Battery leakage cleanup
 

Greetings. I have a Nikon flash that had batteries left in it. It
cleaned up very nicely except one piece that has recessed contacts. I
can't get to them to mechanically clean them. Does anyone know of a
chemical process that will clean them up? They are in plastic and
probably plated brass. Thanks, John

Battery leakage cleanup
 

John D. Farr wrote:
Greetings. I have a Nikon flash that had batteries left in it. It
cleaned up very nicely except one piece that has recessed contacts. I
can't get to them to mechanically clean them. Does anyone know of a
chemical process that will clean them up? They are in plastic and
probably plated brass. Thanks, John


To clean the bloom on car battery terminals I used baking soda (bi
carbinate soda)mixed in some hot water and just pour it over the
terminals,it dissolves the deposits.
This may work in your situation but maybe would be better to use a
cotton tip dipped in the solutionand applied to the affected area.

--
Kevin (Bluey)
"I'm not young enough to know everything."

Battery leakage cleanup
 

Vinegar or other mild acid (citric etc) will clean up much of the residue
after alkaline batteries leak (dunno what battery type you used).

If the leakage took place a while ago (equipment left in a drawer/closet for
months), it's fairly likely that the liquid ooze from the batteries has
wicked along any wires connected to the battery terminals. The liquid can
travel inside stranded wire by a capillary action, destroying the copper
wire in time.
I've seen many instances of this type of internal damage.

To be thorough, the unit should be opened to examine the extent of the
contamination, cleaned and/or repaired a required.

--
WB
..........
metalworking projects
www.kwagmire.com/metal_proj.html


"John D. Farr" wrote in message
...
Greetings. I have a Nikon flash that had batteries left in it. It cleaned
up very nicely except one piece that has recessed contacts. I can't get to
them to mechanically clean them. Does anyone know of a chemical process
that will clean them up? They are in plastic and probably plated brass.
Thanks, John

Battery leakage cleanup
 

Wild_Bill wrote:
Vinegar or other mild acid (citric etc) will clean up much of the
residue after alkaline batteries leak (dunno what battery type you used).

If the leakage took place a while ago (equipment left in a drawer/closet
for months), it's fairly likely that the liquid ooze from the batteries
has wicked along any wires connected to the battery terminals. The
liquid can travel inside stranded wire by a capillary action, destroying
the copper wire in time.
I've seen many instances of this type of internal damage.

To be thorough, the unit should be opened to examine the extent of the
contamination, cleaned and/or repaired a required.


I had a very nice Ricoh flash unit damaged this way.
I never found a solution (pun accidental)

Battery leakage cleanup
 

I had a very nice Ricoh flash unit damaged this way.
I never found a solution (pun accidental)


depending on battery brand, there may be an anti-leak warranty - this
warranty is why I stick to the major brand batteries for anything except
disposable flashlights - it's not that the batteries don't leak, it's that
when they do, the Mfgr will fix your unit, replace it, or give you some $
for your damaged goods.

Battery leakage cleanup
 

On Oct 9, 1:42*am, "John D. Farr" wrote:
Greetings. I have a Nikon flash that had batteries left in it. It
cleaned up very nicely except one piece that has recessed contacts. I
can't get to them to mechanically clean them. Does anyone know of a
chemical process that will clean them up? They are in plastic and
probably plated brass. Thanks, John

Were plated brass, more likely. Best thing you can do is split the
case on the flash and mop out the residue. What you use to neutralize
the electrolyte depends on what leaked. Alkalines and nicads both
will need a dilute acid. I say to split the case because that stuff
wicks up into the attaching wires and will eventually eat the wires,
leaving a hollow tube full of crap. Had that happen on a light meter
once. Wire looked perfectly OK from the outside, inside was nothing
conductive. And with the plating gone, the contacts will be nothing
but rough pitted brass that will tarnish and won't be that conductive
after mopping off the crap. You'll need to sand them off to get some
bright metal to make up with the battery terminals.

Stan

Battery leakage cleanup
 

On Oct 9, 9:59*am, wrote:


Were plated brass.... *You'll need to sand them off to get some
bright metal to make up with the battery terminals.

If you can get to bright brass, the next step is to put a dab of
leadfree solder (silver-loaded is best) on the brass. It'll take
an acidic flux to make a good bond, you might want to practice
on scraps before the main event.