If I wash an electronic device with hot water...

[neonerd]

Say I wash something like a fan from a cpu, and then give it about a week to completely dry, will it be ruined? Also, say I wash something like a mobo, will that be ruined? Provided it's only water, and i let it dry for about a week or so before putting it back in.

I'm wondering because I realise that spilling coffee on an electronic device leaves behind the actual coffee and can do things to it because the coffee is acidic...but i'm wondering if it's fine with water.

I washed my HS before, but I took the fan off before doing so, i'm curious whether i can wash the fan too

 

[KLin]

I give my laptop a bath twice a week.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I've never had a problem with it. As long as no current is running through it, it's fine.

Spilled tea on my keyless entry the other day. Opened it up and took the batteries out and filled it up with water and shook it around, then let it dry and worked fine.

Used to wash keyboards in the dishwasher.

Just gotta let it dry 100%

 

[ShotgunSteven]

I deal with video arcade hardware. I have some bare PCBs that are not encased in plastic like the Taito F3 boards are. They collect dust like crazy when inside an arcade machine. Oddly enough, there are people that swear by washing them in the dishwasher. It seems that as long as you completely and thoroughly dry them, there is no problem.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
I've never had a problem with it. As long as no current is running through it, it's fine.

Spilled tea on my keyless entry the other day. Opened it up and took the batteries out and filled it up with water and shook it around, then let it dry and worked fine.

Used to wash keyboards in the dishwasher.

Just gotta let it dry 100%

i thought so...Since water + silicone doesn't have any reactions that i know of...so i figured washing things like that provided there's no current would be fine

the reason i asked, is because my dad brought back the server i built for their business....the CPU Fan is covered in black dust that can't be blown off (tried air can, manual blow, nothing works)... The dust came off the HS, now i'm going to go wash the fan

 

[Evadman]

I have washed 60, 80 and 120 MM fans in hot soapy water without issue, but they will only last a few days after unless you re-oil the motor. I use scalding hot water (as hot as it can get) as it evaporates very quickly. I can then reuse the fan in an hour or so after oiling it.

A fan only has 2 electrical contacts that are 'exposed' (the brushes, unless it is a variable RPM fan or has RPM monitoring), and they will actually self-clean if the motor spins.

As for a mobo, Get a new one. If a fan fails to start up, no biggie. Swap to another. If a mobo screws up, it can take the CPU, Memory, and HD's with it, so don't chance it IMHO.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I keep water out of moving electronic parts, but this is mostly because I don't want to take them apart even more to make sure they're dry.

But silicon doesn't have a memory for 'used to be wet' so as long as it's completely dry when you turn it on again you should be fine.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Evadman
I have washed 60, 80 and 120 MM fans in hot soapy water without issue, but they will only last a few days after unless you re-oil the motor. I use scalding hot water (as hot as it can get) as it evaporates very quickly. I can then reuse the fan in an hour or so after oiling it.

A fan only has 2 electrical contacts that are 'exposed' (the brushes, unless it is a variable RPM fan or has RPM monitoring), and they will actually self-clean if the motor spins.

As for a mobo, Get a new one. If a fan fails to start up, no biggie. Swap to another. If a mobo screws up, it can take the CPU, Memory, and HD's with it, so don't chance it IMHO.

does that mean if i wash that cpu fan, i need to oil it? How would I oil a fan? Does it need to be taken apart somehow?

 

[hevnsnt]

Whenever I sell a CPU I wash it under luke warm water and use a old toothbrush to clean off all the old thermal paste.. Just make sure it is completely dry before you plug it back in, it will be fine.

 

[FleshLight]

I accidentally left my cellphone in the washer for the hot rinse cycle and then proceeded to leave it in the dryer and all i had to do was just charge it. There's this small 1/4 inch white park on the screen though. I suppose that's the detergent.

 

[0roo0roo]

i know on kb the printed plastic sheets sandwiched together trap water and the leads corrode. so its not all dandy with water

 

[Toastedlightly]

I'd use distilled water (just to make sure no metals in the water are left on the board)

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: neonerd
does that mean if i wash that cpu fan, i need to oil it? How would I oil a fan? Does it need to be taken apart somehow?

Depends on the fan. some can be easily taken apart, but most break if you try to disasemble it. I just use a small screwdriver to hold the gap between the hub and the mount, and put 3 drops of oil in the gap.

 

[Colt45]

just peel the sticker off the fan and you can see the bushing underneath