Radio damaged by "wetting" - is it fixable

[Frank]

I recently turned off my radio with very wet hands. The radio is a Roberts Ecologic 7. I was surprised to find it spontaneously switched itself back on a few moments later - that's when I noticed the pool of water round the on/off button and tuning wheel. After drying it out i.e. leaving it on a radiator for a few hours it has not returned to normal operation. The on/off button rarely has any effect when trying to turn it off and when it does turn it off the thing spontaneously restarts itself.

Vague tho' my descriptions are, do these symptoms point to anything that I could try fixing.

TIA Frank

[The Natural Philosopher]

airing cupboard for a day should sort it.

[Graham.]

I doubt if you have caused any permanent damage. If it was just clean water, give it longer in a warm place for it to evaporate.

If that doesn't work, and especially if the spillage was something that might leave a residue, the next step would be to dismantle it and flush the contaminated area with isopropyl alcohol.

[The Natural Philosopher]

+1

Experience with RC model and ponds rain lakes and puddles suggests that as long as water has not actually resulted in overcurrent and component damage, simple drying out fixes all problems BUT it takes a long time to dry out switches and pots.

I remember a computer left on a window sill by an open window in a violent thunderstorm - took two days to dry out, but it did,

[Man at B&Q]

Proper mechanical button or dead mans flesh rubber thing? The latter will be more sensitive to any remaining trapped moisture.

MBQ

[Mr Pounder]

Take the back off and use a hair dryer?

>

[Brian Gaff]

Sounds like water inside the membrane if that is indeed what the switch uses. You need to figure out how the on off switch actually works first I think.

Brian

[meow2222]

In most such cases you just need to let it dry out. A few hours is inadequate by a long way, try a few days at least. Until its dry remove all power, mains and battery.

NT

[Jules Richardson]

Pretty much my experience, too - although in some cases deposits in the water that are left behind when it evaporates can cause problems (crappy membrane-type keyboards seem particularly prone to this) and need a bit of manual cleaning.

For anything that's been drowned, it can take a while to dry out fully - things such as the insides of miniature push-switches (such as it sounds like the OP might have in his radio) and the undersides of ICs do like to trap moisture even when everything looks dry. I normally leave stuff for a week just to be on the safe side, assuming that I can't be bothered attacking it with compressed air to help drive the moisture out.

cheers

Jules

[Jules Richardson]

Pretty much my experience, too - although in some cases deposits in the water that are left behind when it evaporates can cause problems (crappy membrane-type keyboards seem particularly prone to this) and need a bit of manual cleaning.

For anything that's been drowned, it can take a while to dry out fully - things such as the insides of miniature push-switches (such as it sounds like the OP might have in his radio) and the undersides of ICs do like to trap moisture even when everything looks dry. I normally leave stuff for a week just to be on the safe side, assuming that I can't be bothered attacking it with compressed air to help drive the moisture out.

cheers

Jules

[Jules Richardson]

Pretty much my experience, too - although in some cases deposits in the water that are left behind when it evaporates can cause problems (crappy membrane-type keyboards seem particularly prone to this) and need a bit of manual cleaning.

For anything that's been drowned, it can take a while to dry out fully - things such as the insides of miniature push-switches (such as it sounds like the OP might have in his radio) and the undersides of ICs do like to trap moisture even when everything looks dry. I normally leave stuff for a week just to be on the safe side, assuming that I can't be bothered attacking it with compressed air to help drive the moisture out.

cheers

Jules

[tony sayer]

Whatever you do .. don't do what someone I know did when he dropped his new iphone down the bog..

He put in inside the microwave oven. Ok the wi-fi reception was excellent for a few milliseconds but not a lot of cop after that!>..

[fred]

In article , Frank writes

I've seen metal to metal contact surfaces corroded following short term moisture ingress and drying out, in that case it was a case of dismantle and attack with switch cleaner and an unused toothbrush.

[The Other Mike]

...but the instructions didn't say don't put the iPhOnE in the microwave

VCR's didn't make good toast either

[tony sayer]

In article , fred scribeth thus

We have over time had quite a few two way radio units dropped in the river Cam by porters at the colleges in pursuit of the odd late student up to no good;!.

Problem is they then wait a few days before letting us look that them and by that time the impurities in the water have done the damage, usually it getting under chips etc. Course once the equipment is powered up then the electrolytic processes start.

We normally soak then in distilled water for a while, try the ultrasonic tank and then dry them out in a very hot place and if we get them soon enough then the usual result is no lasting damage, but sometimes speakers if paper is in their content are not that bright, as are electret microphones either...

But like human patients getting them into intensive care fast is the best treatment option!...