifiers located in a night club. Normally these machines get a clean with compressed air and optional paintbrush for stubborn fur balls. Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. Is my best cleaning strategy for cleaning amps affected by this problem to liberally wash the PCB with isopropanol and let them dry? Removing the boards would have to be the only way I suppose as in-situ cleaning, aside from creating problems with excess solvent, means the underside of the board doesn't get done. Optionally I can use methylated spirits (denatured ethanol) as a cleaning solvent which is MUCH cheaper than isopropanol here although probably not as effective in terms of removing oily residues. Any feedback appreciated! Cheers, Anton. Short of using some dedicated flux remover or PC board cleaner in a can, here is one thing you can try: WD40. SPray on WD40 and scrub with a small paint brush, tooth brush or Q-tips. I had a old pioneer board last week i tried with alcohol and such and it would not come clean or would leave deposits on the board. The WD40 seemed to do the trick. I have also tried small portable steamers with limited success. Bob ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- I've had pretty good luck with Simple Green and a scrub brush (tooth brush for hard to reach spots). jak |
#6
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
"jakdedert" wrote in message ... Bob Urz wrote: Antony N. Lord wrote: I'm doing scheduled maintenance on a number of PA system amplifiers located in a night club. Normally these machines get a clean with compressed air and optional paintbrush for stubborn fur balls. Some clubs use smoke machines and this oily fluid frequently finds its way in to equipment. Is my best cleaning strategy for cleaning amps affected by this problem to liberally wash the PCB with isopropanol and let them dry? Removing the boards would have to be the only way I suppose as in-situ cleaning, aside from creating problems with excess solvent, means the underside of the board doesn't get done. Optionally I can use methylated spirits (denatured ethanol) as a cleaning solvent which is MUCH cheaper than isopropanol here although probably not as effective in terms of removing oily residues. Any feedback appreciated! Cheers, Anton. Short of using some dedicated flux remover or PC board cleaner in a can, here is one thing you can try: WD40. SPray on WD40 and scrub with a small paint brush, tooth brush or Q-tips. I had a old pioneer board last week i tried with alcohol and such and it would not come clean or would leave deposits on the board. The WD40 seemed to do the trick. I have also tried small portable steamers with limited success. Bob ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- I've had pretty good luck with Simple Green and a scrub brush (tooth brush for hard to reach spots). jak There's a particular commercial board that I repair in large quantities, which gets very dirty with food residues, in some cases. It is all conventional leaded and surface mount R's, C's and semis. Has a few pin-type, and box header type connectors. No enclosed items. No coils. I wash these with hot water and normal washing up detergent. I squib some detergent on first, then flick on some hot water from a running tap ( faucet ), using a nylon-bristled long-handled dishwashing brush. The detergent can then be worked up into a lather with the brush, and the board given a good scrub, both sides. It is then thoroughly rinsed under the running hot water, then firmly shaken to remove the bulk of the water, and finally placed on end in front of a fairly powerful fan. It is totally dry inside a couple of minutes, and looks like new. Have never had any issues with any kind of short or long-term problems, following carrying out this cleaning. Arfa |
#7
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
"Arfa Daily" wrote in
: There's a particular commercial board that I repair in large quantities, which gets very dirty with food residues, in some cases. It is all conventional leaded and surface mount R's, C's and semis. Has a few pin-type, and box header type connectors. No enclosed items. No coils. I wash these with hot water and normal washing up detergent. I squib some detergent on first, then flick on some hot water from a running tap ( faucet ), using a nylon-bristled long-handled dishwashing brush. The detergent can then be worked up into a lather with the brush, and the board given a good scrub, both sides. It is then thoroughly rinsed under the running hot water, then firmly shaken to remove the bulk of the water, and finally placed on end in front of a fairly powerful fan. It is totally dry inside a couple of minutes, and looks like new. Have never had any issues with any kind of short or long-term problems, following carrying out this cleaning. Arfa I've run circuit boards through my automatic dishwasher using Calgonite(no rinse agent),but I prefer a drying oven (not 150 degF) with a slight negative pressure inside to draw out moisture.This was particularly good for hi-Z DMM boards,often solving leakage problems. At TEK-Indy and Orlando,we used a sprayed Kelite solution(commercial degreaser),water rinse,and into the drying oven for 3 days minimum,but that was for whole instruments. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net |
#8
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
Jim Yanik wrote: "Arfa Daily" wrote in : There's a particular commercial board that I repair in large quantities, which gets very dirty with food residues, in some cases. It is all conventional leaded and surface mount R's, C's and semis. Has a few pin-type, and box header type connectors. No enclosed items. No coils. I wash these with hot water and normal washing up detergent. I squib some detergent on first, then flick on some hot water from a running tap ( faucet ), using a nylon-bristled long-handled dishwashing brush. The detergent can then be worked up into a lather with the brush, and the board given a good scrub, both sides. It is then thoroughly rinsed under the running hot water, then firmly shaken to remove the bulk of the water, and finally placed on end in front of a fairly powerful fan. It is totally dry inside a couple of minutes, and looks like new. Have never had any issues with any kind of short or long-term problems, following carrying out this cleaning. Arfa I've run circuit boards through my automatic dishwasher using Calgonite(no rinse agent),but I prefer a drying oven (not 150 degF) with a slight negative pressure inside to draw out moisture.This was particularly good for hi-Z DMM boards,often solving leakage problems. At TEK-Indy and Orlando,we used a sprayed Kelite solution(commercial degreaser),water rinse,and into the drying oven for 3 days minimum,but that was for whole instruments. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net I like to use Naptha, it seems to leave components untouched, but dissolves most residues from circuit boards. H. R. (Bob) Hofmann |
#9
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
The message
from Jim Yanik contains these words: "Arfa Daily" wrote in : There's a particular commercial board that I repair in large quantities, which gets very dirty with food residues, in some cases. It is all conventional leaded and surface mount R's, C's and semis. Has a few pin-type, and box header type connectors. No enclosed items. No coils. I wash these with hot water and normal washing up detergent. I squib some detergent on first, then flick on some hot water from a running tap ( faucet ), using a nylon-bristled long-handled dishwashing brush. The detergent can then be worked up into a lather with the brush, and the board given a good scrub, both sides. It is then thoroughly rinsed under the running hot water, then firmly shaken to remove the bulk of the water, and finally placed on end in front of a fairly powerful fan. It is totally dry inside a couple of minutes, and looks like new. Have never had any issues with any kind of short or long-term problems, following carrying out this cleaning. Arfa I've run circuit boards through my automatic dishwasher using Calgonite(no rinse agent),but I prefer a drying oven (not 150 degF) with a slight negative pressure inside to draw out moisture. This was particularly good for hi-Z DMM boards,often solving leakage problems. At TEK-Indy and Orlando,we used a sprayed Kelite solution(commercial degreaser),water rinse,and into the drying oven for 3 days minimum,but that was for whole instruments. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at kua.net Re WD40 Have you ever tried to resolder joints after contact with this product? I find one of the foaming cleaners sold for car upholstery the remedy that suits me. -- Jocelyn Tetigisti acu. (Titus Maccius Plautus 254 - 184BC) |
#10
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Cleaning circuit boards (Smoke Machine Fluid)
Meat Plow wrote: I would use flux stripper. I second this. Works great for oily goop, not so great for water based goop. |
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