Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage.
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.

On 2012-03-06, Robert Green wrote:

circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

That's why pressure is measured, "per square inch", or whatever
measuring standard yer using. Even normal atmospheric air pressure is
14.7 psi, which is why if you pull a vacuum on a 1 gal metal can,
atospheric pressure, alone, will crush it like a grape. Was that
wallwart 2"x2"? That's 4 sq in. Times 50psi air pressure? That's
200 lbs of pressure exerted on that cheap plastic bottom plate. Is it
any wonder it blew off?!

nb


--
Fight internet CENSORSHIP - Fight SOPA-PIPA
Contact your congressman and/or representative, now!
http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/
vi --the heart of evil!

On 3/6/2012 7:02 AM, Robert Green wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage.
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.


Best advice I know for drying such things is to towel dry and put in a
plastic bag with rice to absorb the water. May take a couple of days
but will not harm anything. I recovered a wet cell phone this way.

"Robert Green" wrote:
-snip-

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

Cool-- That's the first thing I'm going to try [with proper
precautions, of course. . . if I remember] next time I need to figure
out how to disassemble a puzzler.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

To see the awesome power of compressed air- refer to Mr. wizard's soda
bottle rockets. [Couldn't find his-- but youtube is full of some
water powered rocket videos-- some more 'cautionary tale's than
others.g]

Jim

In article ,
Frank wrote:

Best advice I know for drying such things is to towel dry and put in a
plastic bag with rice to absorb the water. May take a couple of days
but will not harm anything. I recovered a wet cell phone this way.

Actually the best bet often is to use those things in medicines or
electronics. They work every bit as good as rice. My kid had her phone
go out about 6 months after it took at short bath. She was getting a new
one until the tech found a piece of rice inside the case (g).

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:02:40 -0500, Robert Green wrote:
The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam
was very tight.

Sometimes they are glued - in the past I've opened them with a cutting
disc on a dremel-type tool and then worked out how best to put them back
together again after.

At least now I know how to take the other identical power supplies
apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

If the walls are thin you can sometimes press firmly around the edges,
and the spots where the tabs are will deflect less because there's more
material on the reverse side.

cheers

Jules

"notbob" wrote in message
...
On 2012-03-06, Robert Green wrote:

circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

That's why pressure is measured, "per square inch", or whatever
measuring standard yer using. Even normal atmospheric air pressure is
14.7 psi, which is why if you pull a vacuum on a 1 gal metal can,
atospheric pressure, alone, will crush it like a grape. Was that
wallwart 2"x2"? That's 4 sq in. Times 50psi air pressure? That's
200 lbs of pressure exerted on that cheap plastic bottom plate. Is it
any wonder it blew off?!

Ironically, no transformer/wall wart ever came apart more cleanly. I would
normally have had to Dremel it apart and that would have made a hell of a
mess and would have required taping back together. A few drops of
solvent-weld glue and this baby will go back together with almost no
evidence it had ever been "blown open." In fact the jagged(!) seam edges it
left fit together like a jig saw puzzle piece.

A little dab of hot melt glue in the access hole and I'll be good to go.
Next time I do this, it will be with the unit mounted in a vise inside a
containment vessel of some sort, i.e. a heavy Tyvek envelope or similar.
Probably another case where St. Peter will explain to me "nearly put an eye
out then!" along with all the other near-misses of my life. With my luck,
the next one won't break cleanly along the seam, but into a million shards,
but it will be in a vise and a bag, not in my hand.

--
Bobby G.

"Frank" wrote in message
...
On 3/6/2012 7:02 AM, Robert Green wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam
had
fallen into a tub of water.

stuff snipped

Best advice I know for drying such things is to towel dry and put in a
plastic bag with rice to absorb the water. May take a couple of days
but will not harm anything. I recovered a wet cell phone this way.

It was sloshing water inside. I figured by the time the rice had dried it,
such a long soak might affect the transformer windings. The water was
substantial enough to require immediate evacuation. I just didn't realize
it required "specialist" evacuation. (-:

--
Bobby G.

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Frank wrote:

Best advice I know for drying such things is to towel dry and put in a
plastic bag with rice to absorb the water. May take a couple of days
but will not harm anything. I recovered a wet cell phone this way.

Actually the best bet often is to use those things in medicines or
electronics. They work every bit as good as rice. My kid had her phone
go out about 6 months after it took at short bath. She was getting a new
one until the tech found a piece of rice inside the case (g).

My friend nearly got himself a new phone, too, but waited a bit too long and
black mold rings appeared behind the lens of his OLED screen. It still
works for phone calls but you have to scroll lists pasts the black spots to
read anything.

It's time for my John Madden joke. He's at a urinal when a quarter tumbles
out of his pocket and into the soup. He looks around for a while, opens his
wallet, takes out a $50 bill and throws it into the urinal too. His buddy
says in astonishment, "Why did you do that?" and Madden replies "You don't
think I'm going in there for just a quarter?!!"

--
Bobby G.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
"Robert Green" wrote:
-snip-

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam
was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug
blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and
fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic
tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

Cool-- That's the first thing I'm going to try [with proper
precautions, of course. . . if I remember] next time I need to figure
out how to disassemble a puzzler.

I've opened many a wall wart but this, by far, was the fastest, cleanest
removal I've ever done. Next one will be in a vise, inside a bag with my
face shield on, though. Doubt it would work on something not well sealed,
either. I'll have to post some pictures. It was a remarkably clean "bust"
open.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

To see the awesome power of compressed air- refer to Mr. wizard's soda
bottle rockets. [Couldn't find his-- but youtube is full of some
water powered rocket videos-- some more 'cautionary tale's than
others.g]

I do remember Mr. Wizard and soda bottle rockets. Although that was not on
my mind when I stuck the nozzle in the hole (a very tight fight between the
rubber cone and the hole I drilled). If I had set the regulator dial back a
bit, I think I could have forced the air out without the case blowing apart.
My thumb's swelling up just a little. It was a very impressive thunk.
Nowhere near as bad as an M-80 that exploded in my fingers once (that was
Pillsbury Doughboy-type swelling), but pretty surprising nevertheless. The
kind of thunk you get when you forget to pierce a boil-in bag that's in the
microwave.

--
Bobby G.

"Jules Richardson" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:02:40 -0500, Robert Green wrote:
The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam
was very tight.

Sometimes they are glued - in the past I've opened them with a cutting
disc on a dremel-type tool and then worked out how best to put them back
together again after.

At least now I know how to take the other identical power supplies
apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

If the walls are thin you can sometimes press firmly around the edges,
and the spots where the tabs are will deflect less because there's more
material on the reverse side.

When I looked at how the edges broke, it was either sound, heat or solvent
welded. It would have taken a Dremel to take it apart and it would have
been a bit of a butcher job. This came apart remarkably cleanly.

Compressed air would have been great to take apart my Sonicare toothbrush
since they had tiny motor wires pressed right up against the welded seams.
I tried to open it with a Dremel and destroyed it. Now I use one with AA
batteries that are removable. The Sonicare used cheap NiCad cells that
couldn't be replaced. POS. )-"

--
Bobby G.

On Mar 6, 6:02*am, "Robert Green" wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. *It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." *I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage..
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. *A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. *But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. *The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. *The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." *Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. *Beware the power of compressed air. *It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. *(-: *At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. *Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.

I have a safe way to dry out wet electronics, if not too large. Used a
big aluminum oil filter pot from a Mercedes (or truck or something)
and welded up all the holes but one. The part goes in the pot, the
cover is clamped tight, and the vacuum pump from the AC rig is
attached to the remaining outlet. After pumping an hour or so, all the
moisture has vanished, no heat, no stress, no damage. Works for me.

Joe

On 3/6/2012 10:16 PM, Joe wrote:
On Mar 6, 6:02 am, "Robert wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage.
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.

I have a safe way to dry out wet electronics, if not too large. Used a
big aluminum oil filter pot from a Mercedes (or truck or something)
and welded up all the holes but one. The part goes in the pot, the
cover is clamped tight, and the vacuum pump from the AC rig is
attached to the remaining outlet. After pumping an hour or so, all the
moisture has vanished, no heat, no stress, no damage. Works for me.

Joe

Modify a big pressure cooker or make your own bell jar with a big
aluminum stock pot. If you ever studied chemistry, you know how easy
it is to make a bell jar, it doesn't have to be glass. ^_^

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_jar

TDD

30yrs ago read someone dried calculator with hair dryer but looked online for
a friend who drowned his i-phone and it said it could fry the electronics.


- = -
Vasos Panagiotopoulos, Columbia'81+, Reagan, Mozart, Pindus, BioStrategist
http://www.panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Urb sprawl confounds terror] [Phooey on GUI: Windows for subprime Bimbos]

Robert Green wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage.
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.

Hi,
I hope you are not trying for a Darwin award? I have compressor in my
garage and when I use it I always wear goggles. And the wall wart may be
worth couple dollars. Time is money. It is not water tight. That's why
it says "indoor use only"

"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
...
Robert Green wrote:

stuff snipped

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and
fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which
was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown
the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic
tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers,
saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

Hi,
I hope you are not trying for a Darwin award? I have compressor in my
garage and when I use it I always wear goggles. And the wall wart may be
worth couple dollars. Time is money. It is not water tight. That's why
it says "indoor use only"

Nope. Not bucking for the DA. AFAIK, the reason it popped is that there
was so much water in the unit that when the pressurized water reached the
holes for the plug blades, the water acted as a sealant. I'll certainly use
the same method again for the next wall-wart, but with a lot more
precautions and a much lower starting pressure. It really was the cleanest
opening method I've ever found for taking those solvent/heat welded units
apart.

--
Bobby G.

On Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:06:53 -0700, Tony Hwang wrote:



Robert Green wrote:
Last night, I discovered that a wall wart for a wireless security cam had
fallen into a tub of water.

It drowned because it was plugged into an outlet strip attached to the
bottom of a basement joist and it became loose from the vibration of the
washing machine nearby. It did an amazing Tarzan swing into the sink three
feet away when it fell so I knew it was only wet, not "hot wet." I figured
with a simple power supply caught quickly, there shouldn't be much damage.
I tried using compressed air to blow out the water via the little space
around the plug blades. A little H20 came out of the strain relief in a
spray. But there was plenty of water still inside. It felt like about 1/4"
of the unit was now filled with it.

The case looked like it was "welded" - there were no screws and the seam was
very tight. So I drilled an 3/16" hole in the top of the case to blow air
into, thinking that would force it out the tiny space around the plug blades
and the cord strain relief.

I pressed the conical rubber tip of my air compressor to the hole and fired
away. The next thing I felt was like a hammer blow to my thumb which was
holding the small power supply. The blast of air had literally blown the
bottom of the supply "clean off." Well, it wasn't clean - every plastic tab
that held the lid on cracked. Beware the power of compressed air. It
probably could have been much worse and I wasn't even wearing my face
shield. (-: At least now I know how to take the other identical power
supplies apart because I know where the secret tabs are.

I suppose I should have realized a device that can operate hammers, saws,
nailers, etc. could develop explosive compression under the right
circumstances. Now I'll be more careful and respectful of my air
compressor.

--
Bobby G.

Hi,
I hope you are not trying for a Darwin award? I have compressor in my
garage and when I use it I always wear goggles. And the wall wart may be
worth couple dollars. Time is money. It is not water tight. That's why
it says "indoor use only"

Let it dry for a few days, plug it in, and it should work fine. Put the
bottom back on with silicone. Done!!!!

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 07:02:40 -0500, "Robert Green"
wrote:

That's why pressure is measured, "per square inch", or whatever
measuring standard yer using. Even normal atmospheric air pressure is
14.7 psi, which is why if you pull a vacuum on a 1 gal metal can,
atospheric pressure, alone, will crush it like a grape. Was that
wallwart 2"x2"? That's 4 sq in. Times 50psi air pressure? That's
200 lbs of pressure exerted on that cheap plastic bottom plate. Is it
any wonder it blew off?!

This is the method used to remove disc brake pistons from the caliper housing.
Instructions note to pad a work surface with shop towels or some such, and
introduce compressed air into the brake line fitting. They also note to keep
your body parts away from the intended impact area. When the piston pops out
of there, it's like a gun shot - startling bystanders.
Great fun.

"JKevorkian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 07:02:40 -0500, "Robert Green"

wrote:

That's why pressure is measured, "per square inch", or whatever
measuring standard yer using. Even normal atmospheric air pressure is
14.7 psi, which is why if you pull a vacuum on a 1 gal metal can,
atospheric pressure, alone, will crush it like a grape. Was that
wallwart 2"x2"? That's 4 sq in. Times 50psi air pressure? That's
200 lbs of pressure exerted on that cheap plastic bottom plate. Is it
any wonder it blew off?!

This is the method used to remove disc brake pistons from the caliper
housing.
Instructions note to pad a work surface with shop towels or some such, and
introduce compressed air into the brake line fitting. They also note to
keep
your body parts away from the intended impact area. When the piston pops
out
of there, it's like a gun shot - startling bystanders.
Great fun.

That's a good trick to know. I'll certainly be trying it again with more
precautions next time I have to open a sealed wall wart. I'm curious to see
whether it works on a dry unit - hmmm - I am sure I have some dead WW's in
the junk box . . .

--
Bobby G.

On Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:12:18 -0500, JKevorkian wrote:
This is the method used to remove disc brake pistons from the caliper
housing. Instructions note to pad a work surface with shop towels or
some such, and introduce compressed air into the brake line fitting.
They also note to keep your body parts away from the intended impact
area. When the piston pops out of there, it's like a gun shot -
startling bystanders. Great fun.

Yes, forgotten about that, but I did similar to dismantle the wheel
cylinders from my old truck last year. I actually blew them apart in a
plastic coffee can, which worked for three of them but on the fourth one
of the pistons made it out of the top and flew across the garage (as did
the spring, narrowly missing my head). I'll remember the towel idea for
next time! :-)

cheers

Jules